Taliban Dances

Modern classical project that tries to blend Eastern and Western traditional music together, with some short solo piano pieces and a couple of modern, traditional classical tracks. The result is pretty interesting. I guess with the title being Taliban Dances and all, it is bound to be political. I think it is taking the ‘peace’ approach by demonstrating that Eastern and Western music can be combined effectively; may be suggesting that our cultures can do the same, but I really don’t feel like I should be telling you what to get out of the music. There are fleeting, gorgeous moments but usually something comes crashing through them. Also note that the CD jewel case actually has a mistake on the track list…There are 11 tracks, and the back of the case numbers them 1-10, skipping one. I’ve never seen this sort of mistake before. Hilarious. FCC Clean.

1. Orchestra adds tension to violin’s wanderings, touches of middle eastern sound, pauses often, warm orchestral touches supplement the more angular violin playing, very fluid movement; very few motifs noticeable to my inexperienced classical ear, emotive conclusion(6:16)
2. Ominous opening refrain, swells, horns, stuttering percussion, smooth strings support(3:42)
*3. Noisy percussion, staccato notes, urgent feel, horns, strings, percussion create memorable sequences…interesting…jazzy in parts, almost experimental(2:38)
4. Horns, percussion open track, Arabic scales, strings, woodwinds play off each other, really cool sequences with some eastern flourishes over Western, more traditional classical elements(4:07)
5. A summation of sorts of 1-4. There are some upbeat sections here, some crashing percussion in the first third of the song. Motifs from 1-4 are recalled.(8:36)
6. Off-kilter waltzy, spare, jazzy piano piece…like Frank Rothkamm’s Opus Spongebobicum(1:35)
*7. More rhythmic solo piano, a hushed ballad, still a bit ominous, wandering(2:03)
8. Again, strange solo piano; sounds like the Peanuts theme songs crossed with ragtime. Rapid, upbeat pace(1:45)
9. Courtly horns open with minor key tonality, strings and woodwinds continue, smooth wandering with percussion and strings creeping about, more of a traditional classical piece, very fluid track, apparently inspired by/about D-Day invasion(6:03)
10. Another furiously paced, pounding piano piece that is hard to follow; experimental, jazzy dissonant if we must go down this path(1:33)
*11. Dark, heavy percussion, exciting conclusion, menacing, dissonant, interludes of sweetness contrast with epic, marching band-esque triumph. This is a John Williams soundtrack to a nightmare of paranoia and claustrophobia.(2:13)