Songs from Before (Max Richter album)
Songs from Before is the third solo album by neo-classical composer Max Richter, released on October 23, 2006 on 130701, an imprint of FatCat Records.[1]
Songs from Before | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 23, 2006 | |||
Studio | Eastcote Studios (London, England) The Exchange Studios (London, England) | |||
Genre |
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Length | 37:18 | |||
Label | 130701 | |||
Max Richter chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
2014 reissue cover |
The album was reissued on April 25, 2014 on Deutsche Grammophon.
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Pitchfork | 8.3/10[2] |
Songs from Before received largely positive reviews from contemporary music critics.
Pitchfork gave the album a positive review, stating, "Richter takes techniques from the classics and modifies their approach to make more appropriate—but no less efficacious—statements for his own circumstances. Given Songs from Before's thematic conceit, this is appropriate: Richter isn't interested in changing the way the world hears his music as much as idealizing how he wants to hear it. He resurrects past idols for present idioms, his heroes, proclivities and experiences donned as unrepentantly as the nostalgia at Songs' core."[2]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Max Richter.
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Song" | 4:12 |
2. | "Flowers for Yulia" | 6:50 |
3. | "Fragment" | 1:41 |
4. | "Harmonium" | 4:21 |
5. | "Ionosphere" | 1:27 |
6. | "Autumn Music 1" | 3:54 |
7. | "Time Passing" | 1:51 |
8. | "Sunlight" | 5:35 |
9. | "Lullaby" | 0:53 |
10. | "Autumn Music 2" | 3:49 |
11. | "Verses" | 1:43 |
12. | "From the Rue Vilin" | 1:02 |
Total length: | 37:18 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
13. | "Leo" | 2:26 |
Total length: | 39:44 |
The album features readings from a number of novels by Haruki Murakami, all read by Robert Wyatt.[1]
- Dance Dance Dance (track 2, Flowers For Yulia)
- Norwegian Wood (track 4, Harmonium)
- South of the Border, West of the Sun (track 7, Time Passing, and track 9, Lullaby)
- Sputnik Sweetheart (track 11, Verses)
Personnel
- Main personnel
- Max Richter – mixing, piano, primary artist, producer
- Chris Worsey – cello
- Natalia Bonner – violin
- Ian Burdge – cello
- Additional personnel
- Mark Rankin – engineer
- Nic Shonfeld – photography
- Anna Tjan – engineer
- Robert Wyatt – readings
Release history
Country | Date |
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United Kingdom | October 23, 2006 |
United States | October 30, 2006 |
References
- "Fatcat Records — Press". www.fat-cat.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
- Currin, Grayson. "Max Richter: Songs From Before Album Review". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2016-02-12.