In the daylight, Markus Acher is the singer and guitarist for German experimental-pop stalwarts The Notwist. And while that gig affords him the opportunity to ply at the edges of traditional songcraft, sometimes you want to know what’s on the other side of that particular wall.
On Friday, Acher released A Beat of Silence under the name Rayon, a moniker he’s typically reserved for soundtrack work. Accordingly, it’s full of open spaces and hollow, echoing notes reminiscent of Philip Glass at his most delicate. Today, we’re premiering the video for “Kona,” the album’s centerpiece. Acher trickles vibraphone drops around a quiet, looping piano line, while Sachiko Hara’s harmonium saunters in and out at will like a guest walking in right at the “I do.” The video clip matches the nostalgic tone, looping together grainy footage of the countryside and wandering tourists before descending into soft, digitized abstraction, much like the song itself; think Erik Satie with a WiFi connection. Check it out below.
