The ‘godfather’ of neo-classical music, Ludovico Einaudi’s expressive and accessible style of romantic minimalism has inspired countless pianists and composers the world over. Composing from his home in Milano, Italy, Einaudi’s artisanal melodies have provided the perfect accompaniment to millions of rainy days and sentimental moments. Here are ZoneOut’s top 5 essential albums by Ludovico […]
From fireside lullabies to ambient new age synthesisers – we’ve always used music to help us get to sleep. One of the essential qualities of music is that it appeals to our body’s rhythms. And music can help bring down our own tempo, especially with so many technological distractions trying to keep us awake. Here are five […]
We review five albums Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds: ‘some kind of peace’, ‘re:member’, ‘Island Songs’, ‘The Chopin Project’, and ‘For Now I Am Winter’
In founding Edition of Contemporary Music (ECM) in 1969, producer Manfred Eicher sought records with the ambience of ideal concert venues; with crystalline clarity and extraordinarily three‑dimensional spatial sense. His commitment to excellence, idiom-crossing collaborations and artistic freedom swiftly attracted the world’s finest musicians. We asked Manfred Eicher to reflect on the work of another […]
Don Was has spent a lifetime in music. Was’s production and bass-playing can be heard on recordings from artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Ziggy Marley, The Rolling Stones, and his own band Was (Not Was). In his current role as the the President of Blue Note Records, Was is charged with developing current roster of […]
Max Richter may well be the most important composer of our time. His work has been heard in the concert hall, in major Hollywood films and television series, and occupies a place in the streaming playlists of millions worldwide. We take a look back at five essential albums from throughout Max’s career. Stream the essential […]
Unlike the piano – which unless creatively modified is confined to the 12 pitches of the Western chromatic scale – the strings have access to the notes between the notes. This freedom allows for all manner of expressive wobbling, bending, and sliding. The emotional potential of stringed instruments is only magnified when they gather in […]
Neo-classical music takes the best bits of classical music, minimalism, electronica and experimental rock and mixes them up into a delicious sound-salad. The piano has played a central role in this musical movement, lending it’s wide expressive and tonal palette to a host of iconic albums. And so ZoneOut took on the difficult task of […]
