Piano Punk 432Hz - Album Profile
Release date: 2019
Availability: Until further notice, CD & analogue audio cassette only.
Tracks: 12 songs;
- What Goes Around
- Hurts Like Hell
- Before a Fall
- Tell Me
- Ballintoy
- Believe in Me
- Higher Volt Age
- All That I Want
- Life Support System
- Window to the Soul
- Follow Your Heart
- Disqualified
- General Information
As the name may suggest, this album is based around real-time piano/vocal performances - of the twelve songs chosen from my original collection.
The simplicity of 'piano/vocal performance' has always appealed to me - no frills, bells or whistles . . . just a "punk" with a portable digital piano - singing my songs . . because I can.
I could never play like Rick Wakeman or Keith Emerson but not many people care about that.
That's what 'Piano Punk' is all about - the honest expression of human emotion in the most straightforward way I can think of.
Twelve original songs, simply played - what you see is what you get.
- Trivial Information
While I do love acoustic pianos, unfortunately they're not very portable, & for about a quarter of the price of a typical acoustic upright, I was able to get a fantastic used Yamaha portable piano.
At the touch of a button, you can have a Concert Grand (Yamaha CFIII), a Ballad Grand (Bösendorfer Imperial), or any one of a huge number of upright & grand pianos - all meticulously re-created (easily tunable to 432Hz) in a package that you can just zip into a soft case, & tuck under your arm - now that's what I call a cool piano!
How much it sounds like a real acoustic (it really does) . . was never really important - but is this an expressive instrument capable of highly dynamic & emotionally rich performances?? The answer to that question is - definitely yes!!
Apart from gear used on this album - my beloved Yamaha P-255 & a Kurzweil Artis (for other sounds & pianos) everything about this album is pretty straightforward.
Most of the recordings are 'one-take performances' & editing, effects & processing have been kept to the minimum - in order to preserve the dynamic range.
When I left 'Pulse' (2-piece band) back in 1995, I was determined to only play 'live' from then onward - & I've never looked back.
We did discuss re-forming Pulse once again & my 'partner-in-Pulse' seemed all for it at the time - but it just never happened.
I think my precondition; "this time it would have to be totally live" - went down like a fart in a submarine.
That's a shame - because brothers' vocals can work very well together - but I guess the prospect of going out there, actually playing the guitar & being totally accountable to an audience (for a whole live gig) didn't seem to be very appealing.
I have since managed to acquire a new stage piano (thanks to my lovely wife) - a Yamaha CP-73 . . 
. . which offers even more pristine piano sounds, including a new Hamburg Grand (Steinway) . . & many other iconic pianos - so the CP-73 will be getting used heavily on upcoming performances & recordings.
Cheers & God bless!