Durango
Mark McKenzie
" Irish romantic music, from one of the best in the business "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Did someone already heard something of Mark McKenzie before? Well if you haven't it is about time, and Durango seems like the perfect score to begin with it. Mark McKenzie has been scoring for about 10 years now, and mostly for smaller intimate Hallmark dramas. For a regular film music admirer, it isn't difficult to appreciate Mark McKenzie's style, because within a mere second it grabs you by the throat, softly. And if you like your dramatic scores lush and beautifully orchestral (for instance like John Barry), all you have to do is take an emotional playful cross around Ireland, product to take you there: Durango, destination: heaven.
From beginning to end it are the two elements of Mark McKenzie's style that sweeps you of your feet. First of all the thematic firework. Within seconds you receive thematically rich themes full of passion and emotion, wit and flair and supported through various Irish instruments. All witnessed from the first track on in the best of the whole, namely "Durango Suite". People that enjoy a good overall compilation piece of thematic material will enjoy this one the most, because after several minutes it has a spine tingling theme performed through flutes and orchestra. It is definitely so far the best theme McKenzie has written.
But what follows next is as good as the begin. Especially the instrumentation is unique. Mark McKenzie's music is as playful as the instrumentation is diverse, and with the bodhram drums, uilleann pipes and penny whistles you are introduced to the proper flair of an Irish sounding score, linking Durango to Williams' Far and Away and Horner's Braveheart. In the end you receive 43 minutes of stylish film music and several tracks of momentous beauty. "Good day to You" is especially recommended because for 30 seconds you receive the main love theme in a breathtaking Bagpipe performance. Braveheart fans will enjoy this one for sure.
But also the darker sounding music ("Dog Attack" and "Fire!") have little hints towards Horner's style. They remain thematically driven and easy on the ears.
So why ignore a good effort like Durango? It's so easy to appreciate, it's emotionally grand music and it brings forward strong developed themes. And if you happen to live Irish music, you receive the best of both worlds. Durango is an excellent quality listen, and like me so many years ago, it transported me to the musical world of a brilliant composer who deserves more and more.
Tracklisting
1. Durango Suite (6.57) Excellent track
2. Main Titles (4.43) Excellent track
3. Farewell Speech (1.25)
4. She's a Beauty (0.54)
5. Elope? (1.35)
6. The Journey Begins (5.57) Excellent track
7. God Save the Republic (1.17)
8. Making Progress (2.08)
9. Haunted Hill (2.02)
10. Dog Attack (1.56)
11. Mark & Annie's Love Theme (2.08)
12. Fight for Privilege (2.59)
13. Good Day to You (2.19)
14. Mission Accomplished (2.27) Excellent track
15. Fire! (2.33)
16. We're Getting Married (1.30)
Total Length: 43.56
From beginning to end it are the two elements of Mark McKenzie's style that sweeps you of your feet. First of all the thematic firework. Within seconds you receive thematically rich themes full of passion and emotion, wit and flair and supported through various Irish instruments. All witnessed from the first track on in the best of the whole, namely "Durango Suite". People that enjoy a good overall compilation piece of thematic material will enjoy this one the most, because after several minutes it has a spine tingling theme performed through flutes and orchestra. It is definitely so far the best theme McKenzie has written.
But what follows next is as good as the begin. Especially the instrumentation is unique. Mark McKenzie's music is as playful as the instrumentation is diverse, and with the bodhram drums, uilleann pipes and penny whistles you are introduced to the proper flair of an Irish sounding score, linking Durango to Williams' Far and Away and Horner's Braveheart. In the end you receive 43 minutes of stylish film music and several tracks of momentous beauty. "Good day to You" is especially recommended because for 30 seconds you receive the main love theme in a breathtaking Bagpipe performance. Braveheart fans will enjoy this one for sure.
But also the darker sounding music ("Dog Attack" and "Fire!") have little hints towards Horner's style. They remain thematically driven and easy on the ears.
So why ignore a good effort like Durango? It's so easy to appreciate, it's emotionally grand music and it brings forward strong developed themes. And if you happen to live Irish music, you receive the best of both worlds. Durango is an excellent quality listen, and like me so many years ago, it transported me to the musical world of a brilliant composer who deserves more and more.
Tracklisting
1. Durango Suite (6.57) Excellent track
2. Main Titles (4.43) Excellent track
3. Farewell Speech (1.25)
4. She's a Beauty (0.54)
5. Elope? (1.35)
6. The Journey Begins (5.57) Excellent track
7. God Save the Republic (1.17)
8. Making Progress (2.08)
9. Haunted Hill (2.02)
10. Dog Attack (1.56)
11. Mark & Annie's Love Theme (2.08)
12. Fight for Privilege (2.59)
13. Good Day to You (2.19)
14. Mission Accomplished (2.27) Excellent track
15. Fire! (2.33)
16. We're Getting Married (1.30)
Total Length: 43.56