All constraints are off for All Melody, a vibrant, exploratory album born from Frahm’s newly constructed Berlin studio and the freedom to experiment it allowed.
Over the past few years, Frahm has scored films, collaborated with other artists (like singer-songwriter Woodkid and hip-hop producer DJ Shadow) and reunited with the band of his youth. Along the way, he has clearly indulged some sonic wanderlust; All Melody feels like the first delectable fruits of that labor.
With All Melody, Nils Frahm has retained his unique approach and emotional sensitivity. He’s also expanded his sound, and shown more of his soul than ever before. It’s a record to be treasured.
Holed up in an East Berlin studio rebuilt to his fussy sonic demands, Frahm gathered a cluster of other musicians, including a choir, and has crafted his most expansive release yet, one that synthesizes his prior innovations with a new compositional palette.
Whether Frahm admits it or not, when it comes to playing with people’s feelings or trying to make sense of his own, he rarely gets it wrong.
It's an impressive compilation of provocatively disparate ideas, but taken in in its intended order, there's a mesmerizing continuity to it all.
For All Melody, he didn't just try to channel the energy of his live performances. He brought that feeling of space, warmth and human connection into the studio with him.
By challenging himself to make the most out of his new recording environment, he has refreshed his sound and ended up with his most engaging and accessible work to date. It is a wholly immersive triumph that draws you in tight as few albums do.
While All Melody’s textures are magnificent, plick-plocking susurrations, his treatment of the human voice is like a gash in an otherwise beauteous canvas. Why, if you’re going to run tracks through a dry well in Mallorca just to get the organic reverb right, would you just get an off-the-peg western choir to “ah” boringly on tracks like Human Range?
Nils Frahm is one of my favorite musicians. In terms of Modern music, he and Aphex Twin and maybe Max Richter are the only ones I would consider pure geniuses. I mean just looking at this guy's live shows, interviews, and of course catalog, he's just an absolutely brilliant artist, and it's so rare for an incredible artist like that to be releasing music nowadays. Such an inspiration to me.
All Melody is one of his most popular and newer albums, which was made in his beloved studio in Berlin. ... read more
Nils Frahm is somewhat of a renaissance artist when it comes to making music. He has showcased over the years that he is capable of masterfully curating pieces of music across a wide range of styles within his classical niche. All Melody was no different, with what was possibly the most relaxing record of 2018 so far, Frahm was able to bring all of the skills hes culminated over the years into Fruition and it was quite beautiful. Songs like A Place, Human Range and #2 were absolutely gorgeous ... read more
One of Frahm’s most maximal and upfront releases, it takes a more old school approach to ambient/minimalism, but often I find this leads to some rather awkward spots on the album. I find this album works best when Frahm sticks to his guns with the light and pristine piano-centric ambient. Still good overall though.
Standout: Sunson
Favs: All Melody, Kaleidoscope, Human Range, Harm Hymn, Fundamental values, My friend the Forest
Least fav: A place
With All Melody, Nils Frahm has retained his unique approach and emotional sensitivity.
Favourite Tracks:
A Place
My Friend the Forest
All Melody
#2
Momentum
Kaleidoskope
Nils Frahm is one of my favorite musicians. In terms of Modern music, he and Aphex Twin and maybe Max Richter are the only ones I would consider pure geniuses. I mean just looking at this guy's live shows, interviews, and of course catalog, he's just an absolutely brilliant artist, and it's so rare for an incredible artist like that to be releasing music nowadays. Such an inspiration to me.
All Melody is one of his most popular and newer albums, which was made in his beloved studio in Berlin. ... read more
One of Frahm’s most maximal and upfront releases, it takes a more old school approach to ambient/minimalism, but often I find this leads to some rather awkward spots on the album. I find this album works best when Frahm sticks to his guns with the light and pristine piano-centric ambient. Still good overall though.
Standout: Sunson
Favs: All Melody, Kaleidoscope, Human Range, Harm Hymn, Fundamental values, My friend the Forest
Least fav: A place
1 | The Whole Universe Wants to Be Touched 1:58 | 69 |
2 | Sunson 9:10 | 86 |
3 | A Place 7:02 | 80 |
4 | My Friend the Forest 5:16 | 89 |
5 | Human Range 6:59 | 78 |
6 | Forever Changeless 2:47 | 80 |
7 | All Melody 9:31 | 77 |
8 | #2 9:40 | 75 |
9 | Momentum 5:21 | 77 |
10 | Fundamental Values 3:50 | 74 |
11 | Kaleidoscope 8:16 | 82 |
12 | Harm Hymn 4:10 | 80 |
#2 | / | MondoSonoro |
#6 | / | The Ringer |
#10 | / | Fopp |
#10 | / | The Skinny |
#13 | / | Rough Trade |
#16 | / | Drift |
#18 | / | DJ Mag |
#26 | / | The Independent |
#27 | / | musicOMH |
#31 | / | Loud and Quiet |