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My favorite work by Gordon is actually one David doesn't mention, namely his Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games music. Contained therein is some of the most stirring and haunting "celebratory" music I have ever heard, no exaggeration. That he composed such a work is already enough to rate him in the top 10% of composers, in my opinion. And to say such things as David says about scores like Daybreakers and Mao's Last Dancer indicates a certain perspective on music which, while not necessarily wrong, is certainly incomplete. Those scores may not be packed with wall-to-wall melodic mastery, but there is scarcely a moment that goes by in either score where Gordon is not doing something fascinating with the orchestra to create a certain feeling, and his ability to do that - create an exact, memorable sonic/musical feeling for a specific scene or concept - goes far beyond what any of the RC-style composers can do, despite the latter fools theoretically having a larger palette of techniques and equipment to work with.

David, based on your comments I am going to presume that you also prefer 80s Williams to 2000s Williams. If
you disagree then I have misjudged you and I apologize.

NP: Creation - Christopher Young
This is some music

Yeah, we need all our music to be miserable. How dare he!

I agree, A Meal and a Bath is the highlight of the CD

Be careful with that; those things are nasty!

Thanks for the recommendation, I will check it out! It sounds like it deserves more than the 3 stars given in that review?

Word!

I think the thing is, the praise he's given on these boards is quite different from the modesty of the man himself. He's no diva, I can assure you. When you compare it to the self-satisfaction that exudes from those who actually are at the top, and will be able to do another 15-20 scores in a reasonable time frame (that would be more than Gordon's lifetime at the current rate), overrated is the last word that comes to mind. Even Desplat I could take is overrated, or Zimmer, or Williams, or Goldsmith over at FSM, but Gordon? Do that many people even know his work?

EDIT. To be honest, as another Australian (not that that really matters, but it seemed to here), I'm really surprised that a fan of orchestral film music could take such exception to Gordon getting some recognition in this small corner of the world. It's all opinion in the end, but I never did think I'd see that opinion.

Also, I must say that I really don't see what being a fellow countryman of a composer has anything to do with the validity of one's opinion of said composer.

unless you were from, say, Zaire or Papau New Guinea or some such place and the composer in question was the only composer in the world from your country, then I can see some positive bias...but we're not talking about such extremes here...

NP: In My Sleep - Conrad Pope

Curious little score that's an interesting mix of Desplat meets Williams meets Goldsmith. The opening cue contains these lovely flute flutters that instantly brings Desplat to mind. The second cue heads into War of the Worlds territory with the choppy, aggressive string ostinatos and pounding timpani with brass bursts.

As you get deeper into the score it gets much more atmospheric but the orchestral colors are always there. Typically, when you think of atmospheric writing you might think of drones, long notes and not much interesting happening musically... but Pope always has something interesting going on weather driving a cue forward with a little electronic back beat or string pulses with harp that reminds me a bit of Goldsmith's Basic Instinct or those Desplat's like flute flutters which are always welcome... such a pleasing orchestral colour.

There are a few action licks here and there... "Hiding the Knife" treads closely to Minority Report but don't be expecting massive blow your mind Williamseque action cues here... it's not that type of score. This one is small and reflective. There are burst of horns and trumpets sprinkled throughout but mostly Pope has written this intimate score for piano, strings and woodwinds. I'm not sure the 63 minute plus running time will keep your attention but I'd say that if you like any of Desplat's smaller scores then this one might work for you.

-Erik-

Sounds intruiging! But are there any melodies? Or at least any kind of motifically repeated ideas ala Desplat's Birth?

I think I'll be buying that one, from Erik's description of it.

It's on Prime a la carte.

Wow, how on earth did you even find that comment? Excellent Glad I'm not the only one.

Oh. Yeah, I forgot there was an inline search, I always only search for topic titles. And there are not exactly going to be an abundance of hits for "Everquest"!

Players - Jerry Goldsmith

A charming little work, definitely worth it for the action during 'Winning Streak' and 'A Final Decision'. And the secondary theme.

The softer cues need some more listens, but I'm thankful for those two tracks alone. So yes, very charming indeed.