Krull
James Horner
" KRRRRUUUUULLLLLLLLL!!! "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the limited release
I don't know why, but the 80's seem to bring out the best in most people. Especially the adventure / fantasy genre. think of Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, Lionheart, Conan the Barbarian. Back in the 80's there was something in the air that changed the composers, turned them into inspired tune-smiths that could deliver that something extra, that something that makes filmmusic so much more memorable. Enter 2010, when filmmusic is already standing at a crossroads, deciding whether to follow the path in front of it or to go back and know what was good. That choice has somewhat been made, but labels luckily turn back to the past to make us remember what was once great, and what is now bloody brilliant.
Yes, it was tough chosing the best back then. Greatness seemed to come from so many scores back in those days, but now that brilliance feels all the more amazing, just because we seem to realize what today's music is missing. For instance, a big bold main theme. Hello composers, or should I say hello producers. Listen to what made filmmusic great. The big main themes that everybody can whistle. Not today's crud that thinks it's there to serve the film, not elevate it. I'm gonna elaborate on that, but Krull is one of James Horner's best examples when it comes down to a theme that makes a movie better.
Because let's face it. Krull isn't a particularly good film. Decent at best, downright corny most of the time. But that music feels like it deserves to be heard in a Star Wars saga, a timeless classic that should be seen every year. Not Krull, but at least we can listen to it several times a year. I should hear it so much more, simply to get those "great filmmusic vibes" again that today's music is lacking so much off. Enter "Main Title and Colwyn's Arrival", one of probably the ever best opening tracks of any score. The first 3 minutes are just pure bliss, packed with glorious adventurous statements of the main theme, soaring love themes and adventurous music, followed by equally amazing music when first the love theme blossoms in "The Slayers Attack", followed by the attack on the castle that's raining with fanfares and exciting rhythmic action music, as exciting as you can imagine it.
Of course due to the fantasy elements, it isn't a surprise to hear a lot of Star Trek II and III (still to be composed) in for instance "Quest for the Glaive", filled with wondrous choral music at the end that spices things up even more. Needless to say, Lyssa's time in the fortress isn't that lovely, deforming the love theme to a sinister performance in "Lyssa in the Fortress", all the while low eerie choir depicts "Quicksand" isn't the right way to go. On the second CD "The Widow's Web" is an atonal reminder that web often means spider. Eerie Aliens like strings and full on vocals scream forward many James Horner styles. For instance we have a thrilling Cocoon opening and fanfares that would inspire Star Trek III later on, I mean a thrilling eerie combination. Eerie but mesmerizingly beautiful is also "The Widow's Lullaby", a cue that finds its inspiration from the often magical dreamy beauty of Brainstorm.
But when it comes down to action, fantasy and adventure, Krull never sounded any better. The thrill igniting "The Battle in the Swamp" is an example of how excitement needs to be created, using a lot of the thrilling fanfares that would erupt in Star Trek III the very next year. We have the wonderful main theme in "Ride of the Firemares", wondrous fanfares and love themes in "Inside the Black Fortress" and countless examples of energy and fury that erupts in "The Death of the Beast and the Destruction of the Black Fortress". All to be enclosed by "Epilogue and End Title" and several amazing bonus tracks. Making it a triumph of adventure, horror and romance.
What can you say about Krull that already hasn't been said. Well, the 2 CD release of La-La Land slightly differs in presentation, placing the love theme performance now as a bonus cue on CD 2, while the presentation seems to follow the film order better by putting "Vella" as opening track. However, those minor differences aside, it's what the re mastering does to the music, and it's the quality of the score itself that shows us why it's not available anymore (sadly once again). I mean Krull is some of the finest quality adventure music out there, it remains a vital addition to anyone's collection, and those people who were unfortunate to grab a copy of it, I can only tell you this. For me this is Horner's best, so do whatever it takes to obtain it. It's pure BLISS.
KRRRRRRRRUUUUUUULLLLLLLLLL!
Favorite Moment - Main Title and Colwyn's Arrival (1.38 - 3.36)
From the whirling strings to the amazing soaring performances of the theme, this is as good as filmmusic gets
Track Listing
CD 1: 45.23
1. Main Title and Colwyn's Arrival (7.34) Excellent track
2. The Slayers Attack (9.18) Excellent track
3. Quest for the Glaive (7.23) Excellent track
4. Ride to the Waterfall (0.53)
5. Lyssa in the Fortress (1.28)
6. The Walk to the Seer's Cave (4.10)
7. The Seer's Vision (2.18)
8. The Battle in the Swamp (2.39) Excellent track
9. Quicksand (3.38)
10. The Changeling (4.04)
11. Leaving the Swamp (1.58)
CD 2: 54.17
1. Vella (3.46)
2. The Widow's Web (6.18) Excellent track
3. The Widow's Lullaby (5.01)
4. Ynyr's Death (1.41)
5. Ride of the Firemares (5.22) Excellent track
6. Battle on the Parapets (2.53)
7. Inside the Black Fortress (6.13) Excellent track
8. The Death of the Beast and the Destruction of the Black Fortress (8.31) Excellent track
9. Epilogue and End Title (4.52) Excellent track
Bonus Tracks
10. Colwyn and Lyssa Love Theme (2.35) Excellent track
11. The Walk to the Seer's Cave (Album Edit Version) (2.16)
12. Theme from "Krull" (4.48) Excellent track
Yes, it was tough chosing the best back then. Greatness seemed to come from so many scores back in those days, but now that brilliance feels all the more amazing, just because we seem to realize what today's music is missing. For instance, a big bold main theme. Hello composers, or should I say hello producers. Listen to what made filmmusic great. The big main themes that everybody can whistle. Not today's crud that thinks it's there to serve the film, not elevate it. I'm gonna elaborate on that, but Krull is one of James Horner's best examples when it comes down to a theme that makes a movie better.
Because let's face it. Krull isn't a particularly good film. Decent at best, downright corny most of the time. But that music feels like it deserves to be heard in a Star Wars saga, a timeless classic that should be seen every year. Not Krull, but at least we can listen to it several times a year. I should hear it so much more, simply to get those "great filmmusic vibes" again that today's music is lacking so much off. Enter "Main Title and Colwyn's Arrival", one of probably the ever best opening tracks of any score. The first 3 minutes are just pure bliss, packed with glorious adventurous statements of the main theme, soaring love themes and adventurous music, followed by equally amazing music when first the love theme blossoms in "The Slayers Attack", followed by the attack on the castle that's raining with fanfares and exciting rhythmic action music, as exciting as you can imagine it.
Of course due to the fantasy elements, it isn't a surprise to hear a lot of Star Trek II and III (still to be composed) in for instance "Quest for the Glaive", filled with wondrous choral music at the end that spices things up even more. Needless to say, Lyssa's time in the fortress isn't that lovely, deforming the love theme to a sinister performance in "Lyssa in the Fortress", all the while low eerie choir depicts "Quicksand" isn't the right way to go. On the second CD "The Widow's Web" is an atonal reminder that web often means spider. Eerie Aliens like strings and full on vocals scream forward many James Horner styles. For instance we have a thrilling Cocoon opening and fanfares that would inspire Star Trek III later on, I mean a thrilling eerie combination. Eerie but mesmerizingly beautiful is also "The Widow's Lullaby", a cue that finds its inspiration from the often magical dreamy beauty of Brainstorm.
But when it comes down to action, fantasy and adventure, Krull never sounded any better. The thrill igniting "The Battle in the Swamp" is an example of how excitement needs to be created, using a lot of the thrilling fanfares that would erupt in Star Trek III the very next year. We have the wonderful main theme in "Ride of the Firemares", wondrous fanfares and love themes in "Inside the Black Fortress" and countless examples of energy and fury that erupts in "The Death of the Beast and the Destruction of the Black Fortress". All to be enclosed by "Epilogue and End Title" and several amazing bonus tracks. Making it a triumph of adventure, horror and romance.
What can you say about Krull that already hasn't been said. Well, the 2 CD release of La-La Land slightly differs in presentation, placing the love theme performance now as a bonus cue on CD 2, while the presentation seems to follow the film order better by putting "Vella" as opening track. However, those minor differences aside, it's what the re mastering does to the music, and it's the quality of the score itself that shows us why it's not available anymore (sadly once again). I mean Krull is some of the finest quality adventure music out there, it remains a vital addition to anyone's collection, and those people who were unfortunate to grab a copy of it, I can only tell you this. For me this is Horner's best, so do whatever it takes to obtain it. It's pure BLISS.
KRRRRRRRRUUUUUUULLLLLLLLLL!
Favorite Moment - Main Title and Colwyn's Arrival (1.38 - 3.36)
From the whirling strings to the amazing soaring performances of the theme, this is as good as filmmusic gets
Track Listing
CD 1: 45.23
1. Main Title and Colwyn's Arrival (7.34) Excellent track
2. The Slayers Attack (9.18) Excellent track
3. Quest for the Glaive (7.23) Excellent track
4. Ride to the Waterfall (0.53)
5. Lyssa in the Fortress (1.28)
6. The Walk to the Seer's Cave (4.10)
7. The Seer's Vision (2.18)
8. The Battle in the Swamp (2.39) Excellent track
9. Quicksand (3.38)
10. The Changeling (4.04)
11. Leaving the Swamp (1.58)
CD 2: 54.17
1. Vella (3.46)
2. The Widow's Web (6.18) Excellent track
3. The Widow's Lullaby (5.01)
4. Ynyr's Death (1.41)
5. Ride of the Firemares (5.22) Excellent track
6. Battle on the Parapets (2.53)
7. Inside the Black Fortress (6.13) Excellent track
8. The Death of the Beast and the Destruction of the Black Fortress (8.31) Excellent track
9. Epilogue and End Title (4.52) Excellent track
Bonus Tracks
10. Colwyn and Lyssa Love Theme (2.35) Excellent track
11. The Walk to the Seer's Cave (Album Edit Version) (2.16)
12. Theme from "Krull" (4.48) Excellent track