Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Neil Young & Promise of The Real, Warner Brothers Records 2018.
This album is the music score composed by Young for the film of the same name.
As a music score it contains the songs and all the incidental music that appears in the movie.
Quite a number of these tracks are solo pieces played by Young.
The album is insightful in that it was recorded live on the MGM Soundstage with no overdubs (with the exception of Joe Yankee who phoned in his part from Canada).
Neil Young is backed by his band Promise of The Real which included a few legends of the music industry including Jim Keltner and Paul Bushnell.
The interactions of the band members, asides and laughter, have been left in place, which is a nice touch.
Most of the tracks are instrumental and very short and probably of more interest to committed fans rather than the general listener who may feel that most of the pieces seem unfinished.
This of course is the distinction between music specifically written for film which serves a different function to traditional song structures.
One of the songs on the album, Peace Trail, illustrates just how good Neil Young is as a songwriter.
I always think of him in the same light as Paul Kelly. Each is the musical bard of their respective countries.
The film Paradox features Young and his band. It was written and directed by Daryl Hannah and she describes it as a ‘loud poem and whimsical tale of music and love.’
There’s a lot in this album for the fan to delve into.
The band engage in a great improvised jam called Cowgirl Jam and there are a few excellent songs including a live version of Pocahontas.
One of the things that’s often overlooked when we think about Neil Young is just what an innovative and talented guitarist he is.
His soloing in Pocahontas is particularly impressive, all the more so because it’s recorded live.
I really enjoyed this album. It presents an intimate look at one of the world’s great songwriters.
