Julgamento
Nuno Malo
" Olá, eu gostaria de apresentar um novo promitente compositor! (Hi, I want to present a new promising composer!) "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
MovieScore Media continues to invest in unheard music. No matter what year it is, MovieScore Media will have given you at least one work of a composer who was (until that day) unknown to you. The examples are endless, and Nuno Malo is the last in that list. Julgamento is the first of, I hope, many scores to come from this Portuguese composer.
Because let us be honest, once you've heard the first five tracks of Julgamento, you'll have heard enough to realize that this is a composer with a keen ear for long melodic ideas and fine orchestral detail. Julgamento even happens to bring brief John Williams magic from time to time, and the experienced listener will pick up these moments from the very beginning.
Opening with a Matrix like manoeuvre in "Julgamento Prelude", the rest of the score deepens you immediately in the dark sinister sound of the story. That is until Malo develops his suspenseful theme in Williams fashion to its mysterious climax. This returning theme is frequently used throughout the score, and its amazing moments near the end are the highlights of the soundtrack. Especially its explosive building reply in "The Open Fields" and its conclusive percussion encore in "Final Confrontation". A variation of this suspenseful theme already fuels the "Frantic Chase", this with appropriate percussive rhythms.
Julgamento consists of other themes too. In "At the Cemetery (Main Theme)" and "End Title (Julgamento)" a dark romantic theme is uncovered that presents the 4 character's trauma and loyalty. A personal theme is given to Jaime as well (the lead character) and his personal touching theme (on guitar) gets a soft version in "Jaime's Theme". Yet Jaime's theme suddenly sounds incredibly different once it transforms to an amazing emotional finish in "The Torture Chamber" (a highlight for sure). This is repeated at the end of "The Open Fields" too.
This score's most unique cue however comes in the shape and form of "Nightmare and Confession". This is an experimental piece that uses all kinds of instruments (Ukrainian Bandura, psaltry & bowed dulcimer to name a few) to create an uneasy cacophony of sounds. It's only once the orchestra joins in that the score gets a suspenseful and later softer aftertaste.
The longest cue "Jaime and Joana" delivers us the main theme and Jaime's theme in a soft soothing manner, enough for you to dream away with the history and tales these 2 people are experiencing on screen.
Julgamento is once more a strong example that there is talent out there, and sometimes you really have to go far to find it. I don't know if I ever had the pleasure to hear a Portuguese composer's work before, but I have to say that the first time delivered me a most pleasant experience. Nuno Malo's Julgamento is a nice orchestral and rich experience that delivers all kinds of flavours in one fitting design. The suspenseful driven theme alongside the interesting sound design of "Nightmare and Confession" and Jaime's explosive version in "The Torture Chamber" are part of the reasons that make this unknown score worthy of more attention.
Tracklisting
1. Julgamento Prelude (4.47)
2. Frantic Chase (3.03)
3. At the Cemetery (Main Theme) (1.00)
4. The Torture Chamber (1.40) Excellent track
5. Jaime's Theme (3.40)
6. Miguel's First Flashback (1.09)
7. Nightmare and Confession (4.04)
8. Jaime and Joana (6.02)
9. Joana's Shock (3.16)
10. Police Investigations (1.57)
11. The Open Fields (4.44) Excellent track
12. Mendes Being Tortured (1.11)
13. The Courtroom (1.00)
14. Henrique and his Wife (1.46)
15. Catarina Searches (1.11)
16. Miguel's Second Flashback (0.55)
17. Final Confrontation (3.24) Excellent track
18. End Title (Julgamento) (3.17)
Bonus Track
19. Trailer (1.39)
Total Length: 49.47
Because let us be honest, once you've heard the first five tracks of Julgamento, you'll have heard enough to realize that this is a composer with a keen ear for long melodic ideas and fine orchestral detail. Julgamento even happens to bring brief John Williams magic from time to time, and the experienced listener will pick up these moments from the very beginning.
Opening with a Matrix like manoeuvre in "Julgamento Prelude", the rest of the score deepens you immediately in the dark sinister sound of the story. That is until Malo develops his suspenseful theme in Williams fashion to its mysterious climax. This returning theme is frequently used throughout the score, and its amazing moments near the end are the highlights of the soundtrack. Especially its explosive building reply in "The Open Fields" and its conclusive percussion encore in "Final Confrontation". A variation of this suspenseful theme already fuels the "Frantic Chase", this with appropriate percussive rhythms.
Julgamento consists of other themes too. In "At the Cemetery (Main Theme)" and "End Title (Julgamento)" a dark romantic theme is uncovered that presents the 4 character's trauma and loyalty. A personal theme is given to Jaime as well (the lead character) and his personal touching theme (on guitar) gets a soft version in "Jaime's Theme". Yet Jaime's theme suddenly sounds incredibly different once it transforms to an amazing emotional finish in "The Torture Chamber" (a highlight for sure). This is repeated at the end of "The Open Fields" too.
This score's most unique cue however comes in the shape and form of "Nightmare and Confession". This is an experimental piece that uses all kinds of instruments (Ukrainian Bandura, psaltry & bowed dulcimer to name a few) to create an uneasy cacophony of sounds. It's only once the orchestra joins in that the score gets a suspenseful and later softer aftertaste.
The longest cue "Jaime and Joana" delivers us the main theme and Jaime's theme in a soft soothing manner, enough for you to dream away with the history and tales these 2 people are experiencing on screen.
Julgamento is once more a strong example that there is talent out there, and sometimes you really have to go far to find it. I don't know if I ever had the pleasure to hear a Portuguese composer's work before, but I have to say that the first time delivered me a most pleasant experience. Nuno Malo's Julgamento is a nice orchestral and rich experience that delivers all kinds of flavours in one fitting design. The suspenseful driven theme alongside the interesting sound design of "Nightmare and Confession" and Jaime's explosive version in "The Torture Chamber" are part of the reasons that make this unknown score worthy of more attention.
Tracklisting
1. Julgamento Prelude (4.47)
2. Frantic Chase (3.03)
3. At the Cemetery (Main Theme) (1.00)
4. The Torture Chamber (1.40) Excellent track
5. Jaime's Theme (3.40)
6. Miguel's First Flashback (1.09)
7. Nightmare and Confession (4.04)
8. Jaime and Joana (6.02)
9. Joana's Shock (3.16)
10. Police Investigations (1.57)
11. The Open Fields (4.44) Excellent track
12. Mendes Being Tortured (1.11)
13. The Courtroom (1.00)
14. Henrique and his Wife (1.46)
15. Catarina Searches (1.11)
16. Miguel's Second Flashback (0.55)
17. Final Confrontation (3.24) Excellent track
18. End Title (Julgamento) (3.17)
Bonus Track
19. Trailer (1.39)
Total Length: 49.47