How They Are

Released in 2010, How They Are represents a pivotal moment of reduction in Peter Broderick's discography. Following the more layered and experimental 'Home', this mini-album (or EP) was recorded in a single month with a self-imposed restriction: one voice and one instrument at a time, captured with minimal processing. This 'one-mic' approach emphasizes the physical space of the recording environment, making the room itself a secondary performer. The track 'Hello to Nils' is a direct nod to his contemporary and frequent collaborator Nils Frahm, highlighting Broderick's place within the Erased Tapes circle of modern classical and neo-folk innovators. Critics, including those at BBC Music, noted the album's 'stark beauty' and its ability to turn mundane domesticity into something transcendental. It stands as his most intimate work, bridging the gap between his singer-songwriter leanings and his background as a multi-instrumentalist in the Danish ensemble Efterklang.