Max Richter - Songs From Before (2014)

Following releases by Set Fire to Flames, Sylvain Chauveau, and Max Richter himself, Songs from Before is the fifth release on FatCat's 130701 imprint, established as a creative outlet for music of a more orchestrated, instrumental variety. Following 2004's critically acclaimed the Blue Notebooks, Songs... provides a further refined, perhaps even subtler take on Max's narrative landscape, beautifully recorded and cinematic in scope. In 1996 Max Richter worked closely with the Future Sound of London on their release Dead Cities. Initially involved as a pianist, he ended up co-writing a track (which they subsequently titled "Max"). Following this, he collaborated with FSOL over a two-year period on the album the Isness, programming, piano playing, arranging, mixing, co-producing and co-writing various tracks. Max's orchestrations have also graced in the Møde by drum'n'bass pioneer Roni Size. He also co-founded the immensely successful contemporary classical ensemble Piano Circus. More recently he produced and co-arranged the long-awaited second album by 60's legend Vashti Bunyan.