Track Listing

1. Jigalong
2. Stealing the children
3. Unlocking the door
4. The tracker
5. Running to the rain
6. On the map
7. A sense of home
8. Go away Mr Evans
9. Moodoo's secret
10. Gracie's recapture
11. Crossing the Salt Pan
12. The Return (Parts 1,2 & 3)
13. Ngankarrparni (Sky Blue Reprise)
14. The Rabbit-Proof Fence
15. Cloudless

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #55948 in Music
• Released on: 2002-06-17
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Original language: English
• Running time: 59 minutes

Amaozn.co.uk Review
Aside from a multimedia pastiche he did for the millennium celebration, this soundtrack for Philip Noyce's film, Rabbit-Proof Fence, marks Peter Gabriel's first full slate of original recordings in nearly a decade. In the meantime, Gabriel's globally ambitious Real World musical mini-empire has taken precedence; the knowledge the musician gleaned there is immediately apparent in his film cues here. While the booming electro-tribal rhythms of previous Gabriel work come instantly into play, there's a sense of spacious mystery that's perfectly emblematic of the story's Australian outback setting. Gabriel's penchant for dense aural construction gives way to an ambient soundscape punctuated by Aboriginal percussion, didgeridoo, and bird song, and occasionally washed over by lolling tides of synth and samples. It's an atmosphere that, like the Aboriginal world it evokes, is nearly devoid of traditional melody, but one infused with a gripping, almost subliminal power. "Cloudless" then brings in haunting indigenous voices as well, intertwining them with a wordless, Westernised choral to emphasise Gabriel's compelling world music vision. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

well-hidden genius
This album has received some negative reviews, because people are making the mistake of comparing it to Passion, which is Peter Gabriel's musical masterpiece and a setter of impossibly high standards. Long Walk Home is a much smoother, less eclectic work which really can be listened to as background music (not a bad thing). It flows consistently and constantly in a way no other Gabriel soundtrack does, and if that means a little dedicated listening to discern the subtle variations and changes, then so be it. Just like Reign in Blood, Roots and Awake, you have to make an investment to tease out the hidden treasures of what at first listen may appear to be a uniform mass.

Jigalong, Running to the Rain, The Recapture of Gracie, The Return and the closing Cloudless are the standouts, each possessed of a truly shiver-inducing melody, and the interim pieces connect perfectly. There is no weak link here whatsoever (the same cannot be said of Passion, Birdy, or Ovo). The recycling of the melody of 'The Nest that Sailed the Sky', from the Ovo album, is the only questionable moment, but it still fits in seamlessly, of course.

A definite grower. Do not believe the hacks in the music press, who doubtless have listened to this beautiful record once, comprehensively missed the point and awarded it a low mark out of five/ten (a childish way to judge art in any case) - trust your own ears, and let Long Walk Home work its slow, gentle magic on you. The rewards will be immense.

A demanding but rewarding listening experience
Stylisitically, this soundtrack resembles Birdy in that it is organic, slow moving, quite dark and atmosphere presides over melody. It is, however, not as minimalist as Birdy in its musical palette. Traditional Gabriel sounds are here, such as fuzzy guitar chords and thunderous percussion, but they are very low in the mix and the bulk of the album is carried by shifting and layered synthesised textures occasionally punctuated by quite stirring passages for string ensemble. It is a logical development of some of the instrumental passages on Ovo. It isn't really possible to pick out stand-out tracks, as the album pretty much has to be listened to whole to get the most out of it.

Another PG soundtrack needing no movie.
This is the soundtrack to an Australian film "Rabbit-Proof Fence". It is new stuff except for the (very effective) recycling of a certain motif from OVO. Gabriel is as eclectic as ever, drawing on a wide range of world music with a substantial Australian Aboriginal input. I have all of PG's previous soundtracks but have never felt the need to see any of the films. The characteristically atmospheric and emotion-charged music of "Long Walk Home" likewise stands alone. Highly recommended.