NEWS
DATES
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22.01.25 Loom & Thread – Plauen, Malzhaus
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14.04.25 Felix Klinge Quartet – Leipzig, Horns Erben
RELEASES
Loom & Thread - Island Grammar (2022,Macro)
“ […] this is a brilliant and unique take on post-jazz, with moments of true beauty and dazzling sections of both instrumental prowess and technological creativity.“
Peter Hollo,
FBi Radio
Sydney (AUS)
„Das ist so eine Art meta-improvisierte Musik.[…] improvisiert, aufgezeichnet, verhackstückt und dazu dann wiederum weiterimprovisiert. Das ist wunderbar!“
Markus Ortmanns.
ByteFM
Hamburg (GER)
“ […] Viele wirklich ungewönhliche Soundexperimente auf dem Album von Loom & Thread.“
Daniella Baumeister
HR2 Kultur
Frankfurt M. (GER)
PROJECTS
LOOM & THREAD
Links
Loom & Thread appear to present a take on this most classic of springboards of improvised music: the piano trio. Indeed, Daniel Klein on drums and Tobias Fröhlich on double bass forge that highly satisfying, interlocking framework, set in complex juxtaposition to what comes at them from the corner of Tom Schneider on keys. It would be a highly satisfying triangle of planar relational wonder on its own. Imaginative re-adaptation of unexpected shifts, re-grouped into coherent streams of musical thought. Superb clarity despite the pressurized density of form, the emergence of intricate order from spontaneous play.
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And yet this would be an utterly incomplete description. Because a dozen directions and dimensions and interdependent layers open like trap doors all around, shattering any first impression of a familiar context within just a few seconds of listening. What appears to be piano improvisation in the post-bop tradition soon exhibits abrupt disruptions, impossible shifts, improbable repetitions, movements in frequency and dynamics beyond the physical capabilities of a fixed-pitch instrument deemed so familiar.
Schneider samples his own playing and continuously feeds it back into the ongoing collective stream of the trio’s real time work. Assigning starting points to the sampled phrases, these are then treated as musical events like the individual tones they contain: a second order of access is created. Signifier and signified in the hands of the same individual musician, thus driving a two-pronged plane of immanence.
This meta-improvisation is thrown at the other two players who now find themselves embroiled in some kind of three dimensional chess game: fending off simulacra and responding to both, idiosyncratic primary phrases of tones and a vibrant multitude of sampled variants. Reflexivity: the piano/sampler continuum with its multi-layered access points to improvisational mapping is then attacking and soothing and further teasing the appropriately angular rhythm section.
SOLO
In a world where the boundaries between acoustic and electronic music are increasingly blurred, innovative projects emerge that merge traditional instruments with cutting-edge technology. One example of this evolution is Daniel Klein’s solo project, in which he explores new sonic dimensions through a hybrid setup centered around Sunhouse Sensory Percussion.
Daniel Klein’s musical journey has been shaped by years of experience in various bands and a deep-rooted passion for both acoustic and electronic sound creation. His discovery of Sunhouse Sensory Percussion marked a turning point, sparking a creative explosion that led to the development of his solo work. This system allows acoustic drums to function as digital controllers, triggering a vast array of sounds and samples.
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The project began in a small home studio, packed with cables, samplers, and sound processors. Driven by the desire to expand his musical language, Klein started experimenting with ways to integrate hybrid drumming into his compositions and improvisations. His approach seamlessly bridges non-linear improvisation, post-jazz elements, and experimentalism, crafting a unique sound that exists between the organic and the digital.
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At the heart of Klein’s setup lies a traditional acoustic drum kit equipped with Sensory Percussion sensors. These sensors capture the drumhead’s vibrations and convert them into digital signals, which are processed through a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). This enables Klein to generate intricate soundscapes, pulsating beats, and evolving textures in real-time.
The setup includes a combination of classic snare, bass drum, and toms, complemented by electronic pads and triggers. Each stroke on the drum kit can manipulate multiple sound parameters—ranging from triggering simple samples to controlling complex synthesizers or granular synthesis, where sounds are deconstructed and reassembled into new forms.
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With this hybrid approach, Klein expands the rhythmic palette far beyond traditional drumming. His music thrives on layering techniques, where multiple sounds are stacked and dynamically altered based on playing intensity, position, or gestures. Soft touches can generate ambient textures, while powerful strokes trigger distorted electronic drums or reactive effects.
One of his key compositional techniques involves transforming everyday sounds into musical material. Field recordings of urban environments, nature, or human voices are sampled and integrated into rhythmic structures, creating an immersive and storytelling-like sonic experience.
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A core element of Klein’s solo project is live performance. His hybrid setup enables spontaneous interaction with the audience and the surrounding space, making each concert a one-of-a-kind experience. The interplay between acoustic drumming and digital sound manipulation produces unexpected sonic landscapes that evolve organically in real time.
The visual component also plays a crucial role. LED-triggered pads light up in sync with the played sounds, enhancing the immersive atmosphere. Additionally, Klein incorporates video projections triggered by specific drum hits, establishing a synesthetic fusion of sound and image.
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Many of Klein’s compositions originate from improvised sessions, which are later refined and developed into structured pieces. He explores odd time signatures, polyrhythms, and micro-timing to create complex rhythmic layers. His music thrives on the contrast between organic, acoustic textures and synthetic, electronic elements, pushing the boundaries of what is expected from a solo percussionist.
His influences are diverse, drawing inspiration from jazz, electronic music, experimental sound design, and hip-hop grooves. Additionally, artistic movements such as Surrealism and Minimal Art inform his abstract, often cinematic approach to composition.
ABOUT
Daniel Klein is a musician and drummer from Leipzig, Germany, with a deep sensitivity for contemporary improvised music. With his longtime band Loom & Thread, he explores the realms of non-linear improvisation, placing a strong emphasis on a hardware sampler as the core of the musical process.
In recent years, Daniel Klein has been actively involved in interdisciplinary art forms, particularly in modern music theater. He has collaborated with institutions such as Schauspiel Frankfurt and the E.T.A. Hoffmann Theater in Bamberg. Additionally, he has focused on integrating „hybrid drumming“ into his solo works.
Originally from Frankfurt/M, he spent time in Weimar and Berlin before eventually settling in Leipzig. His musical journey began with genres like Punk, Alternative Rock, Core, and Death Metal, yet he was also deeply influenced by artists such as Ton Steine Scherben, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, Art Ensemble of Chicago, and Weather Report, thanks to his mother’s musical influence during his formative years.
At the age of 15, he embarked on his first studio residency at Trion Studios (Frankfurt/M), which had previously belonged to his father. This experience ignited his passion for composition, recording, and production, which have since become integral parts of his skill set as a musician and creative individual.
In his solo projects, Daniel Klein explores the space between analog and digital sound creation. His music is characterized by modern creativity, post-jazz elements, and experimentalism. While the acoustic drum offers the freedom of infinite resolution in any musical parameter, digital sound manipulation pushes the music beyond the horizon of what the listener might expect.