Max Richter – Behind the Counter – Album Review by Killian Laher

The role of a compilation in an age of access to practically all music for all has changed greatly.  We now have collections of songs ‘curated’ by an artist, which gives them a seal of approval.  It’s a bit like a musical artist taking control of the music on an imaginary radio station.

With Max Richter putting his name to such an album, expectations are high, and here, they are generally met.  Much of the album is of a classical nature, broken up by more modern fare such as Boards of Canada and Low.  The sequencing is excellent, moving from Mogwai to Thomas Ades and Kronos Quartet to Aphex Twin to name but a few.

There is a lot of music here, and its hard to envisage a scenario where somebody is going to put this on for a room of people.  Perhaps the best way to listen to this is as a whole, without the tracklisting, and just immerse yourself.

Released July 14th on Rough Trade Shops records

·           3 X limited edition transparent green coloured vinyl LP – unmixed with download code to mixes (plus bonus 7” vinyl exclusive to Rough Trade Stores)

·           3 X black vinyl LP – unmixed with download code to mixes (available in non Rough Trade stores only)

·           2 X mix CD (Rough Trade version comes with bonus CD, including the 7” vinyl tracks and more)

·           2 X mix download

CD1 / download mix 1

1. The Unanswered Question

Composed by Charles Ives

Performed by New York Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor Leonard Bernstein

2. Bach BWV 659 arr. Busoni Nun Komm den Heiden Heiland

Composed by JS Bach arr. Busoni

Performed by Alfred Brendel, Piano

3. Partita III. Courante

Composed by Caroline Shaw

Performed by Roomful of Teeth

4. 3 Pieces for Cello and Piano_No. 1. Modere

Composed by Nadia Boulanger

Performed by Nicolas Alstaedt, cello and Jose Gallardo, piano

5. Ether

Performed by Mogwai

6. Arcadiana, Op.12 (1994)_VI. O Albion

Composed by Thomas Adès

7. Hoquetus David

Composed by Guillaume de Machaut

Musical Director: David Munrow

8. Zoetrope

Performed by Boards of Canada

9. Starry Sky Cycle (1980-87)_Ursa Minor [Peace]

Composed by Urmas Sisask

Performed by Lauri Väinmaa, Piano

10. Qui habitat (Psalm 90)

Composed by Josquin des Prez

Performed by Huelgas Ensemble and Paul Van Nevel

11. Of Late

Composed by Howard Skempton

Performed by John Tilbury, Piano

12. Bobbing Beams of Light

Performed by Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith

13. Dixit Dominus, HWV 232_ IX. Die Torrente in via bibet

Composed by Handel

Performed by English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot

Gardiner & Monteverdi Choir

14. Mercy

Composed by Max Richter

Performed by Hilary Hahn, Violin and Cory Smythe, Piano

15. Rejoice O Virgin

Composed by Rachmaninoff

Performed by Tenebrae

16. Last Things Last

Performed by Rachel’s

17. Canticles of the Sky_Sky with Four Suns

Composed by John Luther Adams

Performed by the Northwestern University Cello Ensemble.

18. Wasserklavier

Composed by Luciano Berio

Performed by David Arden, Piano

CD2 / download mix 2

1. Rockets Fall On Rocket Falls

Performed by Godspeed You! Black Emperor

2. Satyagraha: Evening Song

Composed by Philip Glass

Performed by New York City Opera Chorus and New York City Opera Orchestra

3. Deep Six Textbook

Performed by Let’s Eat Grandma

4. FANTASIA 7

Composed by Henry Purcell

Performed by Phantasm

5. Preludes, Opus 11_XXI Andante – In B flat Major

Composed by Scriabin

Performed by Marta Deyanova, Piano

6. What Part of Me

Performed by Low

7. Tenebrae_II

Composed by Osvaldo Golijov

Performed by Kronos Quartet

8. DISKPREPT1

Performed by Aphex Twin

9. Immortal Bach

Composed by Knut Nystedt

Performed by Schola Cantorum

Conductor: Kåre Hanken

10. Remembrance

Composed by Caleb Burhans

Performed by Yuki Numata Resnick, Violin

11. Pièce d’Orgue in G Major, BWV 572 à 6

Composed by JS Bach arr. Fretwork

Performed by Fretwork

12. Dream 3

Composed by Max Richter

Performed by Clarice Jensen, Cello, Ben Russell, Violin & Max

Richter, Piano

13. String Quartet No.14 In D Minor, D.810_Death And The

Maiden (extract)

Composed by Schubert

Performed by Hagen Quartett

14. Les Baricades Mistérieuses

Composed by Francois Couperin

Performed by Max Richter, Harpsichord

15. Tehillim Part II: Psalms 34:13-15

Composed by Steve Reich

Performed by Steve Reich Ensemble