Arsène Lupin
Debbie Wiseman
" French masterpiece from English composer needs more acclaim, do the honor please "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
British composer Debbie Wiseman isn't widely known beyond the European circles and this is sad. Because every composer strikes gold at least once in his or her career, and then it's up to the review sites to inform you about that golden boy. And so we'll do just that. Arsène Lupin, a French adventurous crime movie didn't exactly raise a lot of interest, but luckily the label Delabel believed in the potential of the music. And rightfully so, because this score is a real piece of art. One which demands a darker mind, but it returns the favor by bringing darkish brilliance in abundance.
The score is performed by a large sounding Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the renowned Crouch End Festival Chorus, lending a helping hand in capturing a Gothic level to the already gloomy but enticing dark mood. The score by Wiseman starts with "Arsène Lupin" and introduces us to the ominous, mysterious and yet Gothic theme. Wiseman keeps the theme interesting by letting it to be a long and 2 part theme, where both parts can be heard later separately to keep the character of Lupin alive.
"Le Grand Café" is the longest track and builds on light choir and soft flute melodies. And when occasional fanfares arise, you get the feeling you're hearing Wiseman's touch in an otherwise eerie Trevor Jones mood. There is luckily some room for diversity. "Casino" and "The Ballroom" add an orchestral waltzing charm to the otherwise dark foreboding music, and it's good to have this diversity. On the other hand, I do prefer it when Debbie unleashes her orchestral voice in this score. Because then the score becomes truly alive! Examples like "The Needle of Etretat" and "Arsène Escapes" are masters in their genre, with Gothic touches of the theme around walls of brass. "Goodbye Mother" has even an exact horn opening ala The Prince of Egypt.
"Underwater" has fireworks near the end with a suspension fanfare while "Arsène et Beaumagnan" is now containing a Patrick Doyle sound, with an opening of brass (Needful Things and Frankenstein) and a rage of mayhem that will have given the players nightmares to perform it for sure. It isn't over however. "Theft of the Crucifix" contains brass blasts and a constant rhythm. It provides for furious listening pleasures (fanfares returning with choir to finish the job, solo vocals to close it softly with). You name it, it provides it.
"Under the Spell" takes that route a little bit further with first some choral versions of the theme, while bringing forth a more mysterious mood. But when you've heard all the ruckus you could handle, Wiseman unleashes her best take yet. "Fields of Lupin" is 4 minutes of blazing fury, yet here the choir plays a large role. Furthermore the brass playing between 2.18 and 2.36 is furiously brilliant, it literally makes you gasp for air.
The latter tracks are effective as well. Choir growing of the ashes of the theme in "The Hollow Needle", playful music based on the theme in "Fooled by a Newcomer" and silence interrupting a brass blast in "Clarisse Wakes". "The Blue Lupin" has the final gasp of excitement with the organ and the percussion setting the theme into motion, while "Secret Passage" closes the score the way it began.
With 73 minutes, there is much to discover in Wiseman's music. It might be a little too much at times. But the large Gothic action spectacles due help, with 6, 8 and 17 being masterpieces in their own right. Arsène Lupin in its own world is a killer CD, because few scores handle the Gothic level as masterful as Wiseman's composition. The difference between score cues do barely shift from the brass, but at least the ideas or the thematic variations are aplenty. Take it from me, in the right mood and on the right occasion, no person can withstand the moody blazing flair of Arsène Lupin. And in its highlights no one will resist Wiseman's voice.
Tracklisting
1. Qui Es-Tu?: M * (3.06)
2. Arsène Lupin (2.15)
3. Le Grand Café (6.27)
4. Arsène Deserted (3.14) Excellent track
5. Casino (1.37)
6. The Needle of Etretat (2.49) Excellent track
7. Clarisse et Arsène (1.43)
8. Arsène Escapes (2.09) Excellent track
9. Goodbye Mother (3.07)
10. Countess Cagliostro (3.29)
11. Underwater (3.27)
12. Arsène et Beaumagnan (2.05)
13. The Ballroom (2.07)
14. Theft of the Crucifix (4.13) Excellent track
15. Under the Spell (4.18)
16. The Mask of Prince Sernine (2.34)
17. Fields of Lupin (4.14) Excellent track
18. The Eight Star Will be Divine (4.53)
19. The Hollow Needle (1.48)
20. Fooled by a Newcomer (3.08)
21. Clarisse Wakes (3.35)
22. The Blue Lupin (2.38)
23. Secret Passage (4.46) Excellent track
* Written by Debbie Wiseman, Sébastian Martel, Piers Faccini & Marcel Kanche
Total Length: 73.53
The score is performed by a large sounding Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the renowned Crouch End Festival Chorus, lending a helping hand in capturing a Gothic level to the already gloomy but enticing dark mood. The score by Wiseman starts with "Arsène Lupin" and introduces us to the ominous, mysterious and yet Gothic theme. Wiseman keeps the theme interesting by letting it to be a long and 2 part theme, where both parts can be heard later separately to keep the character of Lupin alive.
"Le Grand Café" is the longest track and builds on light choir and soft flute melodies. And when occasional fanfares arise, you get the feeling you're hearing Wiseman's touch in an otherwise eerie Trevor Jones mood. There is luckily some room for diversity. "Casino" and "The Ballroom" add an orchestral waltzing charm to the otherwise dark foreboding music, and it's good to have this diversity. On the other hand, I do prefer it when Debbie unleashes her orchestral voice in this score. Because then the score becomes truly alive! Examples like "The Needle of Etretat" and "Arsène Escapes" are masters in their genre, with Gothic touches of the theme around walls of brass. "Goodbye Mother" has even an exact horn opening ala The Prince of Egypt.
"Underwater" has fireworks near the end with a suspension fanfare while "Arsène et Beaumagnan" is now containing a Patrick Doyle sound, with an opening of brass (Needful Things and Frankenstein) and a rage of mayhem that will have given the players nightmares to perform it for sure. It isn't over however. "Theft of the Crucifix" contains brass blasts and a constant rhythm. It provides for furious listening pleasures (fanfares returning with choir to finish the job, solo vocals to close it softly with). You name it, it provides it.
"Under the Spell" takes that route a little bit further with first some choral versions of the theme, while bringing forth a more mysterious mood. But when you've heard all the ruckus you could handle, Wiseman unleashes her best take yet. "Fields of Lupin" is 4 minutes of blazing fury, yet here the choir plays a large role. Furthermore the brass playing between 2.18 and 2.36 is furiously brilliant, it literally makes you gasp for air.
The latter tracks are effective as well. Choir growing of the ashes of the theme in "The Hollow Needle", playful music based on the theme in "Fooled by a Newcomer" and silence interrupting a brass blast in "Clarisse Wakes". "The Blue Lupin" has the final gasp of excitement with the organ and the percussion setting the theme into motion, while "Secret Passage" closes the score the way it began.
With 73 minutes, there is much to discover in Wiseman's music. It might be a little too much at times. But the large Gothic action spectacles due help, with 6, 8 and 17 being masterpieces in their own right. Arsène Lupin in its own world is a killer CD, because few scores handle the Gothic level as masterful as Wiseman's composition. The difference between score cues do barely shift from the brass, but at least the ideas or the thematic variations are aplenty. Take it from me, in the right mood and on the right occasion, no person can withstand the moody blazing flair of Arsène Lupin. And in its highlights no one will resist Wiseman's voice.
Tracklisting
1. Qui Es-Tu?: M * (3.06)
2. Arsène Lupin (2.15)
3. Le Grand Café (6.27)
4. Arsène Deserted (3.14) Excellent track
5. Casino (1.37)
6. The Needle of Etretat (2.49) Excellent track
7. Clarisse et Arsène (1.43)
8. Arsène Escapes (2.09) Excellent track
9. Goodbye Mother (3.07)
10. Countess Cagliostro (3.29)
11. Underwater (3.27)
12. Arsène et Beaumagnan (2.05)
13. The Ballroom (2.07)
14. Theft of the Crucifix (4.13) Excellent track
15. Under the Spell (4.18)
16. The Mask of Prince Sernine (2.34)
17. Fields of Lupin (4.14) Excellent track
18. The Eight Star Will be Divine (4.53)
19. The Hollow Needle (1.48)
20. Fooled by a Newcomer (3.08)
21. Clarisse Wakes (3.35)
22. The Blue Lupin (2.38)
23. Secret Passage (4.46) Excellent track
* Written by Debbie Wiseman, Sébastian Martel, Piers Faccini & Marcel Kanche
Total Length: 73.53