German musician Bernward Koch (kahtch) has experienced a most astonishing rise within the international New Age music scene over the last decade. Koch's fame began to ascend when the artist (among greats such as Bonnie Raitt, Sting, Basia and Ottmar Liebert) contributed a track for two Aids-benefit compilations initiated by California radio stations KKSF and THE WAVE. Today Bernward Koch is considered by many as among the genre's leading artists.

No one who knows Koch's music is surprised by his success. The classically trained artist composes pieces of outstanding formal maturity and with an astonishing musical finesse. Koch himself calls his compositions "songs without lyrics," and indeed they are delicately crafted and clearly show their creator's sense of form. His arrangements are always marked by a tasteful balance of synthesized and natural sounds. The organic pulse of a real, flesh and blood drummer, Bernward's brother Christoph, is essential for Koch's music, and the exquisite flute playing of his wife, Christine Böhm, has over the years become a trademark feature in his sound.

Journey to the Heart:
" In Journey to the Heart, German pianist Bernward Koch’s music fills speakers or headphones. Adding keyboards, flutes, guitars and occasional percussion, Koch offers ethereal melodies. ‘Walk in a Meadow,’ ‘Sometime,’ and ‘Fragrant Memory’ are upbeat pieces. ‘Green Island’ is like a Celtic waltz. Rounding out this unique presentation are the meditations between piano and keyboards in ‘Long Way Home’ and ‘Sunset Glow,’ perfect for relaxation. This is a journey well worth taking."

- Ted Cox, New Age Retailer

Flowing:
" As the title (Flowing) suggests, Koch’s music is relaxing but not trite, and I enjoyed the variety. I wanted to hang on every haunting note of the bittersweet “Grave and Lucid River” and “Weeping Willow.” “Mysterious Remembrance” is very impressionistic, like being floated down a river surrounded by rose petals. Most delightful of Koch’s compositions is “Rotation,” which fizzes and zings like electrons at a party. Kind of made my eyelashes spark."

- Carol Wright, New Age Voice