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unpleasant sounds   November 9, 2006

Another great Kronos   July 9, 2002

People used to Kronos cooperation with Glass, Steve Riech should like this but it is def. NOT minimalism att all.


Stunning   November 18, 2000
  9 out of 14 found this review helpful

I've never been a fan of classical music. Being forced to listen to Mozart and such growing up in school, ugh, school has made me gain a deep hatred of famous classical composers and the like. Never thought I would ever get into classical music because it was all killed to me.

Then I heard of Kronos Quartet. They were raved about on a movie review for "Requiem for a Dream," which they are mostly responsible for the entire score on. So, I decided to give them a bit of a chance. I bought three of their albums, "Early Music," and "Kronos Quartet performs Phillip Glass." The most important of all of these is "Caravan."

The last CD I listened to, I was a little afraid to, because I figured I'd enjoy Western pieces a little more, and probably wouldn't like the more 'world' sound this album seems to say it has.

I couldn't have been more wrong, from the opening track, "Pannoia Boundless," I was in love, raving about it to everyone I knew. Every track seems to have an energy that oozes from within it, these dynamics that manage to grab me and toss me around every time. Even the weakest track, being "Cortejo Funebre en el Monte Diablo," because of the horribly synth-sounding beats, horns, and bells, still has a certain power after you get past the horrible intro of the song.

Either way, Kronos Caravan is a great listen for anyone just dabbling in classical string quartets and wants something a little more high power and intrusive than your average "background music."


And they never stepped off the train...   July 22, 2000
  20 out of 48 found this review helpful

According to the press and liner notes, this album is intended to chart a sort of musical journey, obviously reflected by the title. Such a concept is highly suspect - eclecticism for its own sake (or more likely for the sake of capturing the widest consumer base) very rarely leads to meaningful, cohesive art, possibly because the best art comes "from within", that is, from within an individual's or a group's experience, not simply the surface reflection of ethnic stereotypes. Add to this the antequated notion that a caucasian string quartet can "capture" the world's sounds for YOUR discerning ears, and you have a piece of sheer mediocrity.

Osvaldo Golijov's arrangements excel at highlighting various effects of instrumental combinations. That's a plus. However, these performances are mostly shorn of whatever vitality is inherent in the compositions, by the quartet's lack of rhythmic unity and attack - some of these takes sound like tentative rehearsals. The worst in this respect has to be "Aaj Ki Raat". Anyone who knows Indian film music is aware of its energy and manic quality. This performance, however, has none of that, opting instead for a navel-gazing lack of dynamism that actually serves to bury the melodic theme, in lieu of which we are given the sound of tablas, which even Zakir Hussain can't make jive with the ennervated ensemble.

Not surprisingly, the only impassioned performance is "Turceasca", likely because most of the music is played by Taraf de Haidouks, a Romanian Gypsy ensemble that lends its "quaint" and "primitive" spunk to the tastemaker quartet, producing a "rousing, olde country" stewe.

Anyone with an interest in music beyond her/his borders should pick up the real thing, spend a little money, force her/himself to get used to its strangeness, and maybe she/he will come away a little wiser. Oh, yes, purchase an honest classical disc next time, as well.


Beautiful!   July 13, 2000
  1 out of 2 found this review helpful

This CD is great in many ways. There is beatiful music from all over the world on this one. It's interesting 'cause it's rather easy listened, but still very deep and vital. "Pannonia Boundless" and "Turceasca" was the first two tracks to capture me. After that you discover the beauty of the other tracks. The themes of the songs are very clear and they work fine both as headphone-music as background-music. Get this one!