APPARAT - Krieg Und Frieden (Music For Theatre)

Nice, concise collection of chamber pieces and experimental sketches for theatre recorded by Apparat and a close coterie of musicians last year and now available on Mute. The earnest string lament of '44' is reminiscent of one of Max Richter's most intimate works, or one of Michael Nyman's less mannered compositions for Peter Greenaway, and despite existing in the shadow of such noted practitioners it delivers the goods, no question. The same track is put through a grinder of distortion and dub abstraction on the so-called 'Noise Version', invoking the plaintive drift of William Basinski, Wolfgang Voigt and even recent Mike Shiflet. 'Tod' - that's 'Death', folks - is a particular highlight, its plangent guitars consumed by teeming field recordings and dolorous drones a la Fennesz's Black Sea, while 'Blank Page' tackles the modern-classical-meets-dark-ambient formula beloved of the Miasmah crew, but with a generously melodic - let's say pop - sensibility that Apparat has honed over the course of his solo career. Other highlights on this enjoyable if ephemeral selection include 'Pv' - which reaches a soaring, post-rock climax that will surely be fighting off competition from Sigur Ros to soundtrack the next advert for a BBC nature documentary - and the almost folksy 'K&F Thema (Pizzicato)'. Apparat fans are rewarded with two full-blown vocal numbers, 'Lighton' and 'A Violent Sky'. Record Label: Mute Artists Ltd Style: Pop