Peter Broderick
How They Are

LA RECENSIONE

Peter Broderick has grown up. The kid from the American suburbs (Maine) has become a "real" artist, who has understood the potentials inherent in his artistry. He had already shown his talent with the piano CD "Docile," followed by the neoclassical fluidities of "Float" and the singer-songwriter approach of "Home."

"How they are" is once again different from everything Broderick had produced up to that moment (we are in 2010). The same elements remain, but the way of handling them changes: piano and acoustic guitar are once again central for Peter, but what surprises now is his voice. If in "Home" it appeared shy, detached, in "How they are" it breaks through the snow of the gray cover. Increasingly confident, increasingly convinced of his modern classical or neoclassical, whatever you want to call it, Broderick here takes on the appearance of a melancholic singer-songwriter, reflective but never taking himself too seriously. Indeed, while the initial "Sideline" drags behind a powerful layer of emotional charge, the subsequent "Human eyeballs on toast" already eases the tones with an initial gallop on the keys that only later sees the entrance of Broderick's voice. But the piece that most of all demonstrates the improvement of the multi-instrumentalist and especially shows us a courage almost nonexistent before is "Hello to Nils", dedicated to his friend Nils Frahm (since you're already here, give a listen to his "Wintermusik" too). A very simple piece in its progress: guitar and voice, never so expressive, never so heartfelt. So at ease that he can even afford whispered parts, in line with the "fleeting" and light atmosphere that "How they are" carries with it.

The album in question, recorded in just a few hours, will certainly not be Broderick's final evolution. His music, when it seems to have found stability, varies again, shaped by the creative mind of its creator. It is to be expected that "How they are," like his other works, is just a passage, a small piece of Broderick's desire to experiment and experiment again. Yes, precisely him, the American kid from the province who grew up between Oregon, Maine, Denmark, and Germany. He has grown up.

1. "Sideline" (4:52)
2. "Human Eyeballs On Toast" (4:47)
3. "Guilt's Tune" (4:27)
4. "When I'm Out" (3:46)
5. "With A Key" (4:29)
6. "Pulling The Rain" (5:28)
7. "Hello To Nils" (4:30)