John Zorn - Kristallnacht (USA 1992)

The John Zorn Discography.

Zorn's deepest and most serious album is his musical representation of the event named in the albums title. A disgusting and despicable event that was a forerunner of something even more horrific. Understandably the music here isn't easy listening even by Zorn's standards(referring mostly to track 2) and it is a difficult record to just sit and "enjoy" due to the images it provokes and the events it represents.  The first track perhaps set the tone for Zorn's later Masada project, before it gets almost taken over by what could be German propaganda speech recordings, But is is the second track that really represents the event with its crescendo of broken glass sounds and other less audible noise which makes for an almost unlistenable piece, although it does get a bit more bearable later on in the piece. The album is highly regarded within the Zorn Discography and after skipping "Never Again" and sitting with the music for several listens the rest of the set does impress and isn't as gloomy as the title suggests. Fairly chaotic and verging on industrial, like on "Barzel" which sounds like a cross between Mezbow and Throbbing Gristle but mostly the set has a classical feel. There are even some light heart moments if you listen carefully. A real eclectic set and most impressive. Rating 4.5/5.