Black Hawk Down
Hans Zimmer
" It's not Pearl Harbour, I can promise you that. "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
War movies have always been popular, whether going back and depicting the gruesome reality of the first 2 world wars, or showing more recent atrocities that mankind should never be proud off. Black Hawk Down is the latter, focusing on the Battle of Mogadishu where American troops were battling Somali militia. The all star cast (led by actors Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore and Sam Shepard) were guided by director Ridley Scott, who was determent to make us forget the hit and miss project Hannibal. However it was Gladiator before that which reignited the flame between director Scott and composer Hans Zimmer, leading to a trio of scores that couldn't be more diverse from one another.
Black Hawk Down is by far the grittiest and least melodic of the 3. Naturally of course, though The Thin Red Line proved war scores could deliver emotion and thematic minimalism as well. But Black Hawk Down needed to tone things quite differently. For all the brutal realism there needed to be a grittier reply, and Zimmer's score surely delivers on all those accounts. In between we have 3 different songs, all infusing some kind of emotion to the sound of Black Hawk Down. The first "Barra Barra" leans closest to the on edge rhythm and danger of the story, the most beautiful and emotional one is definitely "Gortoz A Ran - J'attends", building forward on the brief but enchanting Zimmer / Lisa Gerrard combination (though credit has to be given to Denez Prigent here as well), and "Minstrel Boy" is definitely the catchiest one of the 3.
For Zimmer's music, be ready to hear ethnic based rhythms and vocals, on edge percussion and minimalistic and surreal emotion (easily be seen as a return to the sound that made The Thin Red Line so powerful). These 3 forces are all evident in "Hunger". Especially the rough on edge electric guitar showcases both sides of militia (Somalia and America) as we ride through a crowded Mogadishu. This sound continues with extra attention for eastern instrumentation in "Chant" and "Ashes to Ashes".
However, the bulk of the movie is the fight for survival and in it, Zimmer paints it with a rhythmic brush and an electric pencil. And through it "Synchrotone" becomes the point of no return of the album. It will be love or hate it for most I guess, but somehow you can't deny the effective brilliance of this specific cue, especially during the final minutes once Zimmer goes for subtle emotional resonance, courtesy of the main theme of the film. And better watch out for the theme that inspired Bear McCreary for the final 5 (All Along the Watchtower) in Battlestar Galactica as well. It's basically charging the adrenaline in the first minutes of this cue. And "Tribal War" easily influenced Klaus Badelt (or Zimmer himself) to continue this feisty rhythm on Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
And in between all that diversity, there's time for reflection. "Vale of Plenty" thereby becomes a close cousin to (better believe it) An Everlasting Piece, "Mogadishu Blues" becomes a relaxing stroll courtesy of Heitor Perreira's guitar solos and Zimmer's most inspired piece comes during "Leave no Man Behind", which can be seen as another "Journey to the Line" moment for a war movie. The main theme growing soft but determent delivers us thereby the best moment of the score.
There's also a much sought after recording sessions of Black Hawk Down, but this album is an eclectic mix of different styles that have influenced Hans Zimmer before it, and others after it. It was also a totally different experience for the Zimmer fans, especially if they realize The Thin Red Line and Pearl Harbour delivered totally different results before it. So Black Hawk Down is an acquired taste all right, but I love the experience nonetheless. Simply because it puts you right in the middle of the dangerous streets of Mogadishu itself, to deliver a thrilling experience on screen and an on edge one off.
Favorite Moment - Leave no Man behind (3.02 - 4.05)
Love the way it builds towards its subtle but powerful climax
Track Listing
1. Hunger (6.35)
2. Barra Barra: Rachid Taha (5.48)
3. Vale of Plenty (2.28)
4. Chant (2.34)
5. Still (4.48)
6. Mogadishu Blues (2.54)
7. Synchrotone (8.55)
8. Bakara (3.12)
9. Of the Earth (2.19)
10. Ashes to Ashes (4.44)
11. Gortoz A Ran - J'attends: Prigent & Lisa Gerrard (5.51) Excellent track
12. Tribal War (2.40)
13. Leave no Man behind (6.18) Excellent track
14. Minstrel Boy (Film Version): Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros (5.43)
15. Still Reprise (2.14)
Total Length: 67.03
Black Hawk Down is by far the grittiest and least melodic of the 3. Naturally of course, though The Thin Red Line proved war scores could deliver emotion and thematic minimalism as well. But Black Hawk Down needed to tone things quite differently. For all the brutal realism there needed to be a grittier reply, and Zimmer's score surely delivers on all those accounts. In between we have 3 different songs, all infusing some kind of emotion to the sound of Black Hawk Down. The first "Barra Barra" leans closest to the on edge rhythm and danger of the story, the most beautiful and emotional one is definitely "Gortoz A Ran - J'attends", building forward on the brief but enchanting Zimmer / Lisa Gerrard combination (though credit has to be given to Denez Prigent here as well), and "Minstrel Boy" is definitely the catchiest one of the 3.
For Zimmer's music, be ready to hear ethnic based rhythms and vocals, on edge percussion and minimalistic and surreal emotion (easily be seen as a return to the sound that made The Thin Red Line so powerful). These 3 forces are all evident in "Hunger". Especially the rough on edge electric guitar showcases both sides of militia (Somalia and America) as we ride through a crowded Mogadishu. This sound continues with extra attention for eastern instrumentation in "Chant" and "Ashes to Ashes".
However, the bulk of the movie is the fight for survival and in it, Zimmer paints it with a rhythmic brush and an electric pencil. And through it "Synchrotone" becomes the point of no return of the album. It will be love or hate it for most I guess, but somehow you can't deny the effective brilliance of this specific cue, especially during the final minutes once Zimmer goes for subtle emotional resonance, courtesy of the main theme of the film. And better watch out for the theme that inspired Bear McCreary for the final 5 (All Along the Watchtower) in Battlestar Galactica as well. It's basically charging the adrenaline in the first minutes of this cue. And "Tribal War" easily influenced Klaus Badelt (or Zimmer himself) to continue this feisty rhythm on Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
And in between all that diversity, there's time for reflection. "Vale of Plenty" thereby becomes a close cousin to (better believe it) An Everlasting Piece, "Mogadishu Blues" becomes a relaxing stroll courtesy of Heitor Perreira's guitar solos and Zimmer's most inspired piece comes during "Leave no Man Behind", which can be seen as another "Journey to the Line" moment for a war movie. The main theme growing soft but determent delivers us thereby the best moment of the score.
There's also a much sought after recording sessions of Black Hawk Down, but this album is an eclectic mix of different styles that have influenced Hans Zimmer before it, and others after it. It was also a totally different experience for the Zimmer fans, especially if they realize The Thin Red Line and Pearl Harbour delivered totally different results before it. So Black Hawk Down is an acquired taste all right, but I love the experience nonetheless. Simply because it puts you right in the middle of the dangerous streets of Mogadishu itself, to deliver a thrilling experience on screen and an on edge one off.
Favorite Moment - Leave no Man behind (3.02 - 4.05)
Love the way it builds towards its subtle but powerful climax
Track Listing
1. Hunger (6.35)
2. Barra Barra: Rachid Taha (5.48)
3. Vale of Plenty (2.28)
4. Chant (2.34)
5. Still (4.48)
6. Mogadishu Blues (2.54)
7. Synchrotone (8.55)
8. Bakara (3.12)
9. Of the Earth (2.19)
10. Ashes to Ashes (4.44)
11. Gortoz A Ran - J'attends: Prigent & Lisa Gerrard (5.51) Excellent track
12. Tribal War (2.40)
13. Leave no Man behind (6.18) Excellent track
14. Minstrel Boy (Film Version): Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros (5.43)
15. Still Reprise (2.14)
Total Length: 67.03