Dance Music is the soundtrack album by the Welsh multi-instrumentalist John Cale composed for a ballet about Nico performed by the dancers of Scapino Ballet Rotterdam. The music was played by Ice Nine. The choreography of Scapino Ballet was conceived and directed by Ed Wubbe. The premiere took place in Rotterdam on 4 October 1997. Most of the songs were performed by a nine-piece ensemble Ice Nine, (except "Ari Sleepy Too" and "Nibelungen" by Nico and "España" by Cale on piano). "Nibelungen" is a track that Cale arranged for Nico's The Marble Index album.
It was then released on CD in 1998 on Detour Records label.Werksman, Hans "Dance Music". werksman.home.xs4all.nl. Retrieved 20 December 2020
In a retrospective review, AllMusic wrote that the result although no showing any obvious connection to Nico, "displays a variety of colors and moods, ranging from pop to more classical styles, and often reveals a spare beauty".
Track listing All tracks composed by John Cale, except "Ari Sleepy Too" and "Nibelungen" by Nico. "Intro" − 4:13 "New York Underground" − 3:52 "Night Club Theme" − 2:08 "Modelling" − 10:22 "Out of China" − 5:04 "Death Camp" − 3:39 "Ari Sleepy Too" − 4:44 "Iceberg I" − 7:39 "Jim" − 5:09 "Iceberg II" − 8:01 "España" − 9:48 "Nibelungen" − 2:44
Personnel John Cale − piano Tineke de Jong − violin Jan Schoonenberg − viola Ernst Grapperhause − viola Baptist Kervers − viola Marjolein Meijer − cello Jasper Teule − double bass Corrie van Binsbergen − guitar Marc van de Geer − piano, synthesizer Arend Niks − percussion Dave Soldier − string arrangements
References