Apparat - Krieg und Frieden (Music For Theatre) Review

Apparat, aka Sascha Ring, is no stranger to score music. Yes, he's never actually composed a film score, but everything he's made just seems like the backdrop of an ambitious art film. The German producer's latest release, Krieg Und Frieden (Music For Theatre), is a collection of songs based on Sebastian Hartmann's theater adaptation of the classic novel War And Peace. The album and the play are part of a project commissioned by German arts festival Recklinghausen. I've never read the novel (over 1000 pages!), so I can only assume that this album works as a companion to the stage adaptation and the book. (Hit the jump for more)


Apparat loves to explore emotion in his music, and this album is a good reminder of his knack for human influence. The music combines classical instrumentation with electronic sounds. There are drums here, but they're always incorporated sparingly, with a few exceptions, like at the climax. This album is structured like a set of literature - it has exposition, rising action, a climax, and a satisfying conclusion.

"44" sets the mood perfectly, and first indicates that isn't your average electronic album. The pulsating violins help create a very melancholy atmosphere. It's companion, "44 (Noise Version)", sounds little like the original and makes use of distant electronic drone noises. "Lighton" is one of the strongest songs on the album, mainly for the addition of Ring's delicate vocals, they really add to the track. The ambient tracks are decent, but really serve their purpose as background music. "Tod" and "Blank Page" convey the feeling of an empty train station. "PV" is another highlight, a song with its own epic climax. The two versions of "K&F Thema" are calm tracks that smooth out the album's climax. The second version (not "Pizzicato") reminds me of Aphex Twin's "Nannou", with its music-box clicking noises and playful atmosphere. After the epic, sprawling "Austerlitz", the album closes with "A Violent Sky", the second song featuring Apparat's vocals, and it's also a winner.

Over just ten tracks, this album feels like a soundtrack to its own little movie. It's a great headphone album, something that begs to be listened to in high quality with surround sound. Even if you're not the biggest fan of IDM or classical instrumentation, I'd still recommend it.

Favorite tracks: "Lighton", "PV", "A Violent Sky", "Austerlitz"
Least favorite track: "Blank Page"

My score: 8.5 out of 10