I have a number of Max Richter's soundtracks on vinyl, but The Congress is one of my favourites. It might be in part because it was the first I heard, but could also be because it came with mp3s, so actually got a fair amount of play. I've not seen the film, The Congress, nor do I have any idea what it's about. I really should check it out. The artwork certainly looks interesting.
The soundtrack is mostly quite a gentle affair, but does get going at times, which makes me more curious about the film itself (although clearly not curious enough to seek it out and watch it at any point in the last five years). It also makes it much more listenable as an album than a lot of soundtracks. The inclusion of two sung covers feels like it should ruin that flow a bit, but actually they fit in perfectly - Dylan's Forever Young never sounded so sparse as against Robin Wright's clear vocals and the distorted drums and Leonard Cohen's If It Be Your Will a nice closer. I was familiar with the first, but I've never spent much time listening to Leonard Cohen (except that time at Glastonbury when he was on before The Verve and seemed to play for literally years). There are also a couple of classical pieces included - one by Schubert and another by Chopin. Whilst I know nothing about classical music, I do at least recognise those names. Do people call it a cover when it's a classical piece?
Anyway, it's a nice little record. I remember it had been out a while before I found this copy - I remember thinking "I should probably get a copy of that". When I did find it I felt quite lucky to get the chance to buy it, since it was limited to 500 copies, although I might have over-estimated the popularity; Max Richter has done about a billion soundtracks and even I've stopped buying them. The sleeve still has the hype sticker Rough Trade applied to it on the front (because I've never got round to removing it) and it's on a nice, heavy white vinyl.
Format: 12", picture sleeve, insert
Tracks: 15
Cost: £25 new
Bought: Specialist Subject Records
When: 25/10/14
Colour: White
Etching: none
mp3s: Download code
