Romances, the 2004 collaboration between Norwegian composer John Erik Kaada and vocal maestro Mike Patton, was what one could expect from an alliance of the two genre-busting musicians: a sound collage of moody, noirish elements.
The material is not groundbreaking considering either musicians’ work, but it’s meaty, creepy, and original. Fans that may be hankering for a follow-up to Romances will have to wait, but in the meantime, they have Kaada/Patton: Live, the long-awaited DVD of the two artists’ one-time-only live performance at Denmark’s Roskilde Festival in 2005.
It’s a rare treat to see two such independent-minded musicians work on a similar musical wavelength, especially in a live setting. Patton, though a wildly talented vocal artist, can sometimes be overwhelming in even his best collaborations.
But in Live, he slips in seamlessly with Kaada and the talented group of musicians who make up his band, Cloroform. The group shows restraint and allows him to act as more of an ensemble artist than a front man (“It sounds like a fuckin’ band!” Patton remarks during one the rehearsal sessions featured on the DVD).
The visuals of the DVD are fantastic. Shot in black-and-white style, the concert film — like the music — is lush and cinematic. The rehearsal documentary is equally as engaging, following the ensemble as it hashes out the particulars of song arrangements. It later shows Kaada and Patton as they talk shop about live performance styles and critics’ attempts to classify their music.
It’s a revealing, intimate look into the heads of two iconoclastic artists.
– Keidra Chaney
Kaada/Patton: www.myspace.com/kaadapatton
Ipecac Recordings: www.ipecac.com