Something Different from a Lennon
Sean Lennon, son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono made his solo debut in 1998 with Into the Sun, a musically diverse collection of calm-rooted songs that drew small comparisons to his parents' work or his older brother, Julian Lennon's solo releases. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead, Lennon's fourth release, is a score to a low-budget horror flick. Lennon recorded the entire album on his personal home computer.
Again, Lennon's recordings bear no sort of pop resemblance. The first track and title theme is a constant flow of scrambling piano, plucking strings and obtrusive electric guitar chords kept secure with a polka-styled drum beat. The song is followed by "Olsinore," which leans toward a more dramatic vibe equipped with timpani slams, chilling horns and is stamped by a wobbly, electronic breakdown.
The album continues to lunge through different sounds and feels, but manages to keep a consistently ominous theme until the last track, "Desire," which is a synth-heavy hip/hop track, rapper and all. Strangely enough, the song is pretty solid, but it just doesn't seem to fit.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead is a collection of forward-moving tracks eclectically composed and performed. It's art rock at its best. Hopefully the flick is just as interesting as its soundtrack.
Check out www.seanonolennon.com.