The Seduction Of Claude Debussy
Art Of Noise
ZTT / Universal Records, 1999
REVIEW BY: Christopher Thelen
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 07/01/1999
Even if you're not a big fan of classical music, chances are
you've at least heard of the piece "Clair De Lune" by Claude
Debussy. Long ago, when I took piano lessons, it was one of the
pieces that I had to learn, and though I was very much a butcher on
the keyboards, sometimes I got it to the point where the piece's
magic came through.
Even if you're not a big fan of dance music, chances are you've
at least heard of the band Art Of Noise. First coming to fame in
the '80s with their hit "Beat Box," they probably are best known
for their cover of old what's-his-name's song "Kiss," featuring Tom
Jones. But it's been some time since the world has heard from
Trevor Horn and company, and for those who have been patiently
waiting for some new output from the band, your wait is over.
The Seduction Of Claude Debussy is not so much a dance album
as it is an ambient work in progress, an experience that must be
sppreciated as a whole, not broken up into singles. You're not
going to walk away with a greater respect for Debussy (as the music
doesn't seem to deal with the composer himself), but courtesy of
the spoken word, you'll at least know a little about the man, as
well as a respect for the way he viewed music. Simply put, it's
incredible.
The band - Horn, Lol Creme, Anne Dudley and Paul Morley - seem
to have taken a page from the German group Enigma, whose debut
album also seemed to put the focus on the whole picture rather than
individual songs. With narration from John Hurt, and guest
appearances from such artists as Donna Lewis, Sally Bradshaw, Carol
Kenyon and Rakim, listening to this disc is almost like walking
through an art gallery late at night, with only colored flourescent
lighting guiding you along the way. It's both exciting and
intriguing, and almost gives you an insight into what the
musicians, like Debussy, was thinking along the creative path.
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