SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GHOST TRAIN ORCHESTRA AND KRONOS QUARTET – SONGS AND SYMPHONIQUES: THE MUSIC OF MOONDOG

GHOST TRAIN ORCHESTRA AND KRONOS QUARTET
SONGS AND SYMPHONIQUES: THE MUSIC OF MOONDOG
CANTALOUPE MUSIC

Songs And Symphoniques: The Music Of Moondog is an album that pays tribute to minimalist musical artist Louis Hardin, also known as “Moondog”. He was based in New York City and recorded from 1953 until 1995. He passed away in 1999 at age 83. A visually impaired musician, he has a fascinating history and was somewhat of an eccentric in New York. He wrote some beautiful music in his lifetime and was a major influence on artists such as Phillip Glass and Steve Reich. Moondog was known as the Godfather of Minimalism. On Songs And Symphoniques: The Music Of Moondog, New York band Kronos Quartet joined forces with Ghost Train Orchestra to record some of his best songs. Throughout the album they also have some help from some very famous guests. The end result is spectacular and full of great songs.

Songs And Symphoniques: The Music Of Moondog goes a long way to show the talent and genius of Moondog. He wrote some incredible music, full of sadness, and at times humour. “Enough Of Human Rights” is very funny at points but does have a serious message. Karen Mantler sings the song beautifully and her delivery is spot on. Elsewhere Ghost Train Orchestra and Kronos Quartet show the more experimental side of Moondog with the wonderful “The Viking Of Sixth Avenue”. He was known to dress as a Viking and busk on the streets of New York. The instrumental is brilliantly arranged, and the use of street sounds makes the song a centrepiece of the album because it combines sound and music.

Although the instrumental tracks are the most interesting, the guest vocalists add a great deal. Rufus Wainwright captures the emotion of “Be A Hobo”, while Joan As Police Woman brings a bit of darkness and playfulness to “Why Spend A Dark Night With You”. She also closes the album with the beautiful “All Is Loneliness”, which with its sparse arrangement tugs at the heart strings. Sam Amidon and Aoife O’Donovan take on “Behold”, and it is moving. But Jarvis Cocker steals the show, however, with his heartbreaking rendition of “I’m This, I’m That”. The arrangement is stunning, and Cocker’s voice is absolutely perfect.

Moondog’s music lends itself to interpretation by Ghost Train Orchestra and Kronos Quartet and the two bands combined make it a dream combination and collaboration. When one listens to the album, it makes one get a sense of the kind of music Moondog would have done working with Ghost Train Orchestra and Kronos Quartet. He was a minimalist artist but he also wrote some beautiful and stirring melodies. He also composed very thought-provoking and deep personal lyrics.

Songs And Symphoniques: The Music Of Moondog goes a long way to introducing the music and lyrics of Moondog to a new audience. He is an artist that has not received a great deal of attention during the past decades. Ghost Train Orchestra and Kronos Quartet, two well-known and respected artists, shine a light on this artist and his music. It is a rewarding listening experience and is a very loving tribute to this artist.

Ghost Train Orchestra Links

Kronos Quartet Links