This morning I went for a bike ride, past the stables, and out into the countryside in search of a pastoral view like the one seen in the cover art for Max Beirne Shafer’s “The Good In All Things.” I put the track on repeat as I rode, its strings lulling my body into a rhythm as I lost sense of time—there was only pedaling and this gorgeous, controlled composition, evocative of a sensibility that Max B has put on display with recent releases like “The Way You Get By” and “Thanks.” Having cut his teeth playing in a number of bands while growing up in New York City, Schafer’s turn towards this solo work is a beautiful gift to their listeners. They’re calm, restrained works that beckon you to explore their intricacies and understand their patience.