Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out Of Balance (1983 Film) [Soundtrack, Import]

Philip Glass | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 17, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack, Import
• Label: Universal I.S.
• ASIN: B000001F4L
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #190,554 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Koyaanisqatsi

2. Vessels

3. Cloudscape

4. Pruit Igoe

5. The Grid

6. Prophecies

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The striking time-lapse imagery of Godfrey Reggio's Koyaanisquatsi was really an accompaniment to Philip Glass's music, rather than the other way around. Think of it this way: You can listen to the music without the film, but you'd never watch the film without the music. OK, maybe you didn't leave the theater humming the tunes (although I do remember going around chanting that thrillingly deep-throated "Koyaanisqatsi" for a while); this is some of Glass's most dramatic and powerful music-- essential for anybody interested in modern film music, or just modern music in general. --Jim Emerson

Product Description

Koyaanisqatsi - Life out of Balance - music by Phillip Glass.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A teaser at best..., October 30, 2002

By 

A. Ort "aorto" (Youngstown, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out Of Balance (1983 Film) (Audio CD)

I've had the VHS for a number of years and watched it several times through a low end audio/video setup. It was satisfactory. This CD gave me the highlights I missed on the low end VHS tape.

I bought the DVD but haven't watched it yet because I was saving it to see the movie on the big screen. This past weekend I got to see the movie on the big screen but, to my surprise and profound glory, I got to see it not only on the big screen but I got to see it live with Philip Glass and company performing the soundtrack in person. Oh my what I've been missing.

I have since recorded the DVD onto tape and never realized just how much I missed and how profound the recording is. Of course I may be biased having seen it live and the images of the movie emblazened into my brain when I hear the score but I absolutely love this composition.

The reason it only gets four stars is that you must get the DVD; you must have the entire score. Anything less is to your loss. It's as if I never heard it before.

My recommendation is to see it with the film but the soundtrack stands on its own as an amazing piece of music. The score for Powaqqatsi is also brilliant but perhaps because, as noted on the 'extras' on the DVD, no one was waiting for this movie, this stands out as an inspired piece, moreso than Powaqqatsi (which is also brilliant but in a different way).

Invest in the DVD and don't tease yourself with this album alone. As an independent piece of music or as accompaniment to a brilliant piece of filmmaking, it's awesome.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enigma, Deep Forest and 90's Trance but 10 years earlier, August 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out Of Balance (1983 Film) (Audio CD)

What can be said about Phillip Glass and his foreboding soundscapes? Innovative, thought provoking albeit repetitive. Having owned the soundtrack for 5 years but not having seen the movie certainly allowed me to form an opinion solely on the musical merits. I just wish I had heard the music in the early 80's when it was released. It must have been truly groundbreaking. For all its repetition the soundtrack combines an ancient religious musical experience colliding with modern technology and symbolism. Granted it is not an album for weddings and parties but nevertheless the soundtrack is a brilliant chill out, stop and think piece. Most importantly the album delivered the movies message to me before I even saw Koyaansqatsi. Now I have seen the movie and the message contained within, the music has all the more value. Good buying for a Trance, Deep Forest or Enigma music lover. Bad buying for the Top 40 narrow minded commercialist. By the way, do yourself a favour, get hold of a subwoofer, crank the volume and lie back with your eyes closed. Then I guarantee you will be blown away!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Grid was better in this recording, March 11, 2005

By 

Christopher K. Koenigsberg (Norman, OK USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out Of Balance (1983 Film) (Audio CD)

The Koyaanisqatsi music is simply fantastic.

Both the original soundtrack recording, and the newer re-recording, are very good, but they are different, each with its own strengths and relative weaknesses compared to the other.

I think The Grid was much more exciting and intense, in this original version. Especially the bass; I miss the driving throbbing power of the basslines in this version, when I listen to the re-recording, where the bass is laid back in the background, in comparison.