Search - Moondog :: Moondog: The Viking of Sixth Avenue

A Good Place to Start

A. Alexis | Toronto | 09/25/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very good place to start with Moondog's music. I disagree entirely with the previous reviewer as to the quality of the performances. Here, "Bird's Lament" is more dynamic, faster paced and, as with most of this cd, a lot of fun. If you can't find anything to like on this disc (for instance, "Theme and Variation" or "Chaconne in G" or the lovely "Fog on the Hudson"), it may just be that the man's music is not for you.



The work here consists mostly of miniatures from a musician who began life as a percussionist and it shows: his sense of rhythm is fantastic. I've heard it said that Moondog's work prefigures the minimalism of Terry Riley or Steve Reich, but it's less formally rigorous and much more playful: a sudden burst of melody, great counterpoint (his debt to Bach is even more obvious on some of the other discs available), eccentric use of voice, and even traditional songs.



The music is odd and familiar at the same time. It deserves to be more widely known."