Rome

Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi add refinement to the coming summer

Producer Brian Burton known to the world as Danger Mouse, needs no presentation for a long time now – his works in such projects as Gnarls Barkley, Gorillaz, Broken Bells and others have made him famous all around the globe as one of the present days’ most influential producers. Five years ago the musician made up his mind to record an album that would be different from everything he had done before. Joining effort with the Italian composer Daniele Luppi and grasping inspiration from the 1960s-70s spaghetti westerns, the soundtracks to which were mostly composed by the great Ennio Marricone, Danger Mouse headed to Rome. Piece by piece the little orchestra and choir were gathered together, both of which had taken part in the old films recordings. The old instruments whose sounding was brought to perfection by means of contemporary technologies, choir vocal parts and wonderful music – one might think that was enough. Yet, in order to give the music the new millennium zest the authors invited vocalists Jack White and Norah Jones, each of which performed three songs. At last late this spring the album that got titled Rome appears in stores to add some refinement to the coming summer.

A true masterpiece

The album Rome has been virtually made following all soundtrack rules: it opens with the main Theme Of "Rome", whose echoes are going to be found on other compositions, besides, it has three short interludes. The Cantori Moderni choir’s quiet voices, guitars, keyboards, triangle, xylophone, percussion combining harmoniously with the production make the album a true masterpiece. Jack White’s vocals on the slow and quite emotionally vulnerable composition The Rose With A Broken Neck cannot be recognized at once because of the special effects, which make the song twice interesting. After a gentle interlude Morning Fog Norah Jones inimitable sultry vocals can be heard performing the lyrcis of Season's Trees based on interesting imagery against the background of a romantic arrangement. The blues rhythm of instrumental number Roman Blue can be easily connected with some tragic moment in a movie for it is so filled with emotions, whereas a more complicated tune of Two Against One, Jack White’s second work is associated with the tenseness between the protagonists and their enemies. Perhaps the best song performed by Norah Jones is Black – guitar parts are a little bit reminiscent of the hit Hotel California’s beginning but they grow more complicated turning the composition into a romantic, slightly nervous but still very restrained number. Another instrumetnal composition The Matador Has Fallen is perfect for westerns’ panoramic scenes, while Morning Fog is filled with gentle sounds serving to embody the main positive character and his beloved’s soul qualities. Most beautiful keyboard arpeggios on Problem Queen harmonize perfectly with Jones’ low vocals as compared to them, and the amazing guitars, drums and White’s layered vocals album close the album with The World.

Rome is filled with feelings and bright images

Today the audience gets easily impressed by a good quality synthesizer music made within several weeks, whereas the five year long elaborate work serves as a premise to expect something supernatural. Having finished the basic melodic drafts Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi undoubtedly approached the work on their child in a most serious if not meticulous way. Despite that regarding the five year long preparation many have expected something more impressive from Rome, the album has resulted to be just faultless. Its fifteen tracks last only thirty-five minutes and embody what is usually called ‘little’ songs. Short, with light ethereal arrangements, gentle voices, marvelous lyrics or devoid of them at all they are at the same time filled with feelings and bright images. Thus finally receiving this year The Producer Of The Year Grammy Award Danger Mouse has proved once again that creative work knows no boundaries, and his tandem with Daniele Luppi is his another successful choice. This year his collaboration with U2 is expected but that would be a completely different story, and now you are free to write your own one listening to the wonderful music on Rome.