Jóhann Jóhannsson - Orphée (2016)

Jóhann Jóhannsson's move to the distinguished ranks of Deutsche Grammophon for his first studio album in a few years was meant to start a new chapter in his career as a modern composer.  Instead, it was a coda - after only a couple more soundtrack releases, he suddenly died aged just 48.  The wintry, elegaic tones of Orphée, inspired by Jean Cocteau's film of the same name and the myth of Orpheus it was based on, took on an even more sombre air in hindsight.

It's a beautiful album, with 15 short tracks (only two breaking the four-minute mark) built on simple materials for maximum melancholy and atmosphere.  Given Jóhannsson's considerable body of soundtrack work beforehand, it's perhaps no surprise that some of this music sounds particularly filmic, especially the opening Flight From The City with its piano motif gradually built upon.  Several tracks are centred around strings, and little production touches like understated electronics and effects, and the ghostly radio samples of a "numbers station" add variety.  Then all instrumentation is absent for the sublime closing track, performed by acapella choir.

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Previously posted at SGTG: Fordlandia