Michael Nyman – Nyman / Greenaway Revisited (Michael Nyman Records)

0

Michael Nyman is a curious minimalist: the British composer’s music veers off in wildly different directions to that of his New York contemporaries. He’ll likely remain most famous for his pretty, pithy score for The Piano, but the blustery work he did for divisive British filmmaker Peter Greenaway is far more interesting, lively, and inspired, such that if you’re going to buy any Nyman disc make it this set of Greenaway scores.

Filled with repetitive horn blasts, strings sneaking up like spies, and a moody melodicism that verges on camp, Nyman’s music would overwhelm most images; fortunately Greenaway’s almost sickening opulence offers the ideal visual compliment. That said, it more than stands up on its own. The dirty, grinding saxes – dominated by earthy baritones and tenors, not the noodly soprano of Terry Riley – give these works a grounding that most minimalism lacks, Nyman marking his loops like drawing in mud. The three pieces from ‘The Draughtman’s Contract’s best illustrate this, careening sax riffs meshing with high piccolo tweets while a hammered piano marks time. For ‘A Zed and Two Noughts’, the tighter loops and forlorn plod of ‘Time Lapse’ mirrors the structural complexities of Greenaway’s tale of decay, amputation and obsession. By ‘Prospero’s Books’ Nyman is playing with greater freedom, inviting more dissonance and abandon from his melodic lines, but throughout it’s all closely alinged with what would become techno: elements dancing and riffing around a steady, unwavering 4/4 pulse. These pieces are best heard live, so catch Nyman’s band while he tours Australia.

Joshua Meggitt

Share.

About Author

Long Live Radio! For details of past and future shows visit: http://www.dead-and-alive-radio.blogspot.com

Comments are closed.