Of Orcs and Men
Olivier Deriviere
" Me Orc, you Olivier, we Boston Cello Quartet "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Olivier Derivière surprised the gaming community in 2008 with Alone in the Dark, a delightful score for the horror game. In 2012 he continued to surprise the audiences with Of Orcs and Men, a nifty score for chamber orchestra. The thing that makes it surprising is the special use of a cello as dominant instrument, surprising at least for a fantasy action role-playing game. But then again, Derivière has caught us off guard with Alone in the Dark, it's no surprise he has done it once again with Of Orcs and Men. And the result is available on CD courtesy of Wayô Records since 2012.
As said, the dominant use of the cello is overpowering almost every single track, whether setting the pace, or whether creating some kind of emotion. In the opening track it's pace that's dominant, and the way it infuses percussion and brief vocal effects around it is simply put delightful. But perhaps we can best describe the use of the cello in the same manner as Djawadi did it in Clash of the Titans. Dominating the cue, creating the rhythm, showing off its surprising sound wherever it goes. Just listen to "Human Ambush" and "Fight Me" to get the vibe of a rhythmic cello dominating the album.
The best example of the cello creating some kind of color in these dark ages is "The Wall" and "A Knight to Kill Me", an equally rhythmic cue that uses the cello more to draw some kind of emotion from the player. And that emotion pours out literally in the lovely "Slave Like Dad", when drama and not rhythm dominates the cue from start to finish. The same for the gloomy sound in "I Hate this Place" and the beautiful "Finally Home".
And if we're not getting a cello dominated sound, we're experiencing percussion based rhythm in "Fight Like an Orc", "Weak Humans", "Back to the Slums" and "The Sewers", often creating one hell of a moody atmosphere. But the biggest change comes from the enchanting use of the cello, percussion and female vocals in the mesmerizing "Back to the Forest", a track that finally lets the sunshine come through the trees. A feeling that continues in "Amazons" no doubt. The vocals take on a light epic feel after that in the conclusive finale "The Knight Will Die".
Of Orcs and Men is proof that being original and being restricted in budget doesn't necessarily mean bad things. While it's lacking a difference in tone after a while, it's fresh and exciting live instrumental music that continues to surprise me each time I hear a rhythmic pattern unfolding. Olivier Derivière has surprised the masses with his take on horror in 2008, and he surely has done it again in 2012 with his take on how he tackles a fantasy environment about orcs and goblins. Surely the temptation to go LOTR like was grand, but nothing could ever stand farther from the cello dominated rhythms and percussion effects in Of Orcs and Men. Recommended for the interesting and enjoyable approach.
Favorite Moment - Back to the Forest (1.40 - 2.56)
The colorful vocals surely make an impact in a dominated instrumental score
Track Listing
1. My Quest Begins (2.02) Excellent track
2. The Slums (2.13)
3. Fight Like An Orc (1.32)
4. Weak Humans (1.32)
5. Back to the Slums (4.02)
6. Human Ambush (1.24)
7. Closer to the Wall (3.18)
8. Fight Me (1.32)
9. Fear Me (1.32)
10. The Wall (4.02)
11. A Knight to Kill Me (2.12)
12. The Sewers (4.11)
13. Slave Like Dad (5.03) Excellent track
14. I Am The Resistance (4.08)
15. Follow my Lead (2.34)
16. Fight for Me (1.13)
17. I Hate This Place (2.36)
18. Twisted Humans (1.47)
19. Back to the Forest (4.07) Excellent track
20. Amazons (1.10)
21. The Knight Will Die (2.34)
22. Finally Home (1.26)
Total Length: 56.10
As said, the dominant use of the cello is overpowering almost every single track, whether setting the pace, or whether creating some kind of emotion. In the opening track it's pace that's dominant, and the way it infuses percussion and brief vocal effects around it is simply put delightful. But perhaps we can best describe the use of the cello in the same manner as Djawadi did it in Clash of the Titans. Dominating the cue, creating the rhythm, showing off its surprising sound wherever it goes. Just listen to "Human Ambush" and "Fight Me" to get the vibe of a rhythmic cello dominating the album.
The best example of the cello creating some kind of color in these dark ages is "The Wall" and "A Knight to Kill Me", an equally rhythmic cue that uses the cello more to draw some kind of emotion from the player. And that emotion pours out literally in the lovely "Slave Like Dad", when drama and not rhythm dominates the cue from start to finish. The same for the gloomy sound in "I Hate this Place" and the beautiful "Finally Home".
And if we're not getting a cello dominated sound, we're experiencing percussion based rhythm in "Fight Like an Orc", "Weak Humans", "Back to the Slums" and "The Sewers", often creating one hell of a moody atmosphere. But the biggest change comes from the enchanting use of the cello, percussion and female vocals in the mesmerizing "Back to the Forest", a track that finally lets the sunshine come through the trees. A feeling that continues in "Amazons" no doubt. The vocals take on a light epic feel after that in the conclusive finale "The Knight Will Die".
Of Orcs and Men is proof that being original and being restricted in budget doesn't necessarily mean bad things. While it's lacking a difference in tone after a while, it's fresh and exciting live instrumental music that continues to surprise me each time I hear a rhythmic pattern unfolding. Olivier Derivière has surprised the masses with his take on horror in 2008, and he surely has done it again in 2012 with his take on how he tackles a fantasy environment about orcs and goblins. Surely the temptation to go LOTR like was grand, but nothing could ever stand farther from the cello dominated rhythms and percussion effects in Of Orcs and Men. Recommended for the interesting and enjoyable approach.
Favorite Moment - Back to the Forest (1.40 - 2.56)
The colorful vocals surely make an impact in a dominated instrumental score
Track Listing
1. My Quest Begins (2.02) Excellent track
2. The Slums (2.13)
3. Fight Like An Orc (1.32)
4. Weak Humans (1.32)
5. Back to the Slums (4.02)
6. Human Ambush (1.24)
7. Closer to the Wall (3.18)
8. Fight Me (1.32)
9. Fear Me (1.32)
10. The Wall (4.02)
11. A Knight to Kill Me (2.12)
12. The Sewers (4.11)
13. Slave Like Dad (5.03) Excellent track
14. I Am The Resistance (4.08)
15. Follow my Lead (2.34)
16. Fight for Me (1.13)
17. I Hate This Place (2.36)
18. Twisted Humans (1.47)
19. Back to the Forest (4.07) Excellent track
20. Amazons (1.10)
21. The Knight Will Die (2.34)
22. Finally Home (1.26)
Total Length: 56.10