Artist:
Jonny Greenwood
Album: Bodysong
Label: EMI
Release: 2003
Anyone who thinks that lead guitarist Jonny Greenwood will not have a
musical future after Radiohead can get ready to eat
their words. Greenwood composed 13 instrumental tracks for the film Bodysong.
Jonny's solo debut is a success, and is actually far more interesting than his
other band's 2003 offering, Hail To The Thief.
Bodysong.com provides the following
description of the film. If you are still confused, visit their website.
Bodysong, the movie tells the story of an archetypal human life using
images taken from All around the World and The Last 100 Years of Cinema. In the Movie
every possible depiction of the human life from microscopic, medical to portraits and
newsreels, from births to deaths, are cut to a powerful music track by Jonny Greenwood of
Radiohead to create a powerful and highly emotional film, with peaks of ecstasy and
troughs of despair.
I have yet to see this film, as it is only in limited release, but I'm highly
intrigued, especially after hearing the score, which will see a release in the UK later
this month. No US date for the film or score has been announced.
Greenwood's score is frantic, disturbing at times, but overall, is strikingly
beautiful and ambient. A lot of soundtracks lack a coherent flow, but this one is
surprisingly listenable. Of the 13 tracks, some are lush and ambient, and others are
energetic and jazzy. "Moon Trills" leads off the disc, and it is completely
mindblowing. It is extremely ambient, and the piano reminds me a bit of "Pyramid
Song" by Radiohead.
"Convergence" can pretty much defeat anything on the Requiem For A
Dream soundtrack in terms of disturbance level. To me, this is the sound of a man
going completely insane. It is one of the less accessible tracks on the album, but it is a
fun listen. Let me set things straight. If you are not a fan of Kid A, Amnesiac,
electronic bands such as Aphex Twin, or ambient legends like Brian Eno, then I can't see
you enjoying this. If any of that is up your alley, then you're going to love this.
Regardless, give it a shot and see what you think.
It is amazing how much talent Greenwood displays on here. He doesn't have to have a
guitar freak out to display he's a good musician. With Bodysong, Jonny proves he
is pretty much a musical genius by blending tons of different textures and instruments.
The shocking thing is that, for the majority of the time, it actually works, and sounds
really good.
This is another one of those great albums that provides a perfect atmosphere for
falling asleep or just relaxing. Brilliant tracks like "Clockwork Tin Soliders"
support that claim just fine. I don't even want to think what this record would sound like
if a person was under the influence of a recreational substance. And to think you thought
Radiohead sounded "out there."
Strings are all over the place on this one. "Bode Radio / Glass Light / Broken
Hearts" uses them to perfection. Greenwood's classical influence really shines on
this track. "Milky Drops From Heaven" is jazzed out. It is a really fun song. I
remember reading something on the Ateaseweb Boards
about a comparison to the band Fourtet. I can hear that as well. No doubt this guy has
good taste in music.
"Tehellet" ends the disc on a somber note, and is a nice, but haunting
way to close out the score. Overall, Jonnny Greenwood has succeeded in crafting a fine
album, and has established himself as a solo artist to be on the lookout for in the
future. This may not defeat the Radiohead holy trilogy (consisting of The Bends through
Kid A), but it blows Amnesiac and Hail To The Thief away by a longshot.
This is a beautiful record, and another one of the hidden treasures that 2003 has brought
us.
~Huey (10/23/03) |
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