Momenti Felici

hans-joachim roedelius - one of the most prolific musicians of the german avant-garde and a key figure in the birth of krautrock, synthesizer pop and ambient music. the music: stringent compositions and neoclassical impro-visations. piano pieces, some with saxophone and / or synthe-sizer accompaniment first released in 1987 on the virgin label venture. this reissue includes three previously unreleased tracks. since the early eighties, roedelius had more or less dispensed with electronics, focussing increasingly on the grand piano. for roedelius, it was not only a period of reorientation in musical terms, but also geographically: austria was now his home. the pleasure he derived from playing the piano and meeting muscians on the same wavelength did the rest: an enthusiastic roedelius allowed new impressions and discoveries to flow virtually unfiltered into his music. 'momenti felici' is one of the finest examples hereof. with characteristically exuberant inventiveness, roedelius tickles the ivories lightheartedly, or, ntering into more pensive mood, seems to caress the keys. with saxophonist alexander czjzek duetting on some of the pieces, roedelius shuffles a pack of disciplined compositions and carefree improvisations. in this respect, 'momenti felici' most closely resembles 'jardin au fou'. on closer listening, however, the length in time between the two albums can be discerned. roedelius honed both his compositional and, more than anything, his playing skills in the lengthy period inbetween.