Shogun Mayeda
John Scott
" Rich adventure score keeps surprising you "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Kabuto aka Shogun Mayeda was released by Intrada in 1991, one year after that same label gave us Lionheart (one of Scott's most melodic action scores). So, it gave me some indication that Shogun Mayeda would be something that's worth checking out. Meaning how wrong could one label be? And even if the score takes a bit of time, more time than Lionheart, it is Shogun Mayeda's strength that it continues to surprise you. It's a listen that delivers you every time something new, something you haven't spotted before, something that shows us John Scott's talent, again and again.
Of course it didn't take any time to fall in love with Scott's main theme, because it is once again a rich orchestral theme that sounds amazing when it's performed in adventure mode. Just listen to the first performance in "Main Title: Shogun Mayeda", the eruption in "Inner Strength", the beautiful performance by just strings at the end of "Attack on Yorimune", during the wonderful and beautiful first 3 minutes of "Set Sail: Storm at Sea", during the soft "Memories of Lost Ones: Arrival", unleashing a fantastic adventurous performance during the playful escapades of "Duel with Don Pedro", showcasing Scott's delightful melodic side during "Leaving Spain", showing a darker side during the action of "Pirate Attack" and simply astonishing you when it's combined with the rich love theme in the amazing "On to New Adventures".
Shogun Mayeda's other recognizable sound comes during the dramatic action scenes. Scott creates a tornado of fanfares and heightened string lines to create drama, suspense and action all at once. It's first discovered in "Battle of Sekigahara" before unleashing a storm in "Set Sail: Storm at Sea". Here percussion, marching strings and fanfares unleash the pace of the storm (don't be surprised to hear some Star Wars maneuvers here). Expect the same in "Fight to the Death", though intermixed with the main theme for good heroic measure.
And the brief moments that we hear neither, it's time for some emotional soft music (strings in "Mayeda's Grief"), (flutes in "Vasco, Servant of the Devil"), a bit of royal class for "Courts of Spain" (fanfares and brief harpsichord), the wonderful romance theme in the gorgeous "Cecilia Declares Her Love" and in the equally beautiful "Leaving Morocco".
Shogun Mayeda is a score that surprises me the more I hear it. It's not that I like everything that comes my way here, but I sure applaud it each time I hear it. Scott's depth and knowledge to use every single instrument is adept here, unleashing a wide diverse sound that listens at one moment briefly eastern, then briefly western, then fully adventurous, then utterly romantic, then simply ballsy. No matter what you'll encounter on this voyage, be damn sure it is rich, mature and invigorating orchestral music carried through by rich music and memorable themes. It's possible you'll not enjoy the first part at first, but if you're not convinced after the second part of Shogun Mayeda, you'll never be. Another John Scott experience I'll treasure for a long time.
Track Listing
1. Main Title: Shogun Mayeda (2.34)
2. Battle of Sekigahara (3.55)
3. Inner Strength (1.33)
4. Yorimune's Court (0.57)
5. Attack on Yorimune (2.05)
6. Mayeda's Grief (1.49)
7. Vasco, Servant of the Devil (2.15)
8. Set Sail: Storm at Sea (8.15)
9. Memories of Lost Ones: Arrival (3.27)
10. Courts of Spain (4.29)
11. Duel with Don Pedro (1.49) Excellent track
12. The Kings Protector (2.22)
13. Leaving Spain (3.14) Excellent track
14. Bath-Time on Board (2.08)
15. Pirate Attack (5.07)
16. Prisoners in Morocco (4.24)
17. Checkmate (2.33)
18. Cecilia Declares Her Love (1.53) Excellent track
19. Fight to the Death (4.12)
20. Leaving Morocco (2.27) Excellent track
21. On to New Adventures (4.18) Excellent track
Total Length: 65.46
Of course it didn't take any time to fall in love with Scott's main theme, because it is once again a rich orchestral theme that sounds amazing when it's performed in adventure mode. Just listen to the first performance in "Main Title: Shogun Mayeda", the eruption in "Inner Strength", the beautiful performance by just strings at the end of "Attack on Yorimune", during the wonderful and beautiful first 3 minutes of "Set Sail: Storm at Sea", during the soft "Memories of Lost Ones: Arrival", unleashing a fantastic adventurous performance during the playful escapades of "Duel with Don Pedro", showcasing Scott's delightful melodic side during "Leaving Spain", showing a darker side during the action of "Pirate Attack" and simply astonishing you when it's combined with the rich love theme in the amazing "On to New Adventures".
Shogun Mayeda's other recognizable sound comes during the dramatic action scenes. Scott creates a tornado of fanfares and heightened string lines to create drama, suspense and action all at once. It's first discovered in "Battle of Sekigahara" before unleashing a storm in "Set Sail: Storm at Sea". Here percussion, marching strings and fanfares unleash the pace of the storm (don't be surprised to hear some Star Wars maneuvers here). Expect the same in "Fight to the Death", though intermixed with the main theme for good heroic measure.
And the brief moments that we hear neither, it's time for some emotional soft music (strings in "Mayeda's Grief"), (flutes in "Vasco, Servant of the Devil"), a bit of royal class for "Courts of Spain" (fanfares and brief harpsichord), the wonderful romance theme in the gorgeous "Cecilia Declares Her Love" and in the equally beautiful "Leaving Morocco".
Shogun Mayeda is a score that surprises me the more I hear it. It's not that I like everything that comes my way here, but I sure applaud it each time I hear it. Scott's depth and knowledge to use every single instrument is adept here, unleashing a wide diverse sound that listens at one moment briefly eastern, then briefly western, then fully adventurous, then utterly romantic, then simply ballsy. No matter what you'll encounter on this voyage, be damn sure it is rich, mature and invigorating orchestral music carried through by rich music and memorable themes. It's possible you'll not enjoy the first part at first, but if you're not convinced after the second part of Shogun Mayeda, you'll never be. Another John Scott experience I'll treasure for a long time.
Track Listing
1. Main Title: Shogun Mayeda (2.34)
2. Battle of Sekigahara (3.55)
3. Inner Strength (1.33)
4. Yorimune's Court (0.57)
5. Attack on Yorimune (2.05)
6. Mayeda's Grief (1.49)
7. Vasco, Servant of the Devil (2.15)
8. Set Sail: Storm at Sea (8.15)
9. Memories of Lost Ones: Arrival (3.27)
10. Courts of Spain (4.29)
11. Duel with Don Pedro (1.49) Excellent track
12. The Kings Protector (2.22)
13. Leaving Spain (3.14) Excellent track
14. Bath-Time on Board (2.08)
15. Pirate Attack (5.07)
16. Prisoners in Morocco (4.24)
17. Checkmate (2.33)
18. Cecilia Declares Her Love (1.53) Excellent track
19. Fight to the Death (4.12)
20. Leaving Morocco (2.27) Excellent track
21. On to New Adventures (4.18) Excellent track
Total Length: 65.46