Masters of the Universe
Bill Conti
" good old classic film music spectacle "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the limited release
By revoking the old classics, you reinstate the quality that today's film music lacks. Namely themes. And yes, Conti's much beloved Masters of the Universe shows that there is much we can discover in the music of old. While thematic enough, the mammoth sounding rage does reflect today's sound in films. It sizzles, it creates a wall of sound that explodes, shivers and it ignites pompous music that we happen to hear as well in today's music. However Conti is no slouch. It is his undeniable style that gives us that magic of the forgotten 80's sound. Together it gives us both musical worlds into one. On CD it is Masters of the Universe, or Conti's own heroic He-Man'ner.
Oh welcome back that pompous grand main theme explosion from that very first minute. "Masters of the Universe Main Title" is Conti's own Superman, Conti's Star Wars and you'll hear both in the music as well. And yet it is just partly influential because Conti's own strength is heard through it as well. It is a wonderful start to this score.
The music that will follow your path will become a clear one after a while. Bring it as loud as possible. "Quick Escape", swirling strings and percussion in "Battle in Greyskull" and the darker threatening march of Skeletor in "Skeletor's Wrath".
The light comical music aside in "Arrival on Earth" and "Where is the Key" and the emotional variation on the theme in "The Cemetery", Conti's music spells out heroic bombast. Listen to "Battle at the Gym" and you'll hear the building of brass like most scores can't accomplish it anymore today. Sadly this track is not strong enough as a whole. But "Skeletor Arrives / After Them" surely is. The battle between good and evil is heard in this track. Heroic material, the Skeletor march, a lot of brass and a pleasant orchestral flow. It all makes it a highlight of a track.
After that we get some of the emotional touches of the Cemetery music in Star Wars support while drums and brass sadly never make the theme explode. This happens in "He Man's Last Battle? / Skeletor Departs". That emotional theme returns in "He Man's Get Whipped" while the fetching "Kevin Remembers the Tune / People of Eternia" builds on suspense to a nice proper finish.
The second disc gives us the ending of the full, as the original 'previously released' album. Whatever you prefer, make sure you get the ending of the score. "The Battle Begins / The Final Battle" throws in variations of the main theme, of the building theme of track 15, the march and the stunning main theme which destroys evil for all time. The lovely "Time to Go" goes to a full brassy performance of the main theme while the cute love theme is heard during "Julie and Kevin / Happy Ending". But it is how the string version of the main theme goes into the finale that shows that there is still film music growing to something. The "End Credits" are a wonderful final track of the complete score.
Whatever you want your music to be like, it is an occasional necessity to hear something this bold. And Masters of the Universe is one of Conti's finest in that category. Packed with themes and exploding onto the screen after every five minutes, it is the grandeur of Williams' Superman and Star Wars that might hold you back. But heard through influences and fueled with a theme I began to love more and more, Masters of the Universe is containing what I love about old scores. Okay it is sometimes too much. But my god, at least you have the pleasure to hear themes and to get your blood pumping through some good old classic film music spectacle.
Tracklisting
CD 1: 59.08
1.Masters of the Universe Main Title / It's all Mine (5.21) Excellent track
2. Quick Escape (2.50)
3. Battle in Greyskull (2.38)
4. Arrival on Earth (Not used in the Film) (1.11)
5. Where is the Key (0.44)
6. The Cemetary (1.28)
7. Getting a Bearing (1.03)
8. The Mercenaries (1.22)
9. Battle at the Gym (6.26)
10. Skeletor's Wrath (3.02)
11. Evil-Lyn to Earth (1.06)
12. Kevin's Plight (3.37)
13. It's Them / Centurian Attack (4.29)
14. Julie Sees Mom / Julie Takes Key (2.40)
15. Skeletor Arrives / After Them (7.30) Excellent track
16. He Man's Last Battle? / Skeletor Departs (3.51)
17. Julie's Muzak (1.48)
18. He Man's Get Whipped (4.00)
19. Kevin Remembers the Tune / People of Eternia (3.50) Excellent track
CD 2: 60.13
1. Cosmic Key Music (0.16)
2. The Battle Begins / The Final Battle (6.56) Excellent track
3. Time to Go (2.43)
4. Julie and Kevin / Happy Ending (1.59) Excellent track
5. Masters of the Universe End Credits (5.14) Excellent track
Original Album
6. Main Title / Eternia Besieged (7.24)
7. Gwildor's Quadrille (1.52)
8. Earthly Encounter (4.23)
9. Procession of the Mercenaries (2.49)
10. Evil-Lyn's Deception (2.44)
11. Skeletor the Destroyer (3.11)
12. He-Man Enslaved (4.42)
13. Transformation of Skeletor (2.30)
14. The Power of Greyskull (3.33)
15. Good Journey (4.40)
16. He-Man Victorious / End Title (5.10)
Oh welcome back that pompous grand main theme explosion from that very first minute. "Masters of the Universe Main Title" is Conti's own Superman, Conti's Star Wars and you'll hear both in the music as well. And yet it is just partly influential because Conti's own strength is heard through it as well. It is a wonderful start to this score.
The music that will follow your path will become a clear one after a while. Bring it as loud as possible. "Quick Escape", swirling strings and percussion in "Battle in Greyskull" and the darker threatening march of Skeletor in "Skeletor's Wrath".
The light comical music aside in "Arrival on Earth" and "Where is the Key" and the emotional variation on the theme in "The Cemetery", Conti's music spells out heroic bombast. Listen to "Battle at the Gym" and you'll hear the building of brass like most scores can't accomplish it anymore today. Sadly this track is not strong enough as a whole. But "Skeletor Arrives / After Them" surely is. The battle between good and evil is heard in this track. Heroic material, the Skeletor march, a lot of brass and a pleasant orchestral flow. It all makes it a highlight of a track.
After that we get some of the emotional touches of the Cemetery music in Star Wars support while drums and brass sadly never make the theme explode. This happens in "He Man's Last Battle? / Skeletor Departs". That emotional theme returns in "He Man's Get Whipped" while the fetching "Kevin Remembers the Tune / People of Eternia" builds on suspense to a nice proper finish.
The second disc gives us the ending of the full, as the original 'previously released' album. Whatever you prefer, make sure you get the ending of the score. "The Battle Begins / The Final Battle" throws in variations of the main theme, of the building theme of track 15, the march and the stunning main theme which destroys evil for all time. The lovely "Time to Go" goes to a full brassy performance of the main theme while the cute love theme is heard during "Julie and Kevin / Happy Ending". But it is how the string version of the main theme goes into the finale that shows that there is still film music growing to something. The "End Credits" are a wonderful final track of the complete score.
Whatever you want your music to be like, it is an occasional necessity to hear something this bold. And Masters of the Universe is one of Conti's finest in that category. Packed with themes and exploding onto the screen after every five minutes, it is the grandeur of Williams' Superman and Star Wars that might hold you back. But heard through influences and fueled with a theme I began to love more and more, Masters of the Universe is containing what I love about old scores. Okay it is sometimes too much. But my god, at least you have the pleasure to hear themes and to get your blood pumping through some good old classic film music spectacle.
Tracklisting
CD 1: 59.08
1.Masters of the Universe Main Title / It's all Mine (5.21) Excellent track
2. Quick Escape (2.50)
3. Battle in Greyskull (2.38)
4. Arrival on Earth (Not used in the Film) (1.11)
5. Where is the Key (0.44)
6. The Cemetary (1.28)
7. Getting a Bearing (1.03)
8. The Mercenaries (1.22)
9. Battle at the Gym (6.26)
10. Skeletor's Wrath (3.02)
11. Evil-Lyn to Earth (1.06)
12. Kevin's Plight (3.37)
13. It's Them / Centurian Attack (4.29)
14. Julie Sees Mom / Julie Takes Key (2.40)
15. Skeletor Arrives / After Them (7.30) Excellent track
16. He Man's Last Battle? / Skeletor Departs (3.51)
17. Julie's Muzak (1.48)
18. He Man's Get Whipped (4.00)
19. Kevin Remembers the Tune / People of Eternia (3.50) Excellent track
CD 2: 60.13
1. Cosmic Key Music (0.16)
2. The Battle Begins / The Final Battle (6.56) Excellent track
3. Time to Go (2.43)
4. Julie and Kevin / Happy Ending (1.59) Excellent track
5. Masters of the Universe End Credits (5.14) Excellent track
Original Album
6. Main Title / Eternia Besieged (7.24)
7. Gwildor's Quadrille (1.52)
8. Earthly Encounter (4.23)
9. Procession of the Mercenaries (2.49)
10. Evil-Lyn's Deception (2.44)
11. Skeletor the Destroyer (3.11)
12. He-Man Enslaved (4.42)
13. Transformation of Skeletor (2.30)
14. The Power of Greyskull (3.33)
15. Good Journey (4.40)
16. He-Man Victorious / End Title (5.10)