Nick Cave & Warren Ellis

White Lunar

(Mute)

Record Review by Kevan Peterson

Haunting, simple and moody, disc one of White Lunar acts mostly as a compilation of three film scores created by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis.  The first disc works surprisingly well when played together, although some songs seem to outshine their peers.  Spanning two discs the album features songs from the films The Proposition, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and The Road.  Fans hoping for some of Nick Cave's dark brooding lyrics and cynical take on life will not find their needs fulfilled, as the majority of the album is instrumental, but those looking for an atmospheric soundtrack will be pleased with the score from Jesse James.  Songs from The Proposition get further deconstructed until there is little melody left, filling in the gaps with electronic distortion and machine like noises.  The effect can be quite jarring at times, especially in the song “Rider #2,” which seems to play counter to the smooth acceptance of the Jesse James tracks.

Disc two features works created for lesser known documentaries The English Surgeon and The Girls of Phnom Penh.  Overall more atmospheric than the first disc, the second disc of White Lunar comes across darker but less interesting.  Featuring four additional songs not featured in any films, but equally as atmospheric as their celluloid counterparts, White Lunar ends up feeling a bit long even for a trip into space.