A Tranquil Journey Through Nature’s Soundscape
.webp "Bernward Koch-Behind The Hills")
Two years ago, I covered Bernward Koch's Calming Colors. Now, Behind The Hills has arrived to give listeners a calming walk through the colors that only nature can bring.
Additional musicians are Christiane Boehm (flute), Moritz Koch (electric guitar), and Christoph Koch (cymbals, percussion).
“On and On” starts the musical journey with soft keyboard and a layer of synth. Various tempos in the orchestration are featured on this first track, with a flute interspersed on occasion. The lullaby-like track gets you into the right frame of mind before moving on to the next track.
“Piano at Night” again takes the listener through a relaxing, slow-tempo mix of keyboard layers. As the day turns into night, the sun goes down, and you are ready to relax and reenergize for the next day. It's like guided meditation.
“Sleeping Flowers” has a nice rhythmic flow on the keys, with the synth layer in the background as the keys gradually shift in tempo and you hear nature come through, or an effect that sounds like crickets. Flowers do sleep at night and remerge with the new day’s sunshine, much like the cycle of humans.
The title track is always a significant centerpiece to a recording, and “Behind the Hills” brings the sounds of the piano’s keys into a sharper perspective here. The flute is a welcome addition and always seems to accentuate the keys beautifully. Close to four minutes of uninterrupted musical beauty.
“Beautiful View” mirrors the track title, and the cymbal nuances stay well-timed and understated, matching the overall keyboard transitions and synth orchestrations. The flute and bell ring out, bouncing off each other, adding another element of elegance.
“An Old Castle” comes together like a story told through the transitory keys and synths. That is the goal: to paint a picture of something that has stood for centuries. Music makes it easy to see that picture in your mind’s eye.
“In the Forest” feels light and airy with a fresh perspective awaiting your embrace. The forest holds beauty and secrets untold; however, the key progressions and the flute bring it all to life and put you there for a walk along a path of your own making; follow the melody.
“Inner Treasure” is a phrase you can look at in many ways. For this listener, I choose to look inward to find whatever treasures I may have tucked away in my thoughts or soul. The music prompts you to pull that out. This track sounds cinematic, with rising layers of synths and the flute again adding movement to make it a complete, gorgeous composition.
“Timeless Memory” creates a pause for reflection while still offering listeners a chance to find solace and meditation in the rhythms, tones, and colors that radiate through the keys. Always lovely yet impactful, it begins a process of enlightenment.
“The Linden Tree” keeps the theme of nature and the purity of that thought process intact with a sweet melody that draws you in immediately. The light touch of the keys is what makes each of these tracks so entrancing and inviting. Here, it is reaffirmed with the addition of the flute and a whooshing sound like air passing through.
“Nordic Hills” moves into another scenery painted by the music’s power and resonance. The storylines continue, and as the track gathers momentum, several layers are introduced; the sounds differ from the previous tracks, with a majestic feel.
“Windy Weather” brings the stories and your journey through space and time to a close through the music. Again, something quite different is introduced, with some percussive elements and a steady, pronounced beat weaving through it. Some nice guitar lines enter the mix here; they mesh well with the keys and underlying synth layer that seems to float along lighter than air.
Bernward Koch is truly at one with his music on Behind The Hills. Listening to this album invites you into his world, offering a gentle escape into serenity and reflection. It’s a journey crafted in harmony with nature, encouraging listeners to rediscover their own sense of calm and connection with the world around them.
Keith “MuzikMan”
Hannaleck-NAMR Founder
August 28, 2026