Graz

Released for Piano Day 2021, Graz is a 'lost' debut album recorded in 2009 at the Mumuth (University of Music and Performing Arts Graz). It served as part of Thomas Geiger's thesis, 'Conversations for Piano and Room.' While Frahm eventually chose to release the more intimate, close-miked 'Felt' as his primary statement from this era, Graz represents his more traditional, grand-scale classical roots. The recording is notable for its lack of electronic manipulation or dampening, focusing instead on the natural reverb and resonance of the performance space. It features early versions of tracks like 'Hammers,' which would later become a staple of his high-energy live sets. Critics have noted that the album provides a crucial missing link in Frahm's discography, showcasing a technical prowess and acoustic brightness that was largely obscured by the 'felt piano' trend he later pioneered.