Infra 4 (內省4)-Louisa Fuller/Natalia Bonner/Nick Barr/Ian Burdge

Richtershows once again that he’s a master of conveying the maximum amount of emotions with the minimum amount of music: “Journey 4”'s melody teeters between despair and reassurance with almost every note. Despite - or perhaps because of - Infra's subtlety, it offers a wide-open backdrop for dancing. “Infra 8”'s tender swirls and “Infra 2”'s complementary arcs of strings and electronics suggest steps that flow or scuttle like a pair of ragged claws. Whether Richter explores abstract drones as on “Journey 3,” reminds listeners of what a sensitive player he is on piano-driven pieces such as “Journey 1” and “Infra 3,” or unites the work’s elements on major pieces like “Infra 5” and “Infra 7,” he does so with a masterful restraint that gives Infra's slate-gray moods maximum impact. This may be the most subdued of Richter's Fat Cat releases, but every nuance shows the care with which he crafts all of his music.