The End of Law
Bill Laswell · 1999
48 min · 22 tracks · jazz
A meditative blend of ambient textures and intricate rhythms that transport listeners through a tapestry of historical narratives.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Old Man of the Mountain Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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The Western Lands — This track exemplifies the album's immersive quality, blending haunting melodies with intricate layers that evoke a sense of journey across vast landscapes.
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Hashish Poem — Here, Laswell masterfully intertwines spoken word elements with rich instrumentation, creating an evocative narrative experience that captures the essence of exploration.
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Tale of the Caliph Hakem — This piece stands out for its dynamic shifts and rhythmic complexity, embodying the album's fusion of storytelling and musical innovation.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- hypnotic soundscapes for deep focus
- dynamic journey with interludes
- mystical narratives for reflective moods
- short tracks for fragmented listening
- wave-like pacing for flowing attention
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of instant gratification
- prefer straightforward song structures
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Experimental — Explores unique conceptual themes and soundscapes, diverging from earlier styles.
- Themes
- historical narratives· vast desert landscapes· exploratory soundscapes
- Career context
- By the time 'The End of Law' was released in 1999, Bill Laswell had already established himself as a prominent figure in the music world, known for his innovative fusion of dub and jazz. This album followed his extensive work with various artists and projects throughout the 1990s, showcasing his continuing evolution as a producer and composer focused on sonic experimentation.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Tackhead· Herbie Hancock· Thievery Corporation
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Hashish Poem
The narrative voice reflects on enlightenment through vivid imagery of nature and spiritual awakening.
This choice to evoke sensory experiences rather than merely recounting events deepens the listener's engagement with the poem's philosophical undercurrents.
Tracklist
- 1 First Reading 0:30
- 2 The Old Man of the Mountain Start here 3:13
- 3 The Western Lands 6:13
- 4 The Spilled Cup 1:48
- 5 Marco Polo's Tale 1:44
- 6 Pilgrimage to Cairo 1:50
- 7 Freya Stark at Alamut 0:21
- 8 Castles 0:58
- 9 Hashish Poem 2:53
- 10 Sinan's Boat 1:56
- 11 Assassinations 0:33
- 12 The Mongols Destroy Alamut 1:15
- 13 The Divine Self 5:11
- 14 Morning High 3:04
- 15 A Quick Trip to Alamut 3:42
- 16 Slogans 0:47
- 17 Book of the Highest Initiation 2:42
- 18 The Lord of the Ressurection 0:53
- 19 Assassinations 0:53
- 20 Tale of the Caliph Hakem 5:01
- 21 The Assassins 2:06
- 22 Last Reading 0:38
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Tortoise
Shares similar exploratory soundscapes and intricate rhythms with a focus on ambient textures.
In a Silent Way
Miles Davis
Combines ambient jazz elements with a meditative atmosphere, evoking vast sonic landscapes.
Space Is the Place
Sun Ra
Explores historical narratives through avant-garde jazz, creating expansive and immersive sound environments.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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