Audio gear. Music. Tech & News.

Listening: Hania Rani's "Ghost" new music release

I first learned of Hania Rani during the pandemic while learning how to find my way around the Bandcamp website. Mesmerized by her music samples I downloaded "Live From Studio S2 (Complete Sessions)" which has become one of my go-to albums ever since. Rania is a pianist, composer and vocalist from Poland and her piano playing often times seems inspired 'in-the-moment'. Her music is well recorded and inspiring.

Ghost is a new album, just released this early May. I encourage you to check out her new music and back catalog on Bandcamp. Some albums are available via download (in a variety of formats) as well as vinyl and CD (not all are available in a physical format). While my preference is for CD or vinyl the shipping costs from European artists are prohibitive. Therefore thus far my Bandcamp purchases have all been downloads in AIFF format and all sound wonderful. Other formats are available if AIFF is not for you.  A splendid album, here are the notes from Hania's Bandcamp website regarding this fine album:

Hania Rani announces her new album, Ghosts, bringing her songwriting and beautiful vocals to the fore and featuring special guests Patrick Watson, Ólafur Arnalds and Duncan Bellamy (Portico Quartet). 


Ghosts is the sound of an ever-evolving artist and, just as the album’s title suggests she passes repeatedly and gracefully between musical worlds: as composer, singer, songwriter, and producer. This album builds on Rani’s earlier successes Esja and Home with an expanded yet still minimal setup of piano, keyboards, synths (most importantly her Prophet) and features more of her mysterious, bewitching voice. Its spirit is warm, beckoning one into an ambitious double album that unfolds at an exquisite pace, informed by her revelatory, exploratory live performances.

Ghosts is also an album of collaborations as Rani is joined by Patrick Watson, who breathes unearthly life into the ethereal ‘Dancing with Ghosts’. ‘Whispering House’is written and recorded with her friend, Ólafur Arnalds and casts a peaceful, ineluctable spell; and Portico Quartet’s Duncan Bellamy contributes vital loops to ‘Don’t Break My Heart’ and ‘Thin Line’. 

Rani’s lyrics are partially inspired by a two-month residency in a small studio in Switzerland’s mountains, where Rani was working on the soundtrack On Giacometti for a documentary about the renowned Swiss artist. “Where I stayed was once an old sanatorium in an area which used to be very popular, but now there are huge abandoned hotels where the locals say ghosts live. I mean, it's kind of a local belief system – these ghosts even have names! – but once you're deep into nature or some abandoned place, your imagination starts working on a different level.”

“The edge of life and death,” Rani summarises, “and what actually happens in between: this was what really interested me. Even singing the word ‘death’ was quite a shock. It’s such a weird word to say out loud, and people are afraid of it, which I found extremely interesting. Most of the songs probably still talk about love and things like that, but Ghosts is more me thinking about having to face some kind of end.”  

Find her latest album here https://haniarani.bandcamp.com/album/ghosts  Ghosts is also available on streaming platforms.

Thank you very much for visiting Hear More Music. Have you signed up for free updates?

Doug

Jazz Cafe CHIGUSA in Noge, Yokohama Japan

Jazz Cafe CHIGUSA is located in Noge, Yokohama. Founded in 1933, it is the oldest existing Jazz Kissa in Japan. The current location which has been in operation since 2012 are to be closed on April 10, 2022. It will reopen as "Jazz Museum CHIGUSA" in 2023 celebrating its 90th anniversary. The current building which is over 60 years old is to be demolished and replaced with a new one. This movie is filmed to record the beloved "Jazz Cafe CHIGUSA" in Noge, Yokohama before its rebuilding. The music played in the cafe is as remarked below. Yuki Nakane (Grand Prix winner of the 8th Chigusa Award) - "Fungii Mama" (from Album "NEW-COMER A Letter to Someone") Jazz Cafe CHIGUSA https://www.noge-chigusa.com/

Record Store Day: April 2024

For vinyl and CD lovers, this is a reminder of the upcoming Spring edition of Record Store Day on April 20, 2024. Visit your local independent record store and pick up some great new releases from some of your favorite artists or, find new music from artists you've not heard before. 

Here is a PDF of the April 20th releases. Enjoy!

Thanks again for subscribing to my music blog!

Doug

Hear More Music