There is no other instrument which experienced such a glorious renaissance over the last couple of years like the piano. Heavily tempered with or as pure as possible: the piano has re-established itself as a driving force in innovative music. Ever since the release of their first album in 2004, Swod have been among the most respected acts in this genre which many falsely label "neo classical". With "Drei", Swod take their unique sound to a new level. "Sans Peau" for instance, a piece of gold for every DJ with an open mind, perfectly sets the stage for the new album. With heavy 808 toms, the right amount of noise and distortion and one of the most catchy hooklines of all times, the track is a perfect example of how the two Berlin-based musicians have finetuned, taken apart and reassembled both their style of composing and cutting-edge production. Fear not, though, "Drei" is a carefully crafted evolution of the well- established Swod sound. It's all there, and more. The melancholy of the piano, found sounds, delicate bass and guitar, the always present samples of a woman we all love and worship. For the first time, however, "Drei" showcases inspirations and influences more prominently which had been present in the band's earlier work, but which had been somewhat carefully buried. A deep love for the minimalists, which gives tracks like "Hellerau" or "I Am Here" an almost mechanical, sequenced feel, opening up Swod's body of work to a whole new audience. We at CCO think "Drei" is pretty amazing. And we hope you'll like it, too.