Loher, Raphael
Figuren
Radically exploratory, Raphael Loher's Figuren is an album shaped by process and experimentation. Guided by intuition, listening, and a deliberate distancing from his primary instrumentthe piano, the LP marks a decisive step in the Swiss pianist and composer's artistic development, expanding his sonic vocabulary while maintaining a distinct and personal language. Figuren draws on ten intimate concert recordings from KeemuunLoher's debut for Three:four Recordscreated during the pandemic and performed in his studio for just one or two listeners. This source material was subsequently developed during a residency in the Blenio Valley, where Loher deconstructed melodic elements, isolated individual tones, and extracted resonances, reassembling them into new configurations. The process generated around 30 initial pieces and also informed his sophomore album, Hug of Gravity, released by Hallow Ground in 2025. In a further stage of transformation, Loher processed these fragments through a Revox B77 tape machine, subtly altering their pitch before digitizing and reshaping them once again. This iterative cycle of manipulation and recombination forms the core of Figuren's sonic language. Departing from the more structured frameworks of his earlier work, Figuren foregrounds experimentation as both method and aesthetic. The compositions range from finely layered rhythmic microstructures to sparse, evolving melodic fragments, each unfolding with a precise sense of restraint.