Discord Review - Exclusive Review from "CMJ New Music Report"

The simple string phrase that establishes "Grief," the first of four movements on Discord, sounds more like a mantra than a melody. The phrase ebbs and flows throughout the 17-minute piece, allowing ample room for both brooding counter melodies and mutations. Ryuichi Sakamoto composed the music on Discord in a furious, sleepless week, inspired by his own grief over news footage of Africa's starving millions. While the use of a classical orchestra never suggests an African sensibility, Sakamoto ably communicates the emotional heart implied in each movement ("Grief," "Anger," "Prayer" and "Salvation"). "Anger" is the most rousing of the movements, erupting in bold streaks of dissonant brass and percussion that recall the thunder of traditional Tibetan horns and crashing cymbals. The quiet, pensive "Prayer" employs flute and harp to signal a relative calmafter the storm of "Anger." Spoken contributions about the nature of salvation from the likes of DJ Spooky (who contributes to Discord), Laurie Anderson, and Bernardo Bertolucci (director of The Last Emperor, a film Sakamoto scored with David Byrne) begins "Salvation," which evolves into a hopeful, soaring piece hinting at the melodic themes in "Grief." A companion, the Grief/Anger EP (Ninja Tune, 1751 Richardson, Ste. 6109, Montreal, QUE H3K 1G6 Canada 514.937.5452 ninjah@generation.net) features five daring remixes, including Amon Tobin's menacing refigure of "Grief." Talvin Singh's speedy ethno mix feeds on the chaos of "Anger," as rapid-fire tabla adds to the fury.