Comments for Davis, Miles, Pangaea

I don't see it as dark or brooding at all. I do see it as a great culmination to Miles' attempts to make music based on African forms rather than European traditions. Disc One is a fragmented James-Brownish funk workout; note how in the absense of studio editing the band does jump-cuts themselves at this point. Disc Two is really great, a Sun Ra-like circular lazy pattern played for an entire LP length and including some nice flute from Sonny Fortune. A bargain at any price - run out and buy this!!!

I see why people see this as "dark," but I also don''t agree. Except for moments of melancholy (mostly provided by guitarist Pete Cosey on his long, tortured solo on the second disc) it''s exceedingly beautful music. The first disc works out a furious rhythm with burning solos by all involved, the second shifts from mood to mood quickly. Starting with the aforementioned circular pattern, it drifts into an audio representation of life on the Serengheti, complete with herds of wildlife and bird calls, leaves the plains and heads into the deepest jungle for Cosey''s solo. Miles follows on organ and hits the most evil-sounding chord I''ve ever heard and leads the band into a blues riff that slowly mutates into straight-ahead jazz. Slowly, one player after another heads for outer space and the disc (US version at least - there''s a Japanese import with almost ten more minutes of musique concrete at the end) fades out to infinity with a sputtering synth, drum machine, and guitar feedback. Flawless.

Dark, brooding, disturbing music. 5 stars.-down beat