The Time It Takes

Released in 2020, 'The Time It Takes' represents a refined continuation of Keith Kenniff's work under the Goldmund moniker, further cementing his status as a pioneer of the 'intimate piano' subgenre. While his earlier works like 'Corduroy Road' explored historical and Civil War-era themes, this album feels more internal and timeless. The recording technique is central to the album's identity: microphones are placed so close to the piano's internal mechanisms that the mechanical 'noise' becomes a rhythmic and textural element of the composition. This 'dusty' production style aligns the album with the works of Nils Frahm or Max Richter, yet Kenniff's specific melodic sensibility - rooted in American folk and post-rock structures - gives it a distinct, Americana-adjacent warmth. Critics have noted the album's ability to evoke a sense of 'solitary comfort,' making it a staple in contemporary ambient and neoclassical circles. It stands as one of his most cohesive and emotionally resonant collections, stripping away artifice to focus on the raw, physical act of play.