We Speak Music
Peter Manning Robinson Twists Grief Into Gold on the Brilliantly Surreal “Bent Out of Shape”
There’s a rare kind of instrumental music that doesn’t simply soundtrack emotion — it physically rearranges it. On new single “Bent Out of Shape,” Peter Manning Robinson delivers exactly that kind of transformative experience, crafting a piece that feels simultaneously playful, cinematic, and quietly profound. Arriving ahead of his forthcoming neo-classical album Excursions, the track pulses with a sense of rediscovered light after darkness.
Built around dancing piano motifs and whimsical melodic turns, “Bent Out of Shape” moves with an almost childlike curiosity. Robinson’s performance feels untethered from rigid structure, flowing freely between jazz phrasing, classical elegance, and emotional improvisation. Yet beneath the buoyancy sits something deeper; the sound of an artist consciously choosing joy after prolonged struggle. Knowing the track emerged from personal hardship and anxiety surrounding global unrest only sharpens its emotional resonance.
The accompanying visual by longtime collaborator Klaus Hoch elevates the composition into something cinematic and dreamlike. Set inside a stunning seaside mansion, the video traces two lovers revisiting fragmented memories and unresolved tension through surreal imagery and hushed intimacy. Hoch avoids obvious narrative beats in favour of emotional texture, allowing the architecture, coastline, and body language to mirror the fluid unpredictability of Robinson’s composition.
What makes Robinson such a compelling figure within contemporary instrumental music is the sheer breadth of experience behind every note. An Emmy-winning and multi-BMI Award-winning composer, inventor of the Refractor Piano™, and lifelong innovator, his work has always blurred the boundaries between technical experimentation and emotional storytelling. That tension is especially palpable here. “Bent Out of Shape” sounds sophisticated without ever becoming sterile; adventurous without losing warmth.
As a preview of Excursions, the single suggests a record deeply invested in emotional survival and renewal. In a cultural moment saturated with noise and cynicism, Robinson offers something refreshingly sincere: music that dares to search for hope without denying pain. “Bent Out of Shape” doesn’t ignore the chaos of the world; it dances through it with grace.
Swiss artist Fanny Alexandra returns with “Black Pearl Summer”, a new single that finds her exploring a more open side of her alternative sound. Released via Now Listen, the track combines coastal imagery with a story about growing through grief, pressure and the experiences that can shape a person over time.
Alexandra notes that the song is relatively summery by her own standards. She has said that her music is usually darker and that she has never been particularly drawn to the typical idea of summer, preferring cold air, jackets and rugged coastlines. That gives the release a clear sense of personality from the outset.
The song centres on Alexandra’s reflections on being 19 and spending years focused on survival rather than fully living. Those experiences are presented through the image of a black pearl, which becomes a way of considering how something worthwhile can emerge from a challenging period.
What makes the track particularly effective is the balance between its subject matter and its musical approach. The production gives the song room to breathe, while Alexandra keeps the focus firmly on the story she is telling. It means the track can be enjoyed as a seasonal release while still offering more to discover in the lyrics.
There is also a clear sense of change in the way Alexandra approaches her younger self. The song is not about returning to that period or trying to erase it. Instead, it considers what can be learned from experiences that once felt overwhelming.
“Black Pearl Summer” therefore offers newcomers a useful introduction to Alexandra’s work. It shows an artist comfortable writing about serious subjects, while also demonstrating a lighter musical side that may not be as familiar to listeners who know her darker material.
It is an interesting glimpse of what Alexandra can do when she lets a little more light into the picture.
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