NOW PLAYING LI

NP: THE BATMAN (Michael Giacchino)

God, why am I exposing myself to this crap? An endless string of two-note chords, as if it's a child plunking away at a piano, and then orchestrated with a million dollars. Or low-register rumbles that go nowhere fast. I won't be able to make it through one single listen, but I needed to know what it was about to have the references in order. As for the film, I skipped the press screening earlier this week (I'm all superheroed out), but might give it a go if it hits some streaming service at some point.

NP: FEAST OF JULY (Zbigniew Preisner)

Few composers can get so much out of a solo instrument -- a woodwind, a guitar, a piano -- and a little bit of reverb as Preisner. This 1995 effort is another good example. I don't play it very often, but I should.

I think the reverb is almost like an instrument in and of itself. It adds colour.

I don't think that I can listen to it all the way through. Which is a shame, I like Giacchino's Batman 'theme' and the various ways in which he varies the orchestrations that surround it.

But, then I think how what he's written for the main character in a major movie is what someone such as John Barry would write for a 30 second run-up to Bond defusing a bomb and then move on and I realise just what film music has become in some circumstances.

I sometimes wonder if you have other scores in your collection, JS.

But yes, I play it sometimes. Only the OST version, though, obviously. Fine score.

You don't really need any other score than this one. You should try listening to the expanded presentation.

At least it's got more source music, all of which is good.

Roussel's BLACK BEAUTY was a big highlight last year. I was hoping this was more of the same.

Been listening to some recent Giacchino superhero efforts. I don’t have much time for the films, but he does some lovely work. Whether it’s that underused melody for Batman, the Catwoman theme, the heroic end credits of his Spider-Man films (love the horn triplets), or his eclectic Doctor Strange material, he really is one of the few composers of our time that is trying to reach back to the film music of his youth and trying to find his version of it.
Usually these days a couple of themes from a soundtrack will suffice for me. It’s rare I go the whole way.

NP: Arachnoverture (Michael Giacchino)

He took one for the team.

Please don't!

Meh. We need more disagreements over film music to get the temperature going again.

I'm the same, Thomas. Never connected to his work either.

Yes, but first draw them in with some friendly banter. Then... BAM!!