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“Despite its non “authentic” soundtrack nature,
this can hardly be seen as a failing point of the album. “Passion”
is still a wonderful listen for those who enjoy film music, and its’
musical textures have inspired many composers aiming to recreate a
similar score for a similar genre.”
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Gabriel’s
Temptation
Review by Steve
Townsley
Peter Gabriel is more
known for his eclectic
contributions to pop
music and the
creative, innovative
animated videos that
would accompany some
of his biggest hits,
notably “Sledgehammer”
and “Steam”. Gabriel
certainly has a more
spiritual side to his
music, however, and is
not afraid to pursuit
it, whether or not it
is perceived as
“popular”,
particularly in
comparison to his
bigger radio hits.
Likewise innovative
and eclectic filmmaker
Martin Scorcese chose
Peter Gabriel to score
his controversial 1988
film, THE LAST
TEMPTATION OF CHRIST. The choice
was a curious one, as
Gabriel seemed
unlikely to the task,
but this is why both Scorcese and Gabriel
are unique in their
artistry, both seeing
creative potential
where others do not.
The collaboration gave
listeners a curious
new album from
Gabriel.
Because of his deep
artistic attachment to
the project, Gabriel
continued to develop
the music long after
the film had been
released. Not quite a
soundtrack, at this
point, the score
became more of an
instrumental album,
released by Gabriel
under the title
“Passion”. (Sometimes
the album is not found
on the soundtrack
shelves, but in pop
and world music bins,
depending on the
retailer!)
The music on the album
is a collaboration of
performances by
musicians and
vocalists more noted
for their
contributions to the
world music genre, but
whom have since
collaborated on many
more recent film and
television music
projects. (Close
listeners may
recognize the backing
vocals of Shankar,
whose more recent
projects have included
the popular show
“Heroes”.) Gabriel’s
own personal touch to
the music included a
contemporary
percussion track as
well as his own
vocalizations, which
prevent this album
from sounding like a
too-deliberate attempt
at first century
music.
Despite its non
“authentic” soundtrack
nature, this can
hardly be seen as a
failing point of the
album. “Passion” is
still a wonderful
listen for those who
enjoy film music, and
its’ musical textures
have inspired many
composers aiming to
recreate a similar
score for a similar
genre. Composer Joseph
LoDuca recreated a
homage to Gabriel’s “A
Different Drum” (track
7) for the series
“Hercules: The
Legendary Adventures”.
“A Different Drum” is
one of the album’s
more recognizable
compositions, for its’
catchy repetitive drum
rhythm and Gabriel’s
lyric-less vocals.
Indeed, the entire
album is a compelling
arrangement of ethnic
winds and beats gilded
with the lightest
touch of religious
themes, climaxing in a
rejoice of bells and
drums in penultimate
track 20, “It is
Accomplished”, which
is a pure celebratory
track of music, as it
should be. The closing
track, 21, revisits
the established
joy-theme of
“Accomplished”, but is
much more reclusive
and haunting, with a
solitary woodwind and
layered vocals, and
slowly fades away to
the album’s close.
The cons of this album
are few, but if you
are not an enthusiast
of similar sounding
film scores like the
works of Vangelis,
Lisa Gerrard, or even
John Debney’s work on
THE PASSION OF THE
CHRIST, then album
may not be worth your
while. This is a very
atmospheric album, and
it’s one that the
eager listener may
find themselves
revisiting many times.
Rating:
7/10
|
Track |
Track Title |
Track Time |
Rating |
|
1 |
The Feeling
Begins |
3:59 |
**** |
|
2 |
Gethsemane |
1:25 |
** |
|
3 |
Of
These,
Hope |
3:55 |
*** |
|
4 |
Lazarus
Raised |
1:25 |
*** |
|
5 |
Of
These,
Hope
(Reprise) |
2:44 |
**** |
| 6 |
In Doubt |
1:32 |
** |
| 7 |
A Different Drum |
4:40 |
**** |
| 8 |
Zaar |
4:53 |
*** |
| 9 |
Troubled |
2:55 |
**** |
| 10 |
Open |
3:27 |
*** |
| 11 |
Before Night Falls |
2:19 |
** |
| 12 |
With This Love |
3:39 |
**** |
| 13 |
Sandstorm |
3:02 |
*** |
| 14 |
Stigmata |
2:27 |
** |
| 15 |
Passion |
7:38 |
**** |
| 16 |
With This Love (Choir) |
3:20 |
**** |
| 17 |
Wall of Breath |
2:29 |
*** |
| 18 |
The Promise of Shadows |
2:13 |
* |
| 19 |
Disturbed |
3:35 |
** |
| 20 |
It is Accomplished |
2:55 |
**** |
| 21 |
Bread and Wine |
2:19 |
**** |
| |
Total Running Time (approx) |
67 minutes |
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