Phil Smith - Tagebuch (2024)

We are delighted to present the debut record by pianist, poet and radio producer Phil Smith. Turning his attention away from BBC feature-making and his cult Jazz-Disjunction NTS show, Phil offers us the diaristic, heartfelt and homespun 𝘛𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘤𝘩.

𝘛𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘤𝘩 is a collection of musical journal entries, spanning Phil's time living in Berlin from 2013—2017. Using sweetly tumbling piano as a jumping-off point, Phil soon flexes his storytelling chops, shifting from scene to scene via voice, folk-jazz arrangements, musique concrète and the occasional techno-synth chugger.

Don't be fooled by 𝘛𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘤𝘩's back-of-envelope charm, this is an expertly crafted radio biopic without words; the minutiae of life percolated through layers of accordion, U-Bahn harmonics and beer foam. A talented cast of guests and friends, notably multi-instrumentalist Zac Gvi, adds an unassuming weight and emotional muscle to this deeply personal source material.

Recommended if you like John Carroll Kirby, Penguin Cafe Orchestra or Alabaster DePlume. The vinyl edition of 𝘛𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘤𝘩 comes complete with a book of poems and photos by Phil.