Thursday, March 31, 2011

Nico - the marble index (1968)



Nico's sophomore effort was a dive into the void, a descent to a bottomless ocean, a hypnotic state which awakens the mind through life, reincarnation and beyond: "Lawns Of Dawns" introduces the hypnosis, the mesmerized mind reciting an incantation amidst a cacophonous maze of mirrors. "No One Is There" recalls 18th century romanticism, in what is basically a funereal chamber piece with the strings clashing with each other.

"Ari's Song" is a feverish psalm, "Facing The Wind" an obsessive liturgy and a psychotic cabaret piece, while "Julius Caesar" travels even further down the past (the chorus of some ancient tragedy, the ecstasy of a dervish). Eventually, the last two songs reach a terrifying apex. "Frozen Warnings" sets the icy sunset, through which the Valkyries' catastrophic call of "Evening Of Light" heralds Armageddon. Get it here.

6 comments:

ido said...

Excellent write-up. Truly haunting music.

Margot F. said...

Nico is great!
Added a link to your blog back in mine!

Kisses,
Margot
http://moonmusick.blogspot.com/

Dave said...

Sounds good to me. Thanks for the review and for sharing!

dee_seejay said...

Much obliged to you :)

RUINED FAMILIES said...

glad you're back.

Jim Slip said...

@ ido

Indeed.

@ Margot F.

Thanks, I returned the favour. Love the avatar. -)

@ El Lovecrafto

Ta.