Dystopian World
Reviewed By Janet Mawdesley July 29, 2024
Artist – Peter Xifaras with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra
Distributor: Amazon Music
Released: July 2024
Running Time: 17mins 47secs
Website: https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Of-A-Utopian-World/dp/B0D4X9GJ1Z
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In 1949 the novel ‘1984’ by Author and social activist George Orwell was published. It was written as a warning of the consequences of allowing any government to exercise total control over thoughts, lifestyle and society. Sadly, in 2024 the prescient words of George Orwell appear to be coming into fruition.
Composer and social activist Peter Xifaras has taken this dystopian theme and over a seven track album, converts modern societies many distressing trends into a symphonic work, in the hope that people will begin to take notice of how our world is moving towards a society which values little and seems to be on a fast moving pathway to destruction.
Working once again with the talented Czech National Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Vladimir Martinka, with Xander Nitching on violin, the work commences with Tears of Humanity a sweeping song which is soft and gentle reflecting on the very strange world in which we all live; Peace is War, Freedom is Slavery and Ignorance is Strength.
Each song has a theme which offers a series of thoughts that need to be taken into reflection, their titles indicating the issue at hand: Death Clock with a rapid percussive element deepens into sombre tones before picking up the pace once again, capturing the fast pathway the world is traveling- ever closer to possible extinction!
Conscious of Humanity is a soft, delicate and almost dainty piece by contrast and perhaps captures as words seldom do, the very tiny little voice of humanity which can be all to easily drowned out. Dreams of a Utopia World sends out a call to not let it happen, to reflect and understand what a utopian society is really all about, as there is no reality in something that is perfect.
Bringing this impressive work to a finale is the sharp, chunky, driven song Dystopia, portraying a world where chaos reigns in an authoritarian manner; hell on earth!
There is a series of You Tube clips to go with each of the tracks which perhaps illustrate far better than words, the profound effect that modern society is prepared to tolerate as it refuses to face the reality that ‘Truth’ no longer matters.
In spite of the fact Dystopian World has rather a grim background, the music of each track is such that it offers hope, a better future and a more thoughtful and kind world.
With a final world from George Orwell, perhaps it is time to reflect, regroup and look at the future we are led to believe in, full in the face:
“Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious.”
― George Orwell, 1984