Cinematic

This is a compiled list of albums that strike me as having something so rich and full to them that they are of a cinematic quality...this doesn't mean that they're so grand that they could score feature films with huge explosions and romantic love scenes. These pieces could be the score to rain falling, or to looking at trees before a storm hits while driving...a soundtrack to life itself.

Max Richter - Blue Notebooks

This album is just beautiful. The lush strings contrast perfectly with the interjections of found sounds and poetic expression through voice. The quality of this album in all its originality is unparalled. You simply won't find another like this. Richter's work, both before and after this album, are worthwhile indeed but unable to reach the same level this has hit. This album seems to embrace the frailty of existence and extenuate the greatness of simplicity.

http://www.maxrichter.com/
http://www.myspace.com/maxrichtermusic


Red Sparowes - Every Red Heart Shines Toward The Red Sun

As there are many, many releases that are put under the category of 'post-rock' these days, Red Sparowes so far have sadly been overlooked. While bands such as Explosions in the Sky may have brought 'post-rock' to the forefront of popular music, it could also be the reason why no one is searching out alternative bands that could possible fit under the same moniker. Thus far, to the average listener, 'post-rock' typically consists of Mogwai, Explosions, Do Make Say Think, Sigur Ros and so on. These bands are releasing boring material these days, to me at least and is creating an icky stagnation in this field of sound. With all of that sad, I am extremely pleased with the output by the Red Sparowes, and cannot speak highly enough of this album. Every Red Heart Shines Toward the Red Sun is quite beautiful in all its ugliness. There isn't a lot of thick guitar, but its heavy. There isn't a lot of quiet pauses, but the ambient drifts that can be found here are very relaxing. Thankfuly there are no words. Just music. Soulful and dramatic without becoming theatrical. There are hints of being deserted - desperation, loneliness and fullfilment while in these states of solitude. For my money - instrumental rock music could not become any more personal than this recording.

http://www.redsparowes.com/
http://www.myspace.com/redsparowes