This release, from SA Recordings—a UK jazz label and long-time ally—features a completely improvised session with Gwilym Gold, a singer-songwriter known for his unique style, including field recordings by Chris Watson. It consists of 3 to 4 hours of edited audio recorded on two pianos, one of which is a grand piano equipped with the ✴︎ “Magnetic Re ...Read more (Original Japanese text by Shhhhh)sonator Piano”—a grand piano—and another piano, resulting in an edited recording of three to four hours of music.
How should I put it? It’s sort of “post-post-classical”—not as difficult as classical music, yet it retains the soothing, ambient quality that’s easy on the ears. It’s also close to the pleasure of dance music, and in this regard, you can definitely feel the influence of the UK chill-out scene. The title “still” can be translated quite literally as “silence.” This isn’t your typical home-recording artist; his solid soundscape is backed by a track record that includes touring with Herbert and Amy Winehouse. You’ve got to hear this on vinyl! I think this is the pinnacle of piano ambient music.

✴︎It’s an electronically enhanced acoustic piano capable of extracting new sounds from the piano strings without using speakers. Electromagnets, separate from the hammers, induce vibrations in the strings, producing infinite sustain, crescendos, harmonics, pitch changes, and new timbres—all of which can be controlled directly from the piano’s keyboard. (Original Japanese text by Shhhhh)

He started out as a keyboardist, touring with everyone from Herbert to Amy Winehouse, so the electronics ∞ piano foundation was always there — and yet you'd think a record like this would exist elsewhere, but it really doesn't. Call it ambient if you like, but it's not West Coast new age à la Leaving Records; the quality of its stillness leans clos ...Read more (Original Japanese text by Shhhhh)er to kankyo ongaku. And you can also feel the lineage of UK chill-out / downtempo — Mix Master Morris, Coldcut, James Blake — not to mention UK soul. His choices are superb, like the cover of Ethiopian nun Emahoy (sample 2). Personally, Sunset Village (sample 3) is the one for me.
New piano music that updates classical, ambient, and downtempo alike — a gem you can live with for years and years.
He also played EACH STORY in Japan in 2023 and 2025, delivering wonderful live sets.
The reissue two years ago sold out instantly. Don't miss out! (Original Japanese text by Shhhhh)