Apparat

Sascha Ring (aka Apparat) takes an entirely different approach on his latest album, Krieg und Frieden (Music for Theatre), treading into the world of theatre compositions. It's not exactly what you'd expect from the German DJ/producer, although the concept alone is enough to pique interest. Commissioned to compose the score for the stage adaptation of Tolstoy's War and Peace, Apparat came back with a seamlessly blended, minimalist album of epic proportions. Opening track "44" quietly builds with haunting violin and cello laid bare, until the crescendo diffuses the tension and the atmospheric static of "44 (Noise Version)" is ushered in. The album feels like a deconstruction of subtle sounds, of movements and emotions peaking before evaporating. "PV" gains quiet strength from a field of clicks and glitches, building upon muted brass and disjointed keys before a brazen drop unleashes a tangle of shrieking horns. Apparat's foray into ethereal compositions is a powerful, vivid work of art. Krieg und Frieden deserves a standing ovation.