Rob Price
Gutbrain Records
rob + gutbrain.com = email

2024 October 07 • Monday

The 825th Soundtrack of the Week is RZA's music for Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai.

Most of the tracks follow the formula of the "Opening Theme": a looped sample, often from what sounds like a kung fu movie soundtrack, with the addition of an additional sample, could be a sound effect or other musical element. Then add some heavy beats and change it up a little bit.

It's effective and fun to listen to. It's on the sparse side, minimalist, mostly with no vocals though there are a few tracks with the whole Wu-Tang Clan as well as some RZA solo tracks that have rapping or speaking.

"Dead Birds" is a mellow track for electric piano and curiously toned percussion.

Sampling can be risky, however. "Untitled #12 (Free Jazz)" uses some Thelonious Monk samples but Monk's music is so powerful that everything around it just seems kind of unimpressive by comparison. There aren't many people in that weight class.

With that exception, though, the samples work really well to construct these tunes and it's an enjoyable record.