Library Tapes - Fragment (2008)

Link

In the wake of the beautiful Hostluft album, David Wenngren returns with a new set of recordings, this time assisted by fellow piano enthusiasts Peter Broderick and Sylvain Chauveau. Conventionally, the Library Tapes sound has been largely focused on the various treatments and contexts Wenngren has found for his light, airy keystrokes, and on this latest release, with the assistance of his new friends, he comes up with some incredibly beautiful moments, none more so than the closing ‘Fragment VIII’, which floats on a bed of slowly bowed strings and a few subtle stereo effects. It’s a gently arresting piece of modern ambiance and serves as a fitting culmination of Fragment’s playlist of emotive song shards and sketched acoustic soundscapes. Long before we arrive at that piece you’ll encounter plenty of material to win you over: from the opening mustiness and fake wax cylinder hiss of ‘Fragment I’ and the layered music box chimes of ‘Fragment II’ you’ll be sucked into the Library Tapes universe almost immediately, and it’s never sounded better. Utterly lovely. Boomkat