12-09-2014, 18:45
Rome, written and composed by Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi
![[Image: 220px-Danger_Mouse_%26_Daniele_Luppi_-_Rome.png]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/17/Danger_Mouse_%26_Daniele_Luppi_-_Rome.png/220px-Danger_Mouse_%26_Daniele_Luppi_-_Rome.png)
This is a concept album of music inspired by âspaghetti westernsâ and played mostly by a whole host of musicians experienced in that world, and whose names end in âiâ! Essentially â the soundtrack to a movie of your own imaging.
It combines instrumental and vocal tracks, with contributions by Cantori Moderni, (the choir that featured on âThe Good, the Bad & the Uglyâ) Norah Jones and ⦠wait for it ⦠Jack White. He sure gets around! Sometimes, it seems to go off on a tangent to the polar (or not polar, but for want of a better metaphor) opposite, in that some of the tracks have a distinctly eastern flavour; the interludes, âMorning Fogâ and âHer Hollow Waysâ in particular, unless I am much mistaken. Ultimately â that might work out anyway â there could always be an east/west storyline tailored to fit.
There are definitely moments that conjure up images of derelict towns with tumbleweeds bowling along down dusty streets, leathery lawmen and various other visions of swagger, but itâs difficult to find a cohesive whole. Maybe the five years it took to get it all together was not ultimately in its favour, conceptually speaking, that is. The original picture may have paled a little along the way.
That being said, the album was recorded using vintage equipment which lends a warmth and burr to the sound and which helps to realise a sense of being in that time and place. And the tracks are, for the most part, good and listenable in their own right.
The opener, âTheme of Romeâ has just the right amount of menace and pomp for something of an overture, and I loved âThe Gambling Priestâ which perfectly showcases the sounds associated with this movie genre. Interesting instruments used throughout â celesta, harpsichord and organ.
The interludes have not been graded as they are so brief, but they are gorgeous â all three of âem â perfect little nuggets. Of the vocal tracks, my two favourites are âBlackâ and âThe Worldâ.
Score â 3.8 out of 5
Allmusic â 3.5 (interestingly, the user rating average is 4.5 from 126 users. Hmmm - shouldâve counted in those interludes!)
[video=youtube;TgzfzqrVtPk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgzfzqrVtPk[/video]
This is a concept album of music inspired by âspaghetti westernsâ and played mostly by a whole host of musicians experienced in that world, and whose names end in âiâ! Essentially â the soundtrack to a movie of your own imaging.
It combines instrumental and vocal tracks, with contributions by Cantori Moderni, (the choir that featured on âThe Good, the Bad & the Uglyâ) Norah Jones and ⦠wait for it ⦠Jack White. He sure gets around! Sometimes, it seems to go off on a tangent to the polar (or not polar, but for want of a better metaphor) opposite, in that some of the tracks have a distinctly eastern flavour; the interludes, âMorning Fogâ and âHer Hollow Waysâ in particular, unless I am much mistaken. Ultimately â that might work out anyway â there could always be an east/west storyline tailored to fit.
There are definitely moments that conjure up images of derelict towns with tumbleweeds bowling along down dusty streets, leathery lawmen and various other visions of swagger, but itâs difficult to find a cohesive whole. Maybe the five years it took to get it all together was not ultimately in its favour, conceptually speaking, that is. The original picture may have paled a little along the way.
That being said, the album was recorded using vintage equipment which lends a warmth and burr to the sound and which helps to realise a sense of being in that time and place. And the tracks are, for the most part, good and listenable in their own right.
The opener, âTheme of Romeâ has just the right amount of menace and pomp for something of an overture, and I loved âThe Gambling Priestâ which perfectly showcases the sounds associated with this movie genre. Interesting instruments used throughout â celesta, harpsichord and organ.
The interludes have not been graded as they are so brief, but they are gorgeous â all three of âem â perfect little nuggets. Of the vocal tracks, my two favourites are âBlackâ and âThe Worldâ.
- Theme of Rome (instrumental) **** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IwCB-R0q3I
- The Rose with the Broken Neck (Jack White) **** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qk1XS-74J2U
- Morning Fog (interlude) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt1meEKkYK8
- Seasonâs Trees (Norah Jones) *** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0I0PiWiDqQ
- Her Hollow Ways (interlude) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAiEkVoMlYQ
- Roman Blue (instrumental) *** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bim9x_uSMK4
- Two Against One (Jack White) **** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UibsjY5K-c
- The Gambling Priest (instrumental) ***** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMk5hSIxPAQ
- The World (interlude) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rGV1sFGzLA
- Black (Norah Jones)**** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3yAx2uCoHs
- The Matador Has Fallen (instrumental) *** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sZhxhB7_zg
- Morning Fog (instrumental) **** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnmtBB_BdaM
- Problem Queen (Norah Jones)**** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uPwumL8KQA
- Her Hollow Ways (instrumental)**** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOfKTAOXiPM
- The World (Jack White)**** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgzfzqrVtPk
Score â 3.8 out of 5
Allmusic â 3.5 (interestingly, the user rating average is 4.5 from 126 users. Hmmm - shouldâve counted in those interludes!)
[video=youtube;TgzfzqrVtPk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgzfzqrVtPk[/video]
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