When I consider adding
a record to my collection one of the most important aspects is simply
this: what does this record bring that I don't already have? Will it add
to the completeness of my collection or will it be redundant with what
is already there?
Ghost in the shell will forever be a unique
addition to my collection. There is no other music that I have heard to
this point that sounds like this release. It uses silence just as
effectively as it uses any instrumentation, and its this dynamic that
drives the sound and atmosphere found on this album.
The
soundtrack is primarily composed of percussive instruments and...
nothing. The percussion instruments are struck and then their sound is
allowed to decay and resonate in such a way that the notes fully develop
and fade for the listener to take in. The end result is a whole new
take on minimalism, there is so little going on here that the silence is
almost its own instrument.
Its this use of "negative space" that
increases the allure of the music. It is just as important as any note
that occurs - and arguably it adds more to defining the music than the
instruments themselves do.
Aside from the percussion the
vocalizations used on the album add another layer to the album, again
adding to its individual character. The choir used brings an
otherworldly quality to the music that can only be described as
haunting.
This soundtrack needs to be heard to truly be
appreciated, preferably on a good sound system. It is timeless and will
remain a part of my collection likely for the remainder of my life.
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