Customer Reviews

Lost Objects

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The maverick composers David Lang, Michael Gordon, and Julia Wolfe hit cult status with this crossover classical-rock event, premiering in 2001 at the Dresden Music Festival. Musicians from Bang on a Can, a rock combo, and the baroque orchestra Concerto Koln blend beautifully. It's exquisite music, and it tells some amazing stories--the track "We Were Enveloped" takes off from a letter from explorer George Mallory, who vanished into the swirling snow in 1924 and was just discovered on Mount Everest. The letter was to his wife, Ruth, and this is ONE SPOOKY TUNE! "Not Our Darkness" sounds like Jimi Hendrix accompanied by a choir of angels."I Lost a Sock" is an ethereal meditation/lamentation. You can't lose with this CD!

I thought this album was very different and I enjoyed listening to it. I actually heard the first track "I Lost A Sock" during a Music Theory test (My Professor is the Contemporary Ensemble director at my college). I reccomend this album to anyone who's in the mood for something different.

Perhaps the most intense sensation we have received from "minimal" music such as that contained within this CD is music's new ability to at the same time annoy and inspire.

I bought this cd not knowing what to expect and, having heard it, I am not really sure what it is. An ambient amplified minimal pesudo-baroque oratorio with remixes by DJ SPOOKY? What bin in the record store does that go in? It has some cool songs, some social commentary, some religious (jewish) content, etc. I am powerless to categorize it, and I think that's where its power comes from. It is beautiful, strong, humane music, and I think it's really deep. I recommend it.

This CD might appeal to fans of minimalist music. But in my opinion, it's not quite the "crossover sensation" described below, although it does blend a baroque-style ensemble with a rock combo. This might look to some of you like some kind of fake gadget. Well, I'm afraid it is. If you love thrilling musical compositions, I'd recommend you stay clear from this "THING", which was a major disappointment to me.

So why did I buy it in the first place ? Probably because I felt I had to give this kind of "trendy" stuff a fair try. "Lost Objects" being sort of heavily promoted here in France, I decided to pick that one. Also, "Bang on a can" projects seem to be getting quite good reviews here and there, and the amazon review was enthusiastic.

Unfortunately, repeated listenings did not uncover beauties. Quite the opposite : it revealed (to my ears at least) the shallowness of the compositions. Luckily, I was able to get a refund from the store and got myself the Ligeti "studies for piano" instead, which I enjoy tremendously. I confess I never managed to appreciate Phil Glass, Steve Reich, and the other so-called "minimalists". That should give you an idea of my "background". I'm more into "maximalist" stuff : STRAVINSKY, WEBERN, BACH, and JOHN ZORN. And I do love MORTON FELDMAN and SCELSI ). Also, if you want to get a real kick out of music, try JANACEK. It's packed with emotion, without being sentimental, it's adventurous but not esoteric. But beware, it might turn into an ADDICTION !!