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Sophie Agnel
Learning
Otoroku - Cat No: ROKU045
- updated:2026-03-13
A stunning prepared-piano solo that is far more than mere post-John Cage — reportedly delivered right after she was diagnosed with a brain tumor! Born in Paris in 1964, Sophie Agnel is a maverick pianist who passed through classical and modern jazz before throwing herself into free improvisation in the early '90s, and this is her first-ever solo LP, released by the label of London's essential venue Cafe OTO.
Track List
Otoroku presents a solo LP bursting with the singular piano language of veteran pianist Sophie Agnel, who broke away completely from classical music and departed from jazz. In her typical performances, the inside of the piano is said to be strewn with tins of fish, ping-pong balls, and scraps of wood. Both sides are live recordings made at Cafe OTO, captured in the summer of 2023 and again a year later. The music unfolds through images of oncoming trains, blues harmonica, and feedback. Her mastery lies in pulling an overwhelming mass of sound back down to a single note — a gem of an ever-expanding, poetic approach to sound. (Original Japanese text by Adachi)