Lionheart
John Scott
" John Scott delivers you a kung fu movie with a heart, a lionheart to be exact "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Jean Claude Van Damme, The Muscles from Brussels is this country's cinematic pride and joy. For years, it was he who gave us Belgians the necessary punches in Hollywood's search for the next Bruce Lee. Sadly, most of Van Damme's movies turned out to be nothing but ridiculous continuations of one fight scene after another, leaving no room for any dramatic development whatsoever. Some however dared to fight this allegation, no matter the clichés it would unveil because of this. Lionheart was one of these.
Using the basic simple idea of having to fight to keep his family out of trouble, Lionheart uses a lovely buddy development, whilst leaving room for people to melt their hearts at a young girls happiness in the form of Nicole (Ashley Johnsson). In the end, all clichés but what do I care if they work?
Sadly, not all kung fu movies have received their share of legendary scores. It was then also lovely news that a respected Golden Age composer had the nerve to tackle this project. Making it refreshing to discover that sometimes depth can be found in the most unlikely places.
Lionheart is that unlikely place, where we receive 2 lovely themes in the outcome. The main theme representing Lyon's journey and growth is the strongest of the 2, receiving lovely orchestral performances throughout the entire score. The other theme representing Lyon's family (especially targeting little Nicole) is however the most beautiful theme of the 2. And it is a joy to discover them together in the same track at the end.
The album starts with one of John Scott's trademark sounds, a saxophone representing Los Angeles' dangers and threats. The track continues further after the horrendous burning sequence by stating Lyon's main theme under an exotic burning South African sun. This continues until Van Damme knocks himself out of the foreign legion, aided through a rousing brassy action sound. That escape takes him to Los Angeles under the guidance of the soaring main theme in "The Voyage".
The beats and the saxophone representing the "New York Streets" works, the main theme for Cynthia in "Meet the Lady" feels classy while the growing friendship between "Joshua and Lyon" comes over much more loosely and authentic. The same goes for the emotional sound of the main theme in "Lyon's Grief" as the seductive sound of Cynthia's theme in "The Lady's Apartment". The absolute charm comes however during Lyon's first encounter with Nicole at the end of "Dating the Lady".
But Lyon's life now is all about making the right bet, and "Fighting the Scott" is surely the first bet he must win. Militaristic percussion, trumpet shrills and punching suspense fuel the win Lyon has over the Scott. Another fight is the "Fighting the Brazilian" (composed by Stephen Edwards) moment and this kind of music is influenced by more South American flavors, as is the "The Foreign Legion" cue with more pulse pounding beats and brassy blasts. The real pride and joy of this album's fights is however "The Wrong Bet", and in 9 minutes Scott delivers you a symphonic attack of suspenseful and heroic main theme statements in Goldsmithian melodic style.
In between his fights, Lyon takes ample time to see or visit his family, and Nicole is an integral part of that. Her theme is lovely (albeit interrupted by the 2 people who were send to take Lyon back to the foreign legion) in "Nicole", all the while the main theme truly soars in the conclusive and wonderful "Freedom for Lyon". The absolutely brilliant "Lionheart" combines both themes together in one amazing end credits piece.
Lionheart of John Scott is one of the many great examples of this composer's voice. Even though the music is scored for a simple looking kung fu movie, it is Scott's melodic work that breaths life into Lionheart, making it touching and epic at the same time. His main theme receives the most attention during the score, but one can not forget the beautiful effect Nicole's theme will have on the listener, and their combination at the end makes the score truly worth it. Even though it takes a bit of time to get to the real highlights of the disc, Lionheart is truly a score with a big heart.
Tracklisting
1. The Burn / North Africa (7.21)
2. The Voyage (3.13)
3. New York Streets (2.57)
4. Meet the Lady (3.58)
5. Joshua and Lyon (1.48)
6. The Wrong Hood (1.33)
7. The Big Orange (0.58)
8. Lyon's Grief (2.37)
9. Partners (0.49)
10. The Lady's Apartment (3.30)
11. Dating the Lady (3.33)
12. Fighting the Scott (4.15) Excellent track
13. Helping Hand (1.30)
14. Nicole (2.40) Excellent track
15. Fighting the Brazilian (3.05)
16. The Foreign Legion (3.14)
17. Attila the Killa (1.05)
18. The Wrong Bet (9.08) Excellent track
19. Farewell (2.09)
20. Freedom for Lyon (0.55) Excellent track
21. Lionheart (4.12) Excellent track
Total Length: 63.58
Using the basic simple idea of having to fight to keep his family out of trouble, Lionheart uses a lovely buddy development, whilst leaving room for people to melt their hearts at a young girls happiness in the form of Nicole (Ashley Johnsson). In the end, all clichés but what do I care if they work?
Sadly, not all kung fu movies have received their share of legendary scores. It was then also lovely news that a respected Golden Age composer had the nerve to tackle this project. Making it refreshing to discover that sometimes depth can be found in the most unlikely places.
Lionheart is that unlikely place, where we receive 2 lovely themes in the outcome. The main theme representing Lyon's journey and growth is the strongest of the 2, receiving lovely orchestral performances throughout the entire score. The other theme representing Lyon's family (especially targeting little Nicole) is however the most beautiful theme of the 2. And it is a joy to discover them together in the same track at the end.
The album starts with one of John Scott's trademark sounds, a saxophone representing Los Angeles' dangers and threats. The track continues further after the horrendous burning sequence by stating Lyon's main theme under an exotic burning South African sun. This continues until Van Damme knocks himself out of the foreign legion, aided through a rousing brassy action sound. That escape takes him to Los Angeles under the guidance of the soaring main theme in "The Voyage".
The beats and the saxophone representing the "New York Streets" works, the main theme for Cynthia in "Meet the Lady" feels classy while the growing friendship between "Joshua and Lyon" comes over much more loosely and authentic. The same goes for the emotional sound of the main theme in "Lyon's Grief" as the seductive sound of Cynthia's theme in "The Lady's Apartment". The absolute charm comes however during Lyon's first encounter with Nicole at the end of "Dating the Lady".
But Lyon's life now is all about making the right bet, and "Fighting the Scott" is surely the first bet he must win. Militaristic percussion, trumpet shrills and punching suspense fuel the win Lyon has over the Scott. Another fight is the "Fighting the Brazilian" (composed by Stephen Edwards) moment and this kind of music is influenced by more South American flavors, as is the "The Foreign Legion" cue with more pulse pounding beats and brassy blasts. The real pride and joy of this album's fights is however "The Wrong Bet", and in 9 minutes Scott delivers you a symphonic attack of suspenseful and heroic main theme statements in Goldsmithian melodic style.
In between his fights, Lyon takes ample time to see or visit his family, and Nicole is an integral part of that. Her theme is lovely (albeit interrupted by the 2 people who were send to take Lyon back to the foreign legion) in "Nicole", all the while the main theme truly soars in the conclusive and wonderful "Freedom for Lyon". The absolutely brilliant "Lionheart" combines both themes together in one amazing end credits piece.
Lionheart of John Scott is one of the many great examples of this composer's voice. Even though the music is scored for a simple looking kung fu movie, it is Scott's melodic work that breaths life into Lionheart, making it touching and epic at the same time. His main theme receives the most attention during the score, but one can not forget the beautiful effect Nicole's theme will have on the listener, and their combination at the end makes the score truly worth it. Even though it takes a bit of time to get to the real highlights of the disc, Lionheart is truly a score with a big heart.
Tracklisting
1. The Burn / North Africa (7.21)
2. The Voyage (3.13)
3. New York Streets (2.57)
4. Meet the Lady (3.58)
5. Joshua and Lyon (1.48)
6. The Wrong Hood (1.33)
7. The Big Orange (0.58)
8. Lyon's Grief (2.37)
9. Partners (0.49)
10. The Lady's Apartment (3.30)
11. Dating the Lady (3.33)
12. Fighting the Scott (4.15) Excellent track
13. Helping Hand (1.30)
14. Nicole (2.40) Excellent track
15. Fighting the Brazilian (3.05)
16. The Foreign Legion (3.14)
17. Attila the Killa (1.05)
18. The Wrong Bet (9.08) Excellent track
19. Farewell (2.09)
20. Freedom for Lyon (0.55) Excellent track
21. Lionheart (4.12) Excellent track
Total Length: 63.58