I can't tell if Meredith's Monk's ancient earthy vocal music in her 1980's CD Dolmen Music has gone extinct today or if it is a form of genius from another universe. The final track "Dolmen Music: Overture And Men's Conclave - Wa-Ohs - Rain - Pine Tree Lullaby" could be the musical backdrop to the origins of humankind all orderly gathered around stonehenge in the year 2,900 BC as the monoliths magically raise into their perfect positions in the ground. Her voice is a sort of tribal-cavewoman-meets-alien-space-creature surprise jumping out over her minimalist soothing piano snippets on repeat. But somehow she landed on earth showing us vocal technique far beyond a country yodel and trill. She makes Schoenberg's use of sprechstimme seem like baby talk in her grown-up ensemble of awkward vocal oddities. Monk communicates laughter, deep moaning and weeping using gibberish speech-song and sounds, all without saying more than a few English words on the third track of her five-track album. Whether you are interested in studying extreme vocal technique, or simply want to be entertained by what could qualify as a 20th century musical from mars, Dolmen Music is worth the wild journey it sparks.
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