Description:
Here we have a sweet little pick-me-up: 10 songs based on the biblical plagues that occur in the book of Exodus, arranged in order. The whole thing was commissioned by a British arts council, and for better and worse it sounds like it. Super literate singer-songwriters (Scott Walker, Rufus Wainwright, Stephin Merritt) and a few wannabes (Imogen Heap, Tiger Lilies) contribute tunes that tend towards a dynamic miserabilism. The songs that avoid such an obvious approach (those by Merritt, Cody Chesnutt, and Laurie Anderson) are a nice respite, though Walker's song is pure, super-totally-scary a capella brilliance. As mixed bags go
Here we have a sweet little pick-me-up: 10 songs based on the biblical plagues that occur in the book of Exodus, arranged in order. The whole thing was commissioned by a British arts council, and for better and worse it sounds like it. Super literate singer-songwriters (Scott Walker, Rufus Wainwright, Stephin Merritt) and a few wannabes (Imogen Heap, Tiger Lilies) contribute tunes that tend towards a dynamic miserabilism. The songs that avoid such an obvious approach (those by Merritt, Cody Chesnutt, and Laurie Anderson) are a nice respite, though Walker's song is pure, super-totally-scary a capella brilliance. As mixed bags go, this one is mixed enough to not disappoint, though one wishes the artists' work extended even a bit beyond such Hal Willner/NPR-approved fare. The highlights are Rufus Wainwright's woozy, lyrical "Katona" and "Flies," a beautiful, disturbing, and atmospheric number by Robert Wyatt with Brian Eno. --Mike McGonigal
Album Description
A collection of songs based on the ten biblical plagues that take place in the book of Exodus. These songs were commissioned by a British arts organization called Artangel to form part of a large-scale public art event. The Margate Exodus takes place in September 2006, transforming a dilapidated seaside town on the North Kent Coast into the setting for a vibrant modern recreation of the Israelites' flight from Egypt. During the event, the plague songs will be performed by local singers and musicians. Contributions on this CD come from Scott Walker, Rufus Wainright, Brian Eno, Robert Wyatt, Stephin Merritt, Laurie Anderson, and Imogen Heap.
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Manufacturer: 4ad
Release date: 2 October 2006
EAN: 0652637261622 UPC: 652637261622
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