PASSION - MUSIC FROM THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST

Passion is Gabriel's second soundtrack after Birdy. It's a marvellous piece of work that got a huge recognition due to the commercial fame Gabriel had acquired in those years. But that didn't refrain from composing a very dense and frightening album. This is clearly the work from an artist at the peak of his powers.

Contrary to Birdy, Passion consists entirely of new material. With 20 pieces of which some are very short, the array of styles visited is huge: hypnotizing tribal music on The Feeling Begins, trippy space-folk on Of These Hope, Middle-Eastern flavours on Lazarus Raised, ambient experiments with new sounds and world music all over the place and even a bit of romantic classicism on With This Love. One of the highpoints for me is the Middle-Eastern vocal improvisation on the desolate title track.

Despite the minimalist nature of most of the tracks, this soundtrack holds up very well without the picture. It's not a regular listen but it always makes for an impressive and moody experience, a suitable soundtrack for mourning and other solemn occasions.