Hishiryo

Released in 2002 on Tonus Music, Hishiryo: Solo Piano serves as the foundational blueprint for Nik Bärtsch’s entire 'Ritual Groove Music' aesthetic. While Bärtsch is widely recognized for his work with the groups Ronin and Mobile, this solo effort captures his 'Moduls' in their embryonic state. The title 'Hishiryo' refers to a Zen state of 'non-thinking,' a concept that permeates the record's repetitive and mathematical structures. Recorded in Switzerland, the album features Bärtsch utilizing prepared piano techniques to achieve percussive, gamelan-like textures, effectively turning the piano into a one-man percussion ensemble. Critically, it is viewed as the essential prologue to his later ECM recordings, offering a 'naked' glimpse into his compositional process. Most of the pieces here, such as Modul 4 and Modul 13, would later be expanded into full-band arrangements, making this a vital historical document for fans of modern minimalism and avant-garde jazz.