Nils Frahm's album 'The Bells' was one of our favourites last year in the neo-classical domain. Predominantly a solo piano work, 'The Bells' finely balanced experimental playing styles with beautiful melancholic pop pieces.

The young Berlin based composer follows this up with what must be the shortest single of the year, proving that great works are not defined by size alone. Clocking in at barely two minutes each, 'Unter' and 'Über' are both solo piano pieces, recorded on Frahm's own piano in his Berlin studio flat, which adds a very distinct flavour to the tracks.

With the inner workings of his instrument clearly present on the recordings, 'Unter' and 'Über' are perhaps Frahm's most intimate pieces to date, not only through their sound aesthetics, but also through the personal and optimistic atmosphere of the compositions themselves.

Dutch experimental music maverick Rutger Zuydervelt a.k.a. Machinefabriek contributes a remix of 'Unter', which elaborates on the original's hypnotic qualities through series of shifting, sequenced loops. 'Unter' has further inspired German filmmaker Ralph Etter to take his camera out on a field and shoot a further stunningly simplistic video of barley flowing in the wind, which completes this lovely package of hand-crafted music.