Bleep

Ellis, the hauntingly beautiful mini-album by Nils Frahm and Woodkid, is nothing short of a bold political statement: released on Frahm’s label home Erased Tapes and recorded in Berlin, it’s the pair’s soundtrack to the soul-stirring short film of the same name. Starring Robert De Niro walking through the corridors of New York’s abandoned Ellis Island hospital, a former detention facility for new immigrants who were deemed unfit to enter the United States after their arrival, it raises pressing questions about the reasons behind the refugee crisis. Modern classical composer Frahm and French multi-talent Woodkid capture the film’s eerie mood in sound: while Frahm’s signature piano playing style – the sound of the fingers touching the keys – adds a human element to the cold “winter morning” arpeggios, Woodkid’s opening bell punch on ‘Winter Morning II’ has alarming effects. Like the dark drones oscillating underneath Robert de Niro’s captivating narrative, it creates a powerful sense of urgency – one that everyone can translate into action by buying this release, as all proceeds will go to the charity Sea Watch.