Jóhann Jóhannsson - Retrospective I flac album

"I’m not a classical composer. I’m not a neo-classical composer. I’m just a composer writing music. Sometimes I write music for films and sometimes I write music for my own projects and I try to keep that balance fairly even." Jóhann Jóhannsson (19 September 1969 - 09 February 2018) May The All-Compassionate rest his soul. Amin.Jóhann Jóhannsson was a singular artist, a rarity who created a new kind of musical environment. His wide vision was beyond the barriers of a music genre and surpassed definition. His authentic work was sincere, fearless, dynamic and innovative. He had the ability to create unique pieces of work by using a palette of diverse musical fusions and in essence, by expressing his emotions and thoughts into beautiful atmospheric and spacious soundscapes. Jóhann Jóhannsson created something that is quite special … compositions from the realm of the undefinable. It is an impossible task to classify or categorize his music. And perhaps, one could simply say, I listen to "Jóhann Jóhannsson Music." His compositions have the power to take the listener on an evocative, soul-stirring and introspective journey. Some of his compositions that deal with loss, failure and tragedy induce feelings of melancholy. These feelings could be described as sublime complex states that descend and ascend through sadness and poignancy, simultaneously achingly flowing through states of solace, interwoven with a great sense of ethereal beauty, bliss and peace too. One could liken his exceptional and distinctive arresting compositions, especially his solo works, to a sublime and beautiful interior voyage. In essence, his compositions are like an invitation to our own inner or spiritual worlds. I don't think anyone can deny the transcendental power of music. And of course Jóhann Jóhannsson's music is certainly not immune from this power. Above all, we can't really express it, we can only experience this beauty, this truth … this blessedness. It is so sad that this singular artist, who composed such exceptional, distinctive and above all beautiful music left us … so soon. Naturally, there is a great sense of sadness … but there is also gratitude too. Gratitude that we can experience Jóhann Jóhannsson's musical environment with such profound emotion, respect and love. Deutsche Grammophon has produced a gracious homage to the late Jóhann Jóhannsson. RETROSPECTIVE I is an engaging introduction to some of his early milestone recordings. A quality product, beautifully curated and well worth the price. The CD box set includes an elegant deluxe hardcover book. The book itself, contains informative and intriguing essays that provide us with a further insight into his life and work. The text is also accompanied by a selection of photographs. Principally, RETROSPECTIVE I is a collection of some of Jóhann Jóhannsson's earlier work and includes 7 albums. The albums are Virðulegu Forsetar (2004) Dís (2004) And in the Endless Pause There Came the Sound of Bees (2009) The Miners' Hymns (2011) Copenhagen Dreams (2012) Free The Mind (2012) and the previously unreleased documentary soundtrack, entitled, White Black Boy (2012). The inclusion of two of his masterpieces, the extraordinary, most patient and contemplative Virðulegu Forsetar and the sombre sounding Miners' Hymns (which culminates into an illuminating and triumphantly beautiful yet poignant grand finale … it brings tears to ones eyes), are in my opinion, the zenith of this present selection. In a nut shell, RETROSPECTIVE I invites the listener to a rich and profound musical environment that celebrates the artistic diversity of a truly remarkable composer. I would like to point out (I'm very surprised that nobody has mentioned the following) … CD 4 - The Minors' Hymns, appears to have an anomaly. The matter concerns Track 5 - Industrial And Provident, We Unite To Assist Each Other. The duration of the track is a staggering 11:07. On the original CD release, the duration is 3:27. Track 5 actually includes Track 6 - The Cause Of Labour Is The Hope Of The World. That of course explains the 11:07 duration. On the original CD release this track concludes the composition. However on the Retrospective version, Track 6 concludes the composition. The question is, what is Track 6 then? Track 6, is a 8:20 version of The Cause Of Labour Is The Hope Of The World. In comparison to the original CD release Track 6 is 7:40 ... quite a difference!Original CD release - Total Time - 51:02Retrospective Version - Total Time - 59:13Is Track 6 on the Retrospective Version the same version as the original CD release version (and of course the Retrospective Track 5 version) or an alternative version? Or has it just been repeated, obviously by mistake! And if this is a mistake ... Oh really, how is this possible, do the good folk at DG not listen to test discs properly?I would also like to mention the absence of the nostalgic and achingly beautiful, IBM 1401, A User's Manual (2006) and the epic and elegiac, Fordlandia (2008). This is disappointing, and I'm quite sure, that I'm not the only one, who would have loved to see their inclusion. Nevertheless these 2 pieces of work are still available on 4AD Records and I have to stress that one can still purchase them at the standard retail price! Unlike some of the above titles, which have been put on sale by private sellers at ridiculous prices. And lastly, according to Deutsche Grammophon, RETROSPECTIVE II will follow in 2020 … we patiently await!