Max Richter : 24 Postcards In Full Colour

On his fourth album, Max Richter breaks his own sound down for the sake of advancing ringtones. ...
Max Richter : 24 Postcards In Full Colour
7.7 Fat Cat
2008 

Max Richter : 24 Postcards In Full ColourOn his fourth album, Max Richter breaks his own sound down for the sake of advancing ringtones.  In doing so, and with their signature, solemn beauty intact, Richter’s strings shed a lot of their 18th century aura for that of a 21st century one on 24 Postcards In Full Colour.  The album is, indeed, 24 short, disconnected tracks that don’t combine to have the overall fluidity of his past efforts, but show off his aesthetic mastery nonetheless.

As its name suggests, the album has the appeal of a book of very short stories.  Quick, yet deep, explanations are at times difficult to grasp, as slow movements end before they build into anything particularly substantial.  “H In New England” is made of a rolling piano that’s beautiful in and of itself, but is abandoned as a short, solo riff.  “Cascade NW by W” is a haunting, ethereal group of tones that drift by with ghostly delicacy.  The entire album is a fragmented collection of these types of samples, but at the same time, the most appealing set of ringtones ever made.

Max Richter has an undeniable ability to make orchestral instruments seem highly relevant. 24 Postcards In Full Colour further accomplishes that, but in a far different way than his previous releases.  It’s a peek inside Richter’s toolbox that give a great deal of insight into his techniques, which is rare for an artist to offer, and should be appreciated as such.  And you might just make one track your new ringtone.

MP3 Stream: “A Song For H/Far Away”

{audio}/mp3/files/Max Richter – A Song For H_Far Away.mp3{/audio}

Categories
Album Reviews
  • Anonymous
    at
  • No Comment

    Leave a Reply

    Album of the Week