Pat Metheny
A Map Of The World

Hello everyone!

My first review I want to dedicate to the great jazz guitarist (and not only) Pat Metheny, and to one of his "minor" works, namely 'A Map Of The World'. Commissioned to the artist for the homonymous feature film, based on the book by Jane Hamilton, it was released in 1999.

The album consists of a good 28 tracks with an average duration of a minute and a half, seemingly titled based on the precise moment of the story, which, paradoxically... I do not know! I must say, in fact, that I haven't seen the film (despite being a film enthusiast, I just can't find the movie) and I haven't even read the book, but you can piece together the plot precisely through the suggestions of the atmospheres and sounds produced by Pat. It starts from a state of tranquility and peace, described meticulously in the most acoustic manner possible, with decidedly irregular arpeggios even if they are simple and controlled.

Pat plays, as always, on a synthesizer background that makes the atmosphere rarefied, almost static if it weren't for the sound irregularities of his guitar; these sensations are perceptible in tracks like "Family", "North" and especially "sisters", certainly one of the best pieces of the album. Then something changes... an accident... and something breaks. From the track "Fall of Grace" somber and melancholic sounds arise: now it is no longer Pat's carefree strings vibrating, but a poignant piano playing a few notes: the center of the album contrasts with the lightness of the first part ("Memory", "Flight", "Alone") and represents precisely the change from a nearly idyllic situation to the discovery ("Discovery") of new paths, to a new tension testified by tracks like "Sunday" which almost seems to assault you with those unexpected thirty seconds of trip hop, as well as with the introduction of strings in "Realization". This is also why I chose 'A Map Of the World': for its complexity, as there is not a single sound or genre reigning, but it can even be called a symphonic project. There is indeed very little jazz: just some hints in Pat's arpeggios... for the rest, it is experimentation, ranging from chamber music to ambient, up to electronics.

It is a map of the world to consult. If you look on Wikipedia at Pat's page, you'll see the album listed in the "symphonic projects" category along with the legendary 'Secret Story'. Among accelerations and decelerations, acoustic improvisations, and orchestral accompaniments, you reach the second part where Pat returns as the protagonist and gives us other great performances of his instrument. Worth noting are "Resolution" and finally "Homecoming" which marks a return to origins after the adventure, both emotional and technical. As for the rest, the other tracks are quite similar; after all, we must not forget that this is a soundtrack, therefore a musical "skeleton" that must be barely perceptible in the viewing of the feature film. Even though I love this album, I certainly can't recommend it to anyone wanting to get closer to Pat; in fact, I gave only 4 stars for the album, which, while being, I repeat, very beautiful, is not to be included among Metheny's absolute masterpieces.

For that, there are the already mentioned 'Secret Story' (of which there is a wonderful review on this site) and 'Song X' where our guy showcases his jazz skills together with Ornette Coleman.

Thanks for reading the review and... constructive criticism is welcome!