Even within the unpredictable
Neil Young
discography, this qualifies as one of his most unpredictable efforts. This
soundtrack
to the
Jim Jarmusch
film
Dead Man
is entirely instrumental, with the exception of some poetry read by
Johnny Depp
(who stars in the film) and a bit of dialogue. What's more, these untitled instrumental passages are dominated by subterranean guitar rumbles that manage to sound both grungy and subdued.
Young
also takes care to vary his approach a bit, switching occaionally to pump organ, detuned piano, and acoustic guitar. The results not only evoke the hostile, desolate landscapes of the film's Old West, but work on their own terms as ambient
mood music
for the non-
new age
crowd, creating an atmosphere of restless disturbance with subtlety and grace. It's not necessarily for the typical
fan (whoever that might be), but it's certainly one of his most successful
experimental
efforts. ~ Richie Unterberger