Ry who? Unless you're deeply into the slide-guitar scene, you've probably just heard the name and know nothing of the man. But you'll recognize his sound from work he's done with everyone from the Rolling Stones to Captain Beefheart and Randy Newman.

In 1984, Wim Wenders contacted Cooder about creating the incredible soundtrack for his acclaimed film Paris, Texas. Now, 13 years later, he was called to the scene and produced a brand new, etherial score for Wim's new film, The End of Violence.

Of course, things are different now, and the score for The End of Violence contains less twang and more technology. The group of fourteen session musicians (among them Howie B. and Joachim, Cooder's son) invented a new kind of laid-back, other-worldly ambience never before heard by human ears. The demented, stomach-turning spell of "You Shoot Him!" and the reverberating, sickening spin of "Kinko's" are creepily magnetic, drawing you into that back alley where the homeless things are. The brass-fronted "Vamos Empezar" sounds like a busy L.A. street on a rainy night and the film's end title theme is a distant acoustic after the downpour.

The End of Violence is not just the score to an art film. It's a landmark electronic/twang fusion destined to go down in history as one of those albums you'll not only enjoy owning, but will also amplify your musical wisdom as your friends browse your CD collection.

-Ryan Schreiber

Sound Clip:
"The End of Violence (End Title)"
MPEG-LayerIII
64kpbs.44kHz.
297k.37sec.
converted from:
AIFF.3:1comp.22kHz.