As an acclaimed contemporary composer, Max Richter has shown an impressive consistency in the quality of his work. Following 2004’s The Blue Notebooks and his production work on folkie Vashti Bunyan’s acclaimed Lookaftering, Songs From Before is a fitting next chapter in his career. Building off the format of Notebooks, Songs From Before pairs Richter’s warm piano compositions with readings of text written by novelist Haruki Murakami. And with its string section and carefully employed radio hiss, Songs From Before,/i> is a deeply moving, near-sacred work.