Monkey: Journey To The West

XL

Long-time collaborators Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett deliver another simian-themed endeavour stemming from their input to the stage production of the same name. Adapted from the 16th Century Chinese novel, the characters and plot of the production are deeply immersed in Chinese folklore and musical tradition, but there is great effort exerted here not to trivialise or exploit these conventions for their current political relevance. Rather, a subtle narrative of sound is created by fusing Albarn’s more familiar techniques with much studied Eastern musical sensibilities.

For such elaborate concepts, the music itself is often rather sparse, sprinkling electronica over the Chinese vocal choirs and native instruments, though thankfully not submerging them in loops and blips. The implied action of the song titles, however, belies an album that is more ambient than dramatic and, although the adventure and mysticism of its subject matter does seep through, it is not powerful or consistent enough to sustain it. Matt Nesbitt

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DOWNLOAD: ‘HEAVENLY PEACH BANQUET’, ‘PIGSY IN SPACE’.
FOR FANS OF: THE STAGE SHOW.

Issue #51 - I Told You This Would Be A Good Issue

Featuring Biffy Clyro, Of Montreal, Duke Special, Frightened Rabbit, Cold War Kids, Jay Reatard, Pat Mills, and more.