Reviewed by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Rhythmique Nocturne is the first solo album from Christian Prommer in over ten years, picking up from the successes of Drumlesson Zwei and Übermood, complementing his work as part of Trüby Trio, Fauna Flash, Drumlesson and Voom:Voom.

Prommer, in the words of his Bandcamp, “distils ten years of Berlin into a twilight drift between order and abandon. Daytime studio sketches are pulled apart at night, reshaped by shifting perspectives that swing between jazz harmony, textural experimentation, and the heavy gravity of techno basslines and analog drums. Intimately close-mic’d piano, drums, percussion, cello, and strings are constantly recontextualized—dropped into new rooms, resonances, and imagined spaces—so their meaning keeps mutating. Room noise, human breath, and accidental sounds are folded into the pulse, turning spill and imperfection into rhythm. Even a piano lid thudding shut on Dark Matter is claimed as part of the beat, underscoring an album that embraces freedom, spontaneity, and the beautiful lack of accountability that defines this city at night.”

What’s the music like?

The extended quote shows everything that this album is about, rhythm being the prime focus but with instrumental colour always carefully considered and imaginatively sourced.

What strikes the listener is the forward momentum Prommer enjoys on each track, the fusion between jazz and dance that working extremely effectively, the grooves driven by the lower end of the piano working a treat.

The likes of Algorhythmic and Dark Matter reach thrilling highs, powered by sharp piano stabs and quick beats, their lean and wiry kinetic energy getting the foot tapping straight away. Black Mamba adds deeper feeling, a darkly glinting track that builds effectively, while Bosss lets Kelvin Sholar’s piano run free. Tryin’ Times harks back to the Truby Trio, sashaying into the room in the company of Justine Hoerwarth, whose vocal timing is ideal.

Providing contrast is the deep Struck, vocalist Leona Berlin multitracked on a smoky slower jam, and Night Society, whose orchestral palette grows in poise and power.

Does it all work?

It does – and with atmospheric slower tracks complementing quickfire missives, the contrast is ideal.

Is it recommended?

Yes. An album that fizzes and pops in all the right places!

For fans of…St. Germain, Brandt Brauer Frick, Truby Trio, Jazzanova, Kyoto Jazz Massive

Listen / Buy

Published post no.3,006 – Thursday 3 September 2026