Nate and Hayes

Trevor Jones

 
" Rousing Trevor and Romantic Jones "

Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the limited release

Nate and Hayes is one of the more obscure adventure movies of the 80's, perhaps better known in European circles as Savage Islands. I don't know why it wasn't successful, especially considering it had Tommy Lee Jones as lead star. However, for composer Trevor Jones it was just the beginning of his career, and with Nate and Hayes he received the opportunity to continue on the successful road he started with Excalibur and The Dark Crystal.

Due to the obscurity of the movie, the soundtrack of Nate and Hayes wasn't exactly a requested item, nor a known one. But one listen of Nate and Hayes will show you why La-La Land went to so much trouble to release it. This is a powerful orchestral score in parts, and with enough exciting material to make it memorable from start to listen.

The score has 2 themes, one main theme and one love theme. The main theme is a swashbuckling piece full of adventure and love. At one end you can't stop but think it has a bit of Cutthroat Island in it, but altogether it are the similarities of Jones' style that resurface the most. The opening in "Main Theme from Nate and Hayes" will link its sound soon enough to The Dark Crystal, and others of Jones. The lovely version with solo violin in "Sophie Ransoms Omar / Arrival at Samoa" is equally memorable.

The continuation of the orchestral adventure of the score is already evident in "Escape from Mumi Village / Hayes Fights Mumi Women on Bridge", when we receive Eastern influenced rhythmic music, reminding me briefly of The Win and the Lion. This lovely rhythmic style will return multiple times throughout the score, including in "The Rona Turns About (Partially Used) / Pease Attacks Village" and with the combination of the swashbuckling main theme in the excellent "Hayes and the Men Overpower Pease Crew / Chase to the Gunboat / The Stolen Leonora Sets Sail for Ponape".

Besides the main theme, we have the lovely romantic theme. Considering Trevor Jones is a master at both, it is no surprise the love theme is equally memorable. The first version in "Hayes' and Sophie's Pact / Sophie Disembarks / The Veranda at Night", the combination with the main theme in "The Parting / Nate Stranded" and the return in the final track show you once again a theme master at the begin of his potential.

The sad "Ruined Village", the mysterious "Pease Hastily Departs the Leonora / Nate Goes to the Auction House / Sophie's Escape Foiled by Omar" and the suspenseful "Gunboat Pursues the Leonora / Gunboat is Boarded" round out a perfectly enjoyable listening experience, especially aided by the return of the 2 themes in "End Credits".

While Nate and Hayes has the exact same adventure music returning around the main theme and love theme, it is nonetheless sufficient for the 40 minute listen. And especially for the Trevor Jones fan who thought he heard it all, this album comes especially recommendable. It is not common to hear a bit of swashbuckling material in Jones' music, making Nate and Hayes all the more fun to discover in the end.

Tracklisting

1. Main Theme from Nate And Hayes (1.28)
2. Escape from Mumi Village / Hayes Fights Mumi Women on Bridge (3.06)
3. Hayes' and Sophie's Pact / Sophie Disembarks / The Veranda at Night (2.25)
4. The Rona Turns About (Partially Used) / Pease Attacks Village (2.14)
5. Ruined Village (1.37)
6. Nate Sails Off / Nate is Shipwrecked / The Rona Turns About (Not Used In Film) (1.21)
7. Sophie Ransoms Omar / Arrival at Samoa (1.32)
8. German March (0.21)
9. The Parting / Nate Stranded (2.12)
10. Pease Hastily Departs the Leonora / Nate Goes to the Auction House / Sophie's Escape Foiled by Omar (2.29)
11. Hayes and the Men Overpower Pease Crew / Chase to the Gunboat / The Stolen Leonora Sets Sail for Ponape (3.29) Excellent track
12. Gunboat Pursues the Leonora / Gunboat is Boarded (6.04)
13. Gunboat s Paralyzed (2.05)
14. Sword Fight / Escape from Prison (4.08) Excellent track
15. End Credits (4.31) Excellent track

Total Length: 39.46
(click to rate this score)  
 
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(total of 11 votes - average 3.91/5)

Released by

La-La Land Records LLLCD 1116 (limited release 2010)

Conducted by

Marcus Dods

Orchestrations by

Trevor Jones

Performed by

The London Symphony Orchestra