Max Richter – Dona Nobis Pacem 1 (2015)

YouTube – Spotify – Apple – Discogs

Some midweek mastery and two words that mean cool contemporary classical… Max Richter. In 2014, the German-born British composer wrote the music for the HBO series The Leftovers. The cello in ‘Dona Nobis Pacem 1’ just sings to me.

Ólafur Arnalds – Happiness Does Not Wait (2013)

YouTube – Spotify – iTunes – Discogs

High praise indeed, but I wonder whether Max Richter was listening to the Icelandic multi-instrumentalist Ólafur Arnalds when he wrote the theme piece for the HBO series The Leftovers. ‘Happiness Does Not Wait’ first appeared on the contemporary classical music label Erased Tapes’ Collection V.

Max Richter – November (2002)

YouTube – Spotify – Apple – Discogs

‘Tis November folks. In 2002, Max Richter released his debut album Memoryhouse. It features the stunning ‘November’. Turn off the lights, turn up the volume and feel the season approaching.

9 of the best – sounds of 2002

Before we get to the nitty gritty of choosing some favourite sounds of the year, a quick canter back to 2002, with songs in no particular order:

Wilco ‎- Jesus, etc.

The Knife – Heartbeats

The Flaming Lips – Do You Realize?

Supergrass – Prophet 15

Max Richter – November

The Notwist – One With The Freaks

Boards Of Canada – Alpha And Omega

Interpol – Obstacle 1

Wilco – Ashes of American Flags

###

Honourable mentions also go to: The Flaming Lips for ‘In The Morning Of The Magicians‘; Layo & Bushwacka for ‘Lovestory‘; John Murphy for ‘In The House, In A Heartbeat‘; Múm for ‘Green Grass Of Tunnel‘; The Promise Ring for ‘Become One Anything One Time‘; People Under The Stairs for ‘Acid Raindrops‘; The White Stripes for ‘Fell In Love With A Girl‘; The Libertines for ‘Up The Bracket‘; Sigur Rós for ‘Vaka (Untitled)‘; and Red Hot Chili Peppers for ‘Universally Speaking‘.