King of Translucidity

Phillip Glass-Koyaanisqatsi-1982
Phillip Glass-Glassworks-1982
Classical, modern, soundtrack

















I've got a double post here for you lucky guys and gals, two albums from Phillip Glass, considered one of the 20th centuries most important composers, his music is also incredible in my somewhat humbler opinion. Its actually a triple post if you count a link to a film, anyhow.....

The two albums are from the same phase in his career, both from 1982. The first album "Koyaanisqatsi: A life out of Balance" is a composition for the film of the same name directed by Godfrey Reggio. The film is a journey through the modern world seen in time lapse and slow motion. It consists of some stunning photography of cities and the natural world largely in the USA, with focus on the small details the everyday, repetitive, inhuman aspect of our humanity. All this combined with a stunning soundtrack from Glass elevates this largely cult film to a level of importance overlooked by far too many people.

The word Koyaanisqatsi means crazy life, life in turmoil, life out of balance, life disintegrating, a state of life that calls for another way of living' or from Glass' own page "unbalanced life' in the language of the Hopi Indians. The film, without actors and dialogue, shows the clash between two cultures; that of city life and its technology and that of nature." Its intention is set out with no narration, no story, no dialogue, it allows the music and images to convince its viewers to go on their own to understand it as they please.
The Film is part of the "Qatsi Trilogy", they all have a similar theme and style with Glass composing the music for all three. Koyaanisqatsi is the best of the series, its originality, depth of experience (as long as you have the music loud and the picture clear) sets it above Powaqqatsi and Naqoyqatsi. To listen to the album alone is also a treat, however seeing the film is a must.

The sound and feel develops throughout the album from a brooding monolithic start chanting Koyaanisqatsi; to the hyper modern chant at the albums end. It traverses the human journey in, through and then out of nature, into technology and to the point of being an antagonist and destroyer of life via technology. It seems a huge juxtaposition that the technology we've created has both liberated us from and trapped us in our own humanity.
The album has an incredibly fluid feel to it, without sounding bland or laborious at any point. Motifs get slowly reintergrated at key moments to to build and create some breathtaking stages. The use of the various instruments, electronics and chanting are used superbly to create a soundtrack which can inspire, excite and incite feelings of insecurity all at once, it can be positively eerie at points. The album is truly excellent, as is the film and a great place to start listening to Glass, as is the other album posted; Glassworks.



In a similar vein to the style of "Koyaanisqatsi" is Glassworks, which is considered an ideal introduction to Glass and his music. The albums repetitive, almost hypnotic, evolving sound are the perfect characteristics of Glass' work as a whole. Glass' work has been described as minimalist, but Glass himself refuses this title and I would also reject notions of minimalism, if you want to spend time to fully appreciating this music then you can easily see the depth and intensity in the music, with no less complex or inspirational composition than any standard classical work. Rubric is the stand out track on this album, but its real strength is by seeing the album as a whole, one whole which changes like nature, reacting against unseen forces to twist and change to fit impossible pressures. A true progressive in his field and music at large.
jamscoopa

Please buy the album and film from:
Film US
CD US
Film UK
CD UK
Or please delete after 24 hours and buy:^^
Life (320kbs)
Works (320kbs)
To watch a poor quality version of the film:
Google
More info:
Official site