Peter Gabriel - Passion

To call Passion a pivotal recording in the development of world music would be a significant understatement. What makes Passion so undeniably important is its global reach and expert handling of what could've easily become polyglot babble. Vocalists Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Youssou N'Dour, and Baaba Maal bring strong Middle Eastern and African voices to the project, and Balkan textures come via the ney flute and doudouk. But Gabriel is the glue, offering electronic ambient flows between the multiple streams. Gabriel also brings something even less tangible: an awesome visual imagination that takes often seamless sounds and makes them impress the listener with picturelike colors and phrasing. This is, however, far more than an ambient global mix. The intertwined rhythms stand out, both on their own and as brushstrokes on a larger canvas. Never mind that Passion helped launch North American careers for N'Dour and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan--this is a stellar musical achievement by any standard. --Andrew Bartlett Amazon.com essential recording

Of these, Hope

Everyone that loves this record- me too - I'm not going to attempt to go over the record, I can share with you my "Passion" for the songs "Of these, Hope" and of course the Reprise of this song and its effect. I've often tried to tell people that the power of these songs are so deep to me, its almost pavlovian... as soon as I hear the melody beginning to form in the first song, I'm surprised by my tears beginning to form as well. Its a good thing- like an epiphany. Not "boo hoo". Well... it can be too...depends on where you are with yourself when you hear it- you might just miss it entirely. Its because to me, it evokes thoughts about life & mortality in the melody- Its true. its easy to identify with being human and hardships of life in this melody, and yet its absolute innocence and pain hidden beneath. Like a soul that will try no matter what even though its certain that the end result will be sad. (this synopsis wasn't tainted by the movie-it was what I felt as I heard it the first time) There is loss, pride, love, pain and wisdom in this 9 note melody - I'd heard the album before I'd ever seen the movie. I don't even remember seeing the movie. We'd just finished having friends together to play some music, we played all day & had a party, and afterwards people were doing their own thing...the sun was setting a party was breaking up. This record started playing ... mysteriously (a friend put it on) and I was alone & was totally entranced by listening to this recording-
my life was changed by listening to this record - Thank You Peter Gabriel-.All I have to say is that even if thats all Peter Gabriel had ever done musically, it would have been enough. So he's pretty much ahead and re-written the curve- In that "stratospheric" level certain composers get to- October 30, 2008

Undeniably inspirational

One of the best soundtracks ever created. It fit the movie perfectly and stands on it's own as a work of acoustic art.

It has been a staple of mine ever since it was released. It is on every music player I have ever had from cassettes to iPods. October 9, 2008

the acme is much better now

This album arrived to my attention like most other music at that time, from my brother, who had a copy. I lived in South Texas at that time and can remember well the picketers in front of the movie theatre protesting the controversial leanings of the film, which I can hardly remember. That said, I started listening to Passion when I was seventeen and just starting to dabble into smoking pot and this album carried me great distances. Like Paul Simons Rythem of the Saints, it will stand as his masterpeice in his very long and successful carreer. The album itself starts out extremely strong and then tapers off towards the end with some less than repeatable classical movements and such, but the first four or five songs are nothing short of brilliant.

If you ever have a chance to see Peter Gabriel live, you should make the trip at least once as he is a dynamic and thrilling performer. I had the chance to see him on the So tour with an african drum ensemble that opened up for him and were my first exposure to a long study in african music that carries on to the present.

the Real World label continues to release material of this flavor and as I understand it Gabriel is involved with the Womad festival that is all world music performers. A true champion of world music and a world music superstar himself, gabriel gets high marks for this record. August 11, 2008

A Tour-de-Force in World Music

In the prime of his creative powers, Peter Gabriel presents a breathtaking World Music tour-de-force that goes beyond a movie soundtrack.

The score is centered on traditional North African rhythms and sounds, with the 21 tracks featuring talent from Pakistan, Turkey, India, Ivory Coast, Bahrain, Egypt, New Guinea, Morocco, Senegal and Ghana. David Sancious, Billy Cobham and David Rhodes also contribute on a number of selections.

Several of the pieces do not appear in the film, hence the project stands alone on its own merits. The CD is definitely a diamond in Gabriel's dynamic delivery of definitive artistry. June 6, 2008

BEST MOVIE SOUND TRACK EVER!!!

THIS ALBUM IS AWESOME, VERY EXISTENTIAL...Very highly recommend despite the age of this release. I am not normally fond of Peter Gabriel's music even though he has a terrific voice. This album however, is unbelievable!!! It is a amalgamation of Peter Gabriel's somewhat contemporary style mixed with beautifully written Middle Eastern compositions.
Bryan April 9, 2008

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