A few days ago, the world was greeted by a free download of Nicolas Jaar’s latest album: a project described as an alternative soundtrack to the 1969 film The Colour of Pomegranates. This soundtrack has long been known, but its free release was a fantastic surprise. As a whole, Pomegranates can scarcely be called danceable, but is not without rhythm. Its beautifully structured soundscapes are disarming and exceedingly complex. The album opens with “Garden of Eden,†a hauntingly industrial track that rides closer to orchestral music than a dance hall hit and “Beasts of this Earth†stands out amongst the rest as one of the heavier tracks on the album. Building from vague static into a pounding rhythm, “Beasts†evolves into an eerie pulse which has become a signature in Jaar’s work. This, in addition to many of the scattered vocals throughout, oftentimes in other languages, add to a familiar sound that makes this album distinctively his for those familiar with his work.
Find a free download of Nicolas Jaar’s “Pomegranates” here and stream the album below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwxHCtTsM90