Gorky Park
James Horner
" Gorky Park unveils nothing new, but it works "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the limited release
Gorky Park was one of those albums I wasn't familiar of, nor have I ever seen the movie. But somehow it was a big deal for Kritzerland to release a limited version of it, even though it received both an LP as a CD release in 1983. Availability will be one, remastered sound will be an other. They're calling it one of his finest from an especially rich time in his scoring career, I call it marketing. It's not nessecary to purchase this CD if you were happy with the LP or CD version (meaning sound and style), because this edition just adds the film version alongside of the album presentation without any new tracks. What it does make for is another interesting realization that James Horner used that sound several years before I actually heard it in another movie.
What is mean is the Commando action sound I grew up with returning endlessly here. Yes what I knew to be Commando actually is the Gorky Park action style, covering the chase music here with the guerrilla like action beats and threatening horns. It's heard in "Chase Through the Park" (watch out for the Star Trek III fanfares at the end), "Following Kirwill", "Irina's Chase" (with more emphasis on the brass), "The Sable Shed", "Following KGB" and "Releasing the Sables / End Titles".
There's a love theme present as well, heard lovely on strings in "Irina's Theme", "Airport Farewell", briefly returning in "The Sable Shed" and sounding remarkably Krull like in "Releasing the Sables / End Titles". And apart from Commando and Krull it also has an Aliens sound from time to time, definitely noticeable in "Faceless Bodies" and "The Sable Shed".
Add to that a potent opening mix of 2 classical pieces (Swan Lake & 1812 from Tchaikovsky) counter attacking the dangerous attacks Horner has in store for you alongside the sometimes cheap synthesizer use, and you basically can call Gorky Park both effective and entertaining. Because despite reminding me that Horner just kept using the same structure, themes and sounds in latter scores, it's definitely entertaining for an occasional listening experience. It's nothing fancy, but don't tell me it's not perfect for the movie it accompanies. And don't tell me you actually enjoyed yourself whilst hearing it.
Track Listing
1. Main Title (2.42)
2. Faceless Bodies (1.52)
3. Chase Through the Park (1.53)
4. Following Kirwill (3.00)
5. Irina's Chase (3.47)
6. Arkady and Irina (2.29)
7. Irina's Theme (3.32)
8. The Sable Shed (6.38)
9. Following KGB (1.54)
10. Airport Farewell (4.07)
11. Releasing the Sables / End Titles (4.16)
Album Presentation
12. Main Title (2.42)
13. Following Kirwill (3.00)
14. Irina's Theme (3.32)
15. Following KGB (1.52)
16. Chase Through the Park (1.53)
17. Arkady and Irina (2.29)
18. Faceless Bodies (1.52)
19. Irina's Chase (3.47)
20. The Sable Shed (6.38)
21. Airport Farewell (4.07)
22. Releasing the Sables / End Titles (4.12)
Total Length: 72.14
What is mean is the Commando action sound I grew up with returning endlessly here. Yes what I knew to be Commando actually is the Gorky Park action style, covering the chase music here with the guerrilla like action beats and threatening horns. It's heard in "Chase Through the Park" (watch out for the Star Trek III fanfares at the end), "Following Kirwill", "Irina's Chase" (with more emphasis on the brass), "The Sable Shed", "Following KGB" and "Releasing the Sables / End Titles".
There's a love theme present as well, heard lovely on strings in "Irina's Theme", "Airport Farewell", briefly returning in "The Sable Shed" and sounding remarkably Krull like in "Releasing the Sables / End Titles". And apart from Commando and Krull it also has an Aliens sound from time to time, definitely noticeable in "Faceless Bodies" and "The Sable Shed".
Add to that a potent opening mix of 2 classical pieces (Swan Lake & 1812 from Tchaikovsky) counter attacking the dangerous attacks Horner has in store for you alongside the sometimes cheap synthesizer use, and you basically can call Gorky Park both effective and entertaining. Because despite reminding me that Horner just kept using the same structure, themes and sounds in latter scores, it's definitely entertaining for an occasional listening experience. It's nothing fancy, but don't tell me it's not perfect for the movie it accompanies. And don't tell me you actually enjoyed yourself whilst hearing it.
Track Listing
1. Main Title (2.42)
2. Faceless Bodies (1.52)
3. Chase Through the Park (1.53)
4. Following Kirwill (3.00)
5. Irina's Chase (3.47)
6. Arkady and Irina (2.29)
7. Irina's Theme (3.32)
8. The Sable Shed (6.38)
9. Following KGB (1.54)
10. Airport Farewell (4.07)
11. Releasing the Sables / End Titles (4.16)
Album Presentation
12. Main Title (2.42)
13. Following Kirwill (3.00)
14. Irina's Theme (3.32)
15. Following KGB (1.52)
16. Chase Through the Park (1.53)
17. Arkady and Irina (2.29)
18. Faceless Bodies (1.52)
19. Irina's Chase (3.47)
20. The Sable Shed (6.38)
21. Airport Farewell (4.07)
22. Releasing the Sables / End Titles (4.12)
Total Length: 72.14