Pianos
are back!
After a time in the shadows, the piano is back
— centre stage — with producers of all ages
ready to make us believe in the power of true
house music again….
Words: BEN MURPHY
S
ince the inception of dance red-lit basements of London to the Balearic
music pianos have been almost abandon of peak-time sets at Space Ibiza,
inseparable from the genre. stripped down minimal techno was the
Think of disco, funk, Richie soundtrack of choice, emanating from
Haven’s ‘Going Back To My Roots’, Donald the most surprising clubs the world over.
Byrd’s ‘Love Has Come Around’, old hard- What seemed impossible had happened:
core, Frankie Knuckles, Marshall Jefferson, the music of laptop nerds had infi ltrated
Italo house… the mainstream, and the public, from the
There’s something about an emotive, most discerning to those simply in search
surging piano lick that seems to combine of a good time, lapped up the bleeps and
so perfectly with a thunking kick drum to whooshes, intoxicated by the abstract
create a hotwire to our hearts and make us noises. Melodies, much less songs, were
feel good. nowhere. Piano riffs and, horror of horror,
Now, after a time in the shadows, the vocals, a hazy memory.
piano is back centre stage, dusted off, with
producers from across the dance spectrum But how times change. In 2009, a differ-
ready to make us believe in the power of ent world lies before us, with a political
true house music again. But who are they? situation uncertain and a global recession
Why now? And what is it about the piano biting at our heels. But it’s not all negative.
that makes it such a timeless component of Sometimes the old adage that hard times
club music? Raise your hands and feel the create good art rings true. Something has
rush as we investigate the return of the old happened in music, the return of colour, “The piano is the guitar of
Johanna… feeling — and pianos.
Sick of dark, maudlin excessively electronic
dance music.”
Wind the clock back two years. Dark sounds, house heads are seeking some-
Juan MacLean
electronic beats reigned supreme over the thing a little more uplifting and interesting
dancefl oor. From the smallest, dingiest in their music again. People are bored of
072
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DJ474.piano feature.indd 72 13/5/09 16:59:28
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