add to wish list | library


6 of 6 recommend this,
would you recommend it?

yes | no

Support this site by purchasing from these vendors using the paid links below. As an Amazon Associate SA-CD.net earns from qualifying purchases.
 
amazon.ca
amazon.co.uk
amazon.com
amazon.de
 
amazon.fr
amazon.it
 
jpc
 
Label:
  Lawo Classics - http://www.lawo.no/
Serial:
  LWC1063
Title:
  Goebbels: Suite from Surrogate Cities, Frank Zappa: 5 works - Søndergård
Description:
  Heiner Goebbels (*1952): Suite for Sampler and Orchestra from Surrogate Cities
Frank Zappa (1940–1993): The Dog Breath Variations / Uncle Meat; Dupree's Paradise; The Perfect Stranger; G-spot Tornado; Revised Music for Low Budget Orchestra

Norwegian Radio Orchestra
Thomas Søndergård (Sondergard)
Track listing:
 
Genre:
  Classical - Orchestral
Content:
  Stereo/Multichannel
Media:
  Hybrid
Recording type:
 
Recording info:
 

read discussion | delete from library | delete recommendation | report errors
 
Related titles: 1


 
Reviews: 2

Site review by Geohominid November 27, 2014
Performance:   Sonics:    
The text for this review has been moved to the new site. You can read it here:

http://www.HRAudio.net/showmusic.php?title=9950#reviews

Review by Audiophile.no July 19, 2014 (5 of 5 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:  
It's not a daily occurrence to get a brand new Zappa CD to review. Especially one that is recorded in Norway. Yet it happened a few weeks ago.

This is of course no release where Frank Zappa participate in person - the deadline for this expired more than twenty years ago. But it is nevertheless a real Zappa album in the sense that it contains music composed by Frank Zappa. Diehard Zappa connoisseurs will surely get associations of the disc's title, which obviously plays on "The Perfect Stranger" - a song Zappa composed, and which was also the title of a release in 1984 where the legendary conductor Pierre Boulez conducted a selection of Zappa compositions on the record Boulez Conducts Zappa.

The situation is that Thomas Søndergård has to follow the tracks from Boulez when he conducts the Radio Orchestra in these compositions with contemporary music of Zappa, a recording made at Rockefeller in 2010. Not to mention that he will follow Peter Rundel and Frank Zappa himself who directs the Ensemble Modern in The Yellow Shark , recorded in 92 and 93 just before Zappa died of cancer.



But first things first. Even though this is a true Zappa record, it's not a pure Zappa disc. The first scant half hour consists of composition Suite for Sampler and Orchestra in ten parts by Heiner Goebbels, and is part of the larger work Surrogate Cities . ECM New Series has released numerous CDs of compositions by Heiner Goebbels. He is a composer born in 1952, and is thus considerably younger than Frank Zappa. He may well have been inspired by Zappa's contemporary music, and whatever made very much exciting music, even though he may not be as well known as he deserves. A Perfect Stranger?


Heiner Goebbels.
The music of Goebbels on the Lawo-release have the properties that in addition to being music that blends well with Zappa's contemporary music, it's music that to my ears is at least equally exciting as Zappa's compositions. Portions of this suite have a musical expression that gives light reminiscent of Zappa's music, while others are more reminiscent the giant minimalist Steve Reich. Particularly true for Reich's work City Life , which like the Surrogate Cities also have urban snapshots theme.

Among other things, the two opening portions Sarabande / In-Touch and Allemande / Les ruines reminiscent of Steve Reich's City Life, partly because of strong rhythmic elements and some repetitive elements. This is in my ears very exciting music, and also has a sparkling performance of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra.

The brass and string arrangements in Curante and Gigue on the other hand quite clear associations with Zappa`s arrangements, although Curante has a far more rhythmic character than most of Zappa's compositions on this release. Also Bouree and Passacaglia provides strong associations with Zappa, but then his more synth-based compositions such as the release Jazz from Hell from 1986.

The last part of the Suite for Sampler and Orchestra return to the character as the two opening numbers had. As mentioned - extremely exciting music that is excellent performed by Norwegian Radio Orchestra.


Back to Zappa. Although his music is quite well known, it is not a nearly as common knowledge that he was an outstanding contemporary composer. Most people know him from "pure" rock music, often with a satiric and/or erotically suggestive lyrics. Contempprary music was something he started dedicated to at the end of the 70`s. But it is important to be aware that there is no question of any Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde here. It is by no means a gulf between his rock releases and what he has done in contemporary music. On the contrary, there are clear guidelines in the musical expression of contemporary music that we find in much of his rock productions, not least voiced by percussionist Ruth Underwood, who played the xylophone, vibraphone and marimba on many Zappa recordings already in the early 70s. An important musical link to his later contemporary music. Those who think that Zappa was a rowdy rock musician, has received a completely wrong message. One of his trademarks was at times very intricate arrangements, and he demanded very high precision from his musicians.

The first Zappa composition of Perfect Strangers is Dog Breath Variations , which was also the opening act for The Yellow Shark with Ensemble Modern. Equally interesting is that this composition started as a rock tune in 1969 on Uncle Meat, and also here with clear elements of contemporary music. It was also present at Helsinki concert in 74, released on YCDTOSA Vol.2, where Ruth Underwood shines. But the arrangement at "our" Dog Breath Variations are more or less similar to the Ensemble Modern performed in 92/93. That is a lush, but physically demanding horn arrangement supplemented with strings. It required very high rhythmic precision, and it is very well taken care of by Norwegian Radio Orchestra.

Duprees Paradise is also one of the tunes from Helsinki concert in 74 and was also conducted by Boulez in 84, along with the title number The Perfect Stranger . These two are rhythmically somewhat more laid back, but no less demanding in terms of precision. The latter has a somewhat mysterious character, emphasized by its glissando touches in the string array - tby he way a character that gets outstanding addressed in this new interpretation.

G-Spot Tornado is awesome - also rhythmically. It has its origin from the aforementioned Jazz From Hell , and has a very hectic and staccato character. It was otherwise also part of the repertoire of recording by the Ensemble Modern.

Final number Revised Music for Low Budget Orchestra began its career as Revised Music for Guitar and Low Budget Orchestra at the exciting album Studio Tan from 78, which perhaps was the first Zappa album that can be placed in the box "contemporary music". An album that is otherwise worth its price alone for the incredible The Adventures of Gregory Peckory. On this album Perfect Strangers guitar is dropped, but the music has otherwise much of the same character.


This is one of those albums from Lawo Classics that is a multi-channel SACD. The 5.0 mix is sometimes very radical, and has a mic / instrument placement that is likely to offend some conservative stereophile men. And revel others, like myself. There is also a very high quality of the mix, something particculary Suite for Sampler and Orchestra of Goebbels is benefiting from. The sound quality is also excellent for other parameters.

I feel subjectively that there is a difference in the amount of reverb from Goebbels's Suite and Zappa's works. According to documentation, both are recorded at Rockefeller in 2010, and it's probably the same event. Nevertheless, I find that while the reverb works perfectly on Goebbels's works, there are a couple of Zappa's works where there is a tad too much reverb, leading to that the precision of the highly demanding works depends entirely clear. THis is present on Dog Breath Variations and G-Spot Tornado. This can be a difficult balance, and with works of different nature it can be difficult to find a balance between direct sound and reverb that that fits all, especially given that this is a live recording with audience.


I guess i had very many words this time, and that's because Perfect Strangers is a particularly interesting release. It is special both because it is a milestone with the recording of Zappa compositions, but also because it has a particularly high quality in all aspects, and with very exciting music.

Also surround mix stand out from the crowd, and is a reason in itself to buy this release. So if you want to complement your Zappa collection, or want an exquisite collection of exciting contemporary music, there's no way around this one. We do not roll dice in Audiophile.no, but if we should make an exception, it would have been an obvious six.

------

This review has also been published at www.Audiophile.no.

Was this review helpful to you?  yes | no