grand orchestral movements sit side by side with stark, nakedly emotional vocal pieces in a beautifully moving & visceral narrative.

‘if…’ is the debut solo album from bill ryder-jones (formerly of the coral). written as a tribute to italian avant-garde author italo calvino’s postmodern novel ‘if on a winter’s night a traveller’, the largely instrumental songs are mapped out as a soundtrack inspired by the book. for fans of max richter & hauschka’s work as well as those seeking the similar quietude & soaring sound of bon iver & smog “‘if...’ is dominated by widescreen cinematic soundscapes & fabulously evocative arrangements. tipping a nod to the work of clint mansell on the ‘black swan’ soundtrack, both ‘the reader (malbork)’ & ‘le grand disordre’ are spectacular in the composition & execution” 8/10 - clash.