No God No Master
Nuno Malo
" Dramatic engaging listen "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the limited release
The dramatic story of Agent William Flynn, investigating a series of bomb threats and death in 1919 required a dramatic potent score, and composer Nuno Malo surely delivered one. Malo (known for the much beloved entries Julgamento and Amàlia delivers another quality effort here, strengthened by 2 themes, a returning dramatic environment and a bunch of dramatic solo highlights. And though the album's a bit too long for my liking, the listening experience is quite moving and engaging nonetheless.
You can place No God No Master under the 2 themes that support it. But in an age where themes have become a sparse mystery, it's nice to get them in the first place. The main theme, the most reoccurring one (opening in "Opening Titles") is a nice dramatic potent composition, gaining more strength when the score progresses (thanks to the wonderful solos that arrive in the final 6 tracks). It's especially engaging once extra light choir supports it in cues such as "The 10.000 Immigrants Arrest" and "Nulus Deus, Nulus Dominus, Main Theme Reprise". The secondary theme, a wonderful violin melody for Vanzetti is more sparsely used, but gains some weight nonetheless in "Vanzetti's Past" and "Another Bomb, Vanzetti's Theme". And there's no denying that we have to mention the dramatic uplifting ways of "Catacomb of the Flower of Mankind", one of the score's highlights for sure.
The score's for the rest divided between the subtle emotional background material (often supported by the the main theme and its variations) and a couple of exciting suspense cues, most notable through some whirling string maneuvers (tracks 15 and 21) and a strong orchestral crowd pleaser ("Memorial, Police Attacks") that saves the day with some exciting minutes of power play. Don't forget to pick up the at times John Williams like influences too, once Malo starts developing his emotional material through the solo piano or violin, a remark I made before when listening to his Juglamento score. Released under a limited quantity, No God No Master deserves this rating simply because it brings dramatic engaging music, courtesy of 2 themes and a bunch of intoxicating instrumental solos. And though the album only explodes at the end of the score, the entire listening experience remains engaging from top to bottom. A treasure no doubt.
Favorite Moment - Memorial, Police Attacks (0.24 - 1.05)
Powerful strings and fanfares create one of the few moments of action material
Track Listing
1. Opening Titles (3.03)
2. Bike Ride Through Little Italy (0.51)
3. Bomb in the Church (2.20)
4. Post Office Package Bombs (1.14)
5. Rockefeller Confrontation (1.59)
6. Explosion at Louise Berger's (1.11)
7. Flynn Talks With Tresca (2.27)
8. Tresca's Speech (2.20)
9. Vanzetti's Past (1.25)
10. Vanzetti Finds a New Home (2.28)
11. Another Bomb, Vanzetti's Theme (1.20)
12. Three Friends, Bomb at Flynn's Doorstep (1.58)
13. Sacco's Dream (1.12)
14. Flynn's Partner Death (1.46)
15. Interrogation At Luigi's Place (5.27)
16. Flynn Interrogates C. Howe (1.30)
17. Vanezetti Gives a Cat to the Little Boy (1.47)
18. Memorial, Police Attacks (2.02) Excellent track
19. Rockefeller Confrontation (Cello Version) (1.50)
20. Flynn Talks to Palmer (1.10)
21. Flynn's Search for Tony, Galleani's Capture (7.57)
22. The 10.000 Immigrants Arrest (3.20)
23. Arm Robbery, Sacco and Vanzetti's Arrest (2.37) Excellent track
24. Catacomb of the Flower of Mankind (2.57) Excellent track
25. What About the Others (3.43)
26. Nulus Deus, Nulus Dominus, Main Theme Reprise (2.49) Excellent track
27. No God, No Master (Piano Trio) (2.50) Excellent track
Total Length: 65.33
You can place No God No Master under the 2 themes that support it. But in an age where themes have become a sparse mystery, it's nice to get them in the first place. The main theme, the most reoccurring one (opening in "Opening Titles") is a nice dramatic potent composition, gaining more strength when the score progresses (thanks to the wonderful solos that arrive in the final 6 tracks). It's especially engaging once extra light choir supports it in cues such as "The 10.000 Immigrants Arrest" and "Nulus Deus, Nulus Dominus, Main Theme Reprise". The secondary theme, a wonderful violin melody for Vanzetti is more sparsely used, but gains some weight nonetheless in "Vanzetti's Past" and "Another Bomb, Vanzetti's Theme". And there's no denying that we have to mention the dramatic uplifting ways of "Catacomb of the Flower of Mankind", one of the score's highlights for sure.
The score's for the rest divided between the subtle emotional background material (often supported by the the main theme and its variations) and a couple of exciting suspense cues, most notable through some whirling string maneuvers (tracks 15 and 21) and a strong orchestral crowd pleaser ("Memorial, Police Attacks") that saves the day with some exciting minutes of power play. Don't forget to pick up the at times John Williams like influences too, once Malo starts developing his emotional material through the solo piano or violin, a remark I made before when listening to his Juglamento score. Released under a limited quantity, No God No Master deserves this rating simply because it brings dramatic engaging music, courtesy of 2 themes and a bunch of intoxicating instrumental solos. And though the album only explodes at the end of the score, the entire listening experience remains engaging from top to bottom. A treasure no doubt.
Favorite Moment - Memorial, Police Attacks (0.24 - 1.05)
Powerful strings and fanfares create one of the few moments of action material
Track Listing
1. Opening Titles (3.03)
2. Bike Ride Through Little Italy (0.51)
3. Bomb in the Church (2.20)
4. Post Office Package Bombs (1.14)
5. Rockefeller Confrontation (1.59)
6. Explosion at Louise Berger's (1.11)
7. Flynn Talks With Tresca (2.27)
8. Tresca's Speech (2.20)
9. Vanzetti's Past (1.25)
10. Vanzetti Finds a New Home (2.28)
11. Another Bomb, Vanzetti's Theme (1.20)
12. Three Friends, Bomb at Flynn's Doorstep (1.58)
13. Sacco's Dream (1.12)
14. Flynn's Partner Death (1.46)
15. Interrogation At Luigi's Place (5.27)
16. Flynn Interrogates C. Howe (1.30)
17. Vanezetti Gives a Cat to the Little Boy (1.47)
18. Memorial, Police Attacks (2.02) Excellent track
19. Rockefeller Confrontation (Cello Version) (1.50)
20. Flynn Talks to Palmer (1.10)
21. Flynn's Search for Tony, Galleani's Capture (7.57)
22. The 10.000 Immigrants Arrest (3.20)
23. Arm Robbery, Sacco and Vanzetti's Arrest (2.37) Excellent track
24. Catacomb of the Flower of Mankind (2.57) Excellent track
25. What About the Others (3.43)
26. Nulus Deus, Nulus Dominus, Main Theme Reprise (2.49) Excellent track
27. No God, No Master (Piano Trio) (2.50) Excellent track
Total Length: 65.33