You have to wonder what Damon Albarn thinks will happen to him if he sits still or pursues just one musical idea for a while. After the success of his work with Gorillaz and creating a somewhat supergroup album as The Good, the Bad and the Queen, it only makes sense that he would create a Chinese opera based on ancient folklore, right?
Well, maybe not, but that didn’t stop Albarn from doing it. Monkey: Journey to the West is based on the old, epic story of a monk on a pilgrimage and the perils he faces on his way. The story is long and involved, but a general sense of the story’s ebb and flow can be sensed from the mood and tone of the music.
Unfortunately there are some things that are meant to be multisensory experiences, and this opera is one of them. While the music is engaging, and Albarn’s signature atmospheric sensibilities are undeniably present, you can’t help but feel that this would be a far more engaging experience when accompanied by visuals of performers doing their thing, fleshing the story out with actions and reactions.
Though a fascinating view into the world of Chinese folklore, the listener can’t help but feel that this is an experience best felt live.
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