Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas
Harry Gregson-Williams
" solo effort shows Harry's got more tricks up his sleeve than first expected "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Each year we have a competition. It's between the animated stories coming of Disney or Dreamworks and the computer visual storytellings of Pixar. Usually Pixar wins. But that doesn't necessarily mean the same for the accompanying scores, because then we would neglect a sure winner like Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas.
Even after all these years, Sinbad is one of the highlights of Harry Gregson-Williams career, showing a passionate interesting score that had his voice, his trademarks in a wonderful pleasing design. Today it's hard to find something that memorable and I guess only Prince of Persia could come close in parts.
Back then, he was mostly composing animated music alongside his buddy John Powell, and I don't have to tell you how wonderful they understood each other. I guess it was then also a test to see if he could bring the same amount of fun solo wise. The answer is simple: Sinbad.
A main theme can sell a soundtrack easily, if it's full of potential, wit and excitement. And once again it is Sinbad that's offering something exiting. After a The Borrowers opening in "Let the Games Begin", it unleashes its almighty goods in splendid fashion. Swashbuckling, exciting and full of adventurous fun, it thunders from your speakers in manners so grand that a lot of Harry Gregson-Williams fans still miss this side of the composer until this day.
This one theme isn't it though, and luckily so because Sinbad has more treats up its sleeve. For instance, breathtaking fun performances of the main theme in "The Sea Monster", "The Giant Fish", "Heroics" and the rhythmic fun version in "Rescue!".
Another theme is the seductive theme for Eris. It was featured briefly in "Let the Games Begin" and appears fully in "Sinbad Overboard" with seductive vocal work. Her voice tip toes around "Eris Steals the Book" and excels the mysterious explosion in "Sirens" only through the appearance of her voice.
Fun moments beside those theme statements are aplenty throughout the score. For instance the fanfare terrific "Syracuse" which offers a variation of the main theme as crowd pleaser, and "The Stowaway" offers us lovely moments due to the main theme on cello and electric violin. Two giant tracks give the finale another meaning. In "Tartarus" the main theme, suspense music and the Eris theme meet each other, in "Sinbad Returns and Eris Pays Up" emotional choir and fantastic fanfares align the stars in wonderful fashion. "Into the Sunset" delivers us a nice climax.
Looking back after all this time, there remains a lot to like of Sinbad. It's fun, to the point, contains rousing orchestral and choral music, and it houses one gigantic fun main theme. Truthfully it's enough and perhaps Harry Gregson-Williams should return once more to the projects he thinks are fun. Because it isn't a surprise to discover that adventure epics like Sinbad and Prince of Persia offered Harry not only a big palette to work with, but also inspired him to write something epic in return.
Tracklisting
1. Let the Games Begin (3.01) Excellent track
2. The Book of Peace (1.37)
3. The Sea Monster (3.28) Excellent track
4. Sinbad Overboard (3.27)
5. Syracuse (1.16) Excellent track
6. Proteus Proposes (1.12)
7. Eris Steals the Book (1.52)
8. Lightning Lanterns (1.28)
9. The Stowaway (2.34)
10. Setting Sail (1.40)
11. Sirens (3.19)
12. Chipped Paint (2.52)
13. The Giant Fish (1.06)
14. Surfing (3.05)
15. The Roc (1.58)
16. Heroics (2.11)
17. Rescue! (2.17) Excellent track
18. Is it The Shore or the Sea? (3.25)
19. Tartarus (10.10)
20. Marina's Love / Proteus' Execution (2.01)
21. Sinbad Returns and Eris Pays Up (7.44) Excellent track
22. Into the Sunset (2.21) Excellent track
Total Length: 64.52
Even after all these years, Sinbad is one of the highlights of Harry Gregson-Williams career, showing a passionate interesting score that had his voice, his trademarks in a wonderful pleasing design. Today it's hard to find something that memorable and I guess only Prince of Persia could come close in parts.
Back then, he was mostly composing animated music alongside his buddy John Powell, and I don't have to tell you how wonderful they understood each other. I guess it was then also a test to see if he could bring the same amount of fun solo wise. The answer is simple: Sinbad.
A main theme can sell a soundtrack easily, if it's full of potential, wit and excitement. And once again it is Sinbad that's offering something exiting. After a The Borrowers opening in "Let the Games Begin", it unleashes its almighty goods in splendid fashion. Swashbuckling, exciting and full of adventurous fun, it thunders from your speakers in manners so grand that a lot of Harry Gregson-Williams fans still miss this side of the composer until this day.
This one theme isn't it though, and luckily so because Sinbad has more treats up its sleeve. For instance, breathtaking fun performances of the main theme in "The Sea Monster", "The Giant Fish", "Heroics" and the rhythmic fun version in "Rescue!".
Another theme is the seductive theme for Eris. It was featured briefly in "Let the Games Begin" and appears fully in "Sinbad Overboard" with seductive vocal work. Her voice tip toes around "Eris Steals the Book" and excels the mysterious explosion in "Sirens" only through the appearance of her voice.
Fun moments beside those theme statements are aplenty throughout the score. For instance the fanfare terrific "Syracuse" which offers a variation of the main theme as crowd pleaser, and "The Stowaway" offers us lovely moments due to the main theme on cello and electric violin. Two giant tracks give the finale another meaning. In "Tartarus" the main theme, suspense music and the Eris theme meet each other, in "Sinbad Returns and Eris Pays Up" emotional choir and fantastic fanfares align the stars in wonderful fashion. "Into the Sunset" delivers us a nice climax.
Looking back after all this time, there remains a lot to like of Sinbad. It's fun, to the point, contains rousing orchestral and choral music, and it houses one gigantic fun main theme. Truthfully it's enough and perhaps Harry Gregson-Williams should return once more to the projects he thinks are fun. Because it isn't a surprise to discover that adventure epics like Sinbad and Prince of Persia offered Harry not only a big palette to work with, but also inspired him to write something epic in return.
Tracklisting
1. Let the Games Begin (3.01) Excellent track
2. The Book of Peace (1.37)
3. The Sea Monster (3.28) Excellent track
4. Sinbad Overboard (3.27)
5. Syracuse (1.16) Excellent track
6. Proteus Proposes (1.12)
7. Eris Steals the Book (1.52)
8. Lightning Lanterns (1.28)
9. The Stowaway (2.34)
10. Setting Sail (1.40)
11. Sirens (3.19)
12. Chipped Paint (2.52)
13. The Giant Fish (1.06)
14. Surfing (3.05)
15. The Roc (1.58)
16. Heroics (2.11)
17. Rescue! (2.17) Excellent track
18. Is it The Shore or the Sea? (3.25)
19. Tartarus (10.10)
20. Marina's Love / Proteus' Execution (2.01)
21. Sinbad Returns and Eris Pays Up (7.44) Excellent track
22. Into the Sunset (2.21) Excellent track
Total Length: 64.52