Monkey, Journey to the West This album is the soundtrack that Damon Albarn composed to accompany his ground-breaking opera of the same title. The opera is based on a 16th century Chinese novel which continues to be popular with new generations in China. Albarn studied Chinese folk music to shape the soundtrack. The music has a stripped-back electronica feel, with simple tick-tock drum beats and synthesisers alongside recordings of the endless car horns of modern Chinas city roads.
All this on a 22-track CD makes for enchanting listening, taking you through a variety of moods and scenes. With a bit of imagination you can feel the movements of the characters the music was written for. The opera sold out in a few days so take this opportunity to experience this impressive hybrid of traditional and modern music. By Sian Ruddick, Socialist Worker
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