Max Richter’s 2003 album The Blue Notebooks remains one of this century’s finest releases. Accordingly — as per all landmark records that gradually reach the level of “super amazing” in the minds of an ever larger number of people — Jlin and Konx-Om-Pax must now step in and offer memorable re-re-remixes of the original, classic(al) tracks!
I think I can speak for the collective “we” when I say that listeners weren’t necessarily expecting appearances from those artists on the upcoming reissues; but in the spirit of the emanating peace and inclusiveness, we absolutely welcome their doubtlessly unique contributions. Those two remixes exist among a plethora of extras featured on both the double-album and Special Deluxe editions of Blue Notebooks, which are both scheduled to be released — May 11 and June 29, respectively — on Deutsche Grammophon. Supposedly, the releases are in honor of 15 years since the original distribution, though I doubt many people would’ve complained if they had come out during a non-celebratory year.
Both the double-album and Special Deluxe edition span two discs/records, and the second disc/record for both releases have bonus material, consisting of the aforementioned remixes, as well as “new arrangements” of original tracks and the previously unreleased recording “A Catalogue of Afternoons.” The Special Deluxe edition, meanwhile, probably has better packaging, and it also features the brand new Richter track, “Cypher.”
Pre-order yourself some new notebooks online here, and watch a performance of “A Catalogue of Afternoons” below.
The Blue Notebooks reissue tracklisting:
Disc 1
01. The Blue Notebooks
02. On The Nature Of Daylight
03. Horizon Variations
04. Shadow Journal
05. Iconography
06. Vladimir’s Blues
07. Arboretum
08. Old Song
09. Organum
10. The Trees
11. Written On The Sky
Disc 2
01. A Catalogue Of Afternoons
02. On The Nature Of Daylight (Orchestral Version)
03. Vladimir’s Blues 2018 (new 2018 arrangement)
04. On The Nature Of Daylight (Entropy) (new 2018 arrangement)
05. Vladimir’s Blues (Jlin Remix)
06. Iconography (Konx-Om-Pax Remix)
07. This Bitter Earth / On The Nature Of Daylight
08. Cypher (Special Deluxe edition only)