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In a Landscape

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For the John Cage composition, see list of compositions by John Cage.
In a Landscape
A hand resting on a stack of books.
Studio album by
Max Richter
Released6 September 2024
StudioStudio Richter Mahr, Oxfordshire
Length75:53
LabelDecca
ProducerMax Richter
Max Richter chronology
The New Four Seasons
(2022) 		In a Landscape
(2024)
Singles from In a Landscape
  1. "Movement, Before All Flowers"
    Released: 29 May 2024

In a Landscape is the ninth[1][2] studio album by British composer Max Richter, released on 6 September 2024 by Decca Records. The record saw Richter returning to themes he previously explored on his 2004 album The Blue Notebooks. It was recorded in Studio Richter Mahr in Oxfordshire. The album was preceded by one single, "Movement, Before All Flowers". After the release of the album, Richter is set for his first-ever world tour.

Release

[edit]

In a Landscape was announced on 29 May 2024, with its release date set for 6 September by Decca Records.[3] On the album, Richter said:

For me, the music on the record is about connecting or reconciling polarities. The electronics with the acoustic instruments, the natural world with the human world, and the big ideas of life with the personal and intimate. This is a dynamic I started to explore in my 2004 record The Blue Notebooks, and the new project shares many of that album's concerns; in a way this record is another look at the themes of the earlier work, but from the perspective of our world and our lives in 2024.[3]

With the announcement, Richter also released the lead single, "Movement, Before All Flowers", which Clash's Robin Murray called "a beautiful introduction, embodying a unique sense of control. Every note is purposeful, marked by the kind of audio painting Max Richter has long since made his own."[4]

Recording

[edit]

In a Landscape is Richter's first solo album recorded in Studio Richter Mahr, the studio in Oxfordshire which he built with his wife, Yulia Mahr.[5][2]

Reception

[edit]
In a Landscape ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.2/10[6]
Metacritic74/100[7]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash8/10[8]
The Irish Times[9]
Pitchfork7.3/10[10]
Spectrum Culture84%[11]
SpinB-[12]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, In a Landscape received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 74 out of 100 from 5 critic scores.[7]

Live

[edit]

With the album, Richter also announced his first-ever world tour for September 2024 – May 2025 across Europe, Australia, and the United States, beginning with an appearance at La Bâtie-Festival de Genève [fr] in Geneva on 7 September.[5][1] The Australia and United States legs of the tour will be performed with the American Contemporary Music Ensemble.[5][1]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Max Richter.

Disc 1 track listing
No.TitleLength
1."They Will Shade Us with Their Wings"8:33
2."Life Study I"0:46
3."A Colour Field (Holocene)"2:25
4."Life Study II"1:24
5."And Some Will Fall"8:04
6."Life Study III"1:04
7."The Poetry of Earth (Geophony)"3:58
8."Life Study IV"0:31
9."Only Silent Words"2:16
10."Life Study V"0:30
11."Late and Soon"7:10
12."Life Study VI"0:41
13."Andante"2:33
14."Life Study VII"1:01
15."A Time Mirror (Biophony)"3:58
16."Life Study VIII"0:42
17."Love Song (After JE)"5:39
18."Life Study IX"0:52
19."Movement, Before All Flowers"4:17
Disc 2 track listing
No.TitleLength
1."And Some Will Fall" (edit)4:11
2."The Poetry of Earth (Geophony)" (edit)3:39
3."Late and Soon" (edit)3:19
4."Love Song (After JE)" (edit)4:41
5."Movement, Before All Flowers" (edit)3:39
Total length:75:53

Personnel

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Musicians

[edit]
  • Max Richter – synthesizer programming (tracks 1, 2, 4–7, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 18, 20–23), piano (1, 3, 7, 10, 13, 14, 17, 19, 22, 24, 25), Hammond organ (1, 15), rhythm programming (8), electronic percussion (17, 24)
  • Max Ruisi and Zara Hudson-Kozdoj – cello (tracks 1, 5, 7, 11, 17, 19–25)
  • Connie Pharoah and Eloisa-Fleur Thom – viola (tracks 1, 5, 7, 11, 17, 19–25)
  • Max Baillie – violin (tracks 1, 5, 7, 11, 17, 19–25)
  • Gemma Moore – baritone saxophone (tracks 1, 15)
  • Martin Robertson and Paul Richadrs – bass clarinet (tracks 1, 15)
  • David Fuest – clarinet (tracks 1, 15)
  • Graeme Blevins and Martin Williams – tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 15)

Technical

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  • Max Richter – production (all tracks), engineering (tracks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18)
  • Rupert Coulson – mixing (all tracks), engineering (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19–25)
  • Alex Ferguson – engineering (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19–25)
  • Cicely Balston – mastering

Charts

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Chart performance for In a Landscape
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[13] 28
French Albums (SNEP)[14] 175
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[15] 63
Scottish Albums (OCC)[16] 12
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 30
UK Albums (OCC)[18] 67

References

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  1. ^ a b c Dunworth, Liberty (29 May 2024). "Max Richter announces new album In a Landscape and first ever world tour". NME. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b Kelly, Tyler Damara (29 May 2024). "Max Richter announces his ninth studio album, In a Landscape". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b Rettig, James (29 May 2024). "Max Richter – "Movement, Before All Flowers"". Stereogum. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  4. ^ Murray, Robin (29 May 2024). "Max Richter Announces New Album In a Landscape". Clash. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Strauss, Matthew (29 May 2024). "Max Richter Announces Tour and Album, Shares New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  6. ^ "In a Landscape by Max Richter reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b "In a Landscape by Max Richter Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  8. ^ Kingsley, Tom (6 September 2024). "Max Richter – In a Landscape". Clash. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  9. ^ Murphy, Lauren (5 September 2024). "Max Richter: In a Landscape – Strikes a pleasing equilibrium between music to admire and music to enjoy". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  10. ^ Ague, Vanessa (12 September 2024). "Max Richter: In a Landscape Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  11. ^ Pinfold, Will (10 September 2024). "Max Richter: In a Landscape". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  12. ^ Harris, David (11 September 2024). "Max Richter Floats Away on In a Landscape". Spin. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Ultratop.be – Max Richter – In a Landscape" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Top Albums (Week 37, 2024)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Max Richter – In a Landscape" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Max Richter – In a Landscape". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
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