Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Balanescu Quartet -- Possessed (1992)

I've been aware of this album for years, but heard it for the first time this past weekend. This album is usually mentioned for the five Kraftwerk covers, but the clear highlight is "No Time Before Time". Joy and tension mingle effortlessly in its main theme, and the piece soars from peak to peak with each repetition of it. Frankly, this is one of the most moving pieces of music I've heard in months. It's so enchanting that its eleven minutes feels like only two.

I wonder what a band like Do Make Say Think could do with it? They're at their best with sprawling epics like "Goodbye Enemy Airship" and "Ontario Plates", and I think this type of piece is perfectly suited to their talents.

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