Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi : Rome

Label: Capitol

Lo and behold, Danger Mouse -- who first achieved notoriety with his Jay-Z/Beatles mashing project The Grey Album -- has stealthily become one of American music's real auteurs. His latest effort, made in tandem with Italian composer Daniele Luppi, sounds like the sort of thing that takes years to realize (it did -- and does Danger Mouse take on any other kind of project nowadays anyway?), a lush set of 15 tracks inspired by spaghetti-western soundtracks and featuring a handful of vocals turned in by minor stars Jack White and Norah Jones. "Season's Trees" has the elemental vibe suggested in its name, a softly swaying arrangement of strings and things backing Ms. Jones's velvety purr; don't let the words "strings" and "arrangement" throw you though, this is pop music of the highest order. "Theme of Rome" bears the influence of Morricone, et al., most prominently, its evocation of fateful destiny as strong as the song itself is spare. Homage, sure, but pure as snow. "The Rose with the Broken Neck" flanges into view sounding much like an outtake from Alain Goraguer's soundtrack to La Planete Sauvage, at least until White's tortured vocal part enters. Gorgeous stuff and well-suited to summer nights.