Album: Ludovico Einaudi, Nightbook (Decca)

Ludovico Einaudi occupies the often disparaged space that used to be the preserve of new-age music, situated midway between classical music's studied restraint and pop's eager melodicism.

His two solo piano "Snow Preludes" here nod to the likes of Satie and Chopin, and Keith Jarrett's improvisations, while the cello and piano negotiations of "The Crane Dance" are conducted with pastoral delicacy. Elsewhere, the chamber arrangements of tracks such as "In Principio" and "Nightbook" incorporate gently chugging cello, marimba and subtle wisps and warbles of electronic noise alongside Einaudi's crepuscular piano figures.

Download this In Principio, Nightbook, The Crane Dance, Snow Prelude No 2