Amerika
Basil Poledouris
" An epic like only Poledouris could bring them "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the limited release
The project Amerika was at the time of creation a controversial look to society in 1997 (ten years later considering it was made in 1987). Their story went as follows, Soviets took over America and held its countrymen imprisoned, this all reflected in 7 episodes. Controversy and boycotts were heard and unleashed but then it did its job perfectly, considering it got the people to think about the story's concept. 7 nights capturing nearly 80 million people is not a bad wake up call. One of the successful handlers in the mission was composer Basil Poledouris, who was not a stranger to the mass popular anymore after his amazing Rocobop of the same year.
His mission wasn't an easy one. He was bound to write 7 big scores, and carefully had to integrate them together to make it sound like it was one giant score divided into 7 parts! Of course Basil Poledouris was a grand composer and he succeeded admirably at his job. 6 years after his breakthrough score for Conan the Barbarian, Poledouris was composing for the best and writing the best. And Amerika provides the best. The aid came from the London Symphony, producing a massive sound.
Luckily Promotheus wasn't going to let a classic like this go to waste and after nearly 18 years it appeared on the market, providing the unknowing populas to a classic score. I assume the 75 minutes present all snippets from the 7 episodes in general, and yet everything seems to flow seamlessly together.
We start with the pompous main theme "Main Title Amerika", breathing a big Basil Poledouris wind towards ya (sounds like Farewell to the King and Big Wednesday). No matter the link, it is wonderful stuff. Poledouris' music is divided between the war marching material and the emotional material. "Supper" supports this feeling the best during darker and later emotional wealth of material. In "Red Tide Pimple" piano is heard while "Ride to Brothel / Helmut & Aletha" and especially during "Devin's Return" we receive emotional sparks through a gorgeous love theme on flute.
Emotionally, Amerika presents its feeling of oppression in "Humiliation of Aletha", while the main theme is presented militaristic in "All Prisoners". There are signs of a classical cello in "Squatters (Homeless)" and in "Dieter's View", emotional fireplay is discovered in "Burial" and a rising fanfare enlightens "Omaha Morning / Helmut Intervenes". However from "The Homeless March", Amerika races towards the finish line with an unfelt magical approach.
"The Homeless March" track itself carries a wonderful love and main theme, while "Ceremony Montage" is one of those catchy pieces you want to stumble upon each time in a soundtrack. The darker exceptions 21 and 22 aside, Poledouris shows you his best work at the end, this in "Andrei's View", the stirring "We're all Prisoners" and in the conclusive "The Meaning".
I don't remember how quickly this one sold out, but today it would have been in an instant I assume. Because it doesn't matter! Basil Poledouris remains one of the most beloved composers on earth, and an album of such a classic status deserves the out of print remark. It was released during the awkward Making the Grade and the lovely Big Wednesday, but it is safe to say that Amerika is too good for any of those 2. Sadly Poledouris was neglected a bit too much during his early career, and Amerika or Farewell to the King might have deserved more during the nomination periods. It nonetheless remains a killer score to listen to, capturing brilliant music from a composer we sorely miss today, bringing music you just don't hear anymore today.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title "Amerika" (2.18) Excellent track
2. Aletha (1.08)
3. Supper (5.42)
4. U.N.S.S.U. (1.38)
5. Red Tide Pimple (1.01)
6. Ghost & Indoctrination (1.47)
7. Humiliation of Aletha (1.56)
8. Ride to Brothel / Helmut & Aletha (2.12)
9. Devin's Return (5.09) Excellent track
10. All Prisoners (2.27) Excellent track
11. Squatters (Homeless) (1.51)
12. Milford Morning (2.04)
13. Ancestor's Strength (4.20)
14. Omaha Morning / Helmut Intervenes (2.39)
15. The Dance Begins (2.34)
16. Dieter's View (3.26)
17. I'm an American (3.27)
18. The Homeless' March (4.38) Excellent track
19. Burial (3.47) Excellent track
20. Ceremony Montage (2.53) Excellent track
21. Train to Vladivostock (4.23)
22. Terrorists Arrive / Capitol Means (1.53)
23. Andrei's View (3.57)
24. We're All Prisoners Now (2.38) Excellent track
25. The Meaning (5.16) Excellent track
Total Length: 75.37
His mission wasn't an easy one. He was bound to write 7 big scores, and carefully had to integrate them together to make it sound like it was one giant score divided into 7 parts! Of course Basil Poledouris was a grand composer and he succeeded admirably at his job. 6 years after his breakthrough score for Conan the Barbarian, Poledouris was composing for the best and writing the best. And Amerika provides the best. The aid came from the London Symphony, producing a massive sound.
Luckily Promotheus wasn't going to let a classic like this go to waste and after nearly 18 years it appeared on the market, providing the unknowing populas to a classic score. I assume the 75 minutes present all snippets from the 7 episodes in general, and yet everything seems to flow seamlessly together.
We start with the pompous main theme "Main Title Amerika", breathing a big Basil Poledouris wind towards ya (sounds like Farewell to the King and Big Wednesday). No matter the link, it is wonderful stuff. Poledouris' music is divided between the war marching material and the emotional material. "Supper" supports this feeling the best during darker and later emotional wealth of material. In "Red Tide Pimple" piano is heard while "Ride to Brothel / Helmut & Aletha" and especially during "Devin's Return" we receive emotional sparks through a gorgeous love theme on flute.
Emotionally, Amerika presents its feeling of oppression in "Humiliation of Aletha", while the main theme is presented militaristic in "All Prisoners". There are signs of a classical cello in "Squatters (Homeless)" and in "Dieter's View", emotional fireplay is discovered in "Burial" and a rising fanfare enlightens "Omaha Morning / Helmut Intervenes". However from "The Homeless March", Amerika races towards the finish line with an unfelt magical approach.
"The Homeless March" track itself carries a wonderful love and main theme, while "Ceremony Montage" is one of those catchy pieces you want to stumble upon each time in a soundtrack. The darker exceptions 21 and 22 aside, Poledouris shows you his best work at the end, this in "Andrei's View", the stirring "We're all Prisoners" and in the conclusive "The Meaning".
I don't remember how quickly this one sold out, but today it would have been in an instant I assume. Because it doesn't matter! Basil Poledouris remains one of the most beloved composers on earth, and an album of such a classic status deserves the out of print remark. It was released during the awkward Making the Grade and the lovely Big Wednesday, but it is safe to say that Amerika is too good for any of those 2. Sadly Poledouris was neglected a bit too much during his early career, and Amerika or Farewell to the King might have deserved more during the nomination periods. It nonetheless remains a killer score to listen to, capturing brilliant music from a composer we sorely miss today, bringing music you just don't hear anymore today.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title "Amerika" (2.18) Excellent track
2. Aletha (1.08)
3. Supper (5.42)
4. U.N.S.S.U. (1.38)
5. Red Tide Pimple (1.01)
6. Ghost & Indoctrination (1.47)
7. Humiliation of Aletha (1.56)
8. Ride to Brothel / Helmut & Aletha (2.12)
9. Devin's Return (5.09) Excellent track
10. All Prisoners (2.27) Excellent track
11. Squatters (Homeless) (1.51)
12. Milford Morning (2.04)
13. Ancestor's Strength (4.20)
14. Omaha Morning / Helmut Intervenes (2.39)
15. The Dance Begins (2.34)
16. Dieter's View (3.26)
17. I'm an American (3.27)
18. The Homeless' March (4.38) Excellent track
19. Burial (3.47) Excellent track
20. Ceremony Montage (2.53) Excellent track
21. Train to Vladivostock (4.23)
22. Terrorists Arrive / Capitol Means (1.53)
23. Andrei's View (3.57)
24. We're All Prisoners Now (2.38) Excellent track
25. The Meaning (5.16) Excellent track
Total Length: 75.37