The Abandoned
Alfons Conde
" There's 30 minutes of The Abandoned and 15 minutes covering 2 bonus cues. Together 45 minutes to discover Alfons Conde. "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Alfons Conde, a Spanish composer, is introduced to us through the label MovieScore Media. In their ever going quest for the unique, the unknown and the unheard, they don't forget to introduce us to the ones that really matter. The Abandoned is one of those horror scores that has everything you wish for. Orchestra, texture, a bit of choir, a lot of detail, a darkish sense and two bonus cues that show why film music is still so good when you hear John Williams in it.
The Abandoned goes first, and this is no walk in the park. Where Brian Tyler gave us his rhythmic voice in Darkness Falls and Roque Baños gave us his dramatic voice in Fragile, Alfons Conde gives us his voice. And that is texture and harmonic display. If you want your horror music to sizzle and scare, then go no further to give The Abandoned a whirl. I bet you'll find enough in there to make your sleep an unpleasant one.
Naturally no score looks in the future without looking back to one that represents it the best. I guess I would have to say that James Horner's textural music for LV-426 represents The Abandoned the best. The creepiness of "Four at the Pigsty Part 1" and "Marie's Doppelganger" or the anarchy of "Kitchen Reconstruction". Think Aliens and you will hear a lot of that in this score.
Naturally horror is spelled in only some ways and yet some can make it more frightening than others. "Olga's Murder" isn't melodic but surely is enticing and rich of detail. And oh the bells in "They're Our Deaths" are absolutely frightening. Naturally all isn't here to scare. The piano work in "The Journey" sure sounds Baños enough and "Awaiting Midnight" is a soft piece for choir and strings. Only to be interrupted by the eeriness of "Escaping the House" and the brilliant emotional eruption in "Marie's Death".
Considering The Abandoned is pretty impressive yet short on its own, it sure is wonderful to discover several bonuses from Conde's repertoire. "Adagio: Color of Time" is a dramatic elegy for strings. Yet I can't shut up explaining how brilliant simply "Fireworks Overture" is. They said it would revoke back the memories of John Williams and Bruce Broughton but I never expected it would do it so literally. It's a build up and climax of 9 minutes and my god is it a joy to hear such a work in progress. Kudos Alfons Conde, you really impressed me here.
You have 30 minutes of The Abandoned and 15 minutes covering two bonus cues. Together 45 minutes to discover Alfons Conde. That both complement each other so well only makes it more believable that the entire disc is a piece of joy from start to finish. If you're into horror music that literally blows your mind in detail and power, then The Abandoned is your lost treasure. But if you want your music to build to a finale then I urge you to listen to that last track. Apparently Michael Giacchino isn't the only one who knows how to build to something wonderful.
Tracklisting
1. Main Titles (3.29)
2. Four at the Pigsty Part 1 (3.00)
3. Marie's Doppelganger (1.16)
4. Olga's Murder (3.47) Excellent track
5. The Journey (2.27)
6. They're Our Deaths (1.47)
7. Four at the Pigsty Part 2 (1.13)
8. Awaiting Midnight (3.11)
9. Kitchen Reconstruction (2.08) Excellent track
10. Escaping the House (4.17)
11. Killing Misharin (1.51)
12. Marie's Death (2.39) Excellent track
Bonus Tracks
13. Adagio: Color of Time (6.14)
14. Fireworks Overture (9.06) Excellent track
Total Length: 46.33
The Abandoned goes first, and this is no walk in the park. Where Brian Tyler gave us his rhythmic voice in Darkness Falls and Roque Baños gave us his dramatic voice in Fragile, Alfons Conde gives us his voice. And that is texture and harmonic display. If you want your horror music to sizzle and scare, then go no further to give The Abandoned a whirl. I bet you'll find enough in there to make your sleep an unpleasant one.
Naturally no score looks in the future without looking back to one that represents it the best. I guess I would have to say that James Horner's textural music for LV-426 represents The Abandoned the best. The creepiness of "Four at the Pigsty Part 1" and "Marie's Doppelganger" or the anarchy of "Kitchen Reconstruction". Think Aliens and you will hear a lot of that in this score.
Naturally horror is spelled in only some ways and yet some can make it more frightening than others. "Olga's Murder" isn't melodic but surely is enticing and rich of detail. And oh the bells in "They're Our Deaths" are absolutely frightening. Naturally all isn't here to scare. The piano work in "The Journey" sure sounds Baños enough and "Awaiting Midnight" is a soft piece for choir and strings. Only to be interrupted by the eeriness of "Escaping the House" and the brilliant emotional eruption in "Marie's Death".
Considering The Abandoned is pretty impressive yet short on its own, it sure is wonderful to discover several bonuses from Conde's repertoire. "Adagio: Color of Time" is a dramatic elegy for strings. Yet I can't shut up explaining how brilliant simply "Fireworks Overture" is. They said it would revoke back the memories of John Williams and Bruce Broughton but I never expected it would do it so literally. It's a build up and climax of 9 minutes and my god is it a joy to hear such a work in progress. Kudos Alfons Conde, you really impressed me here.
You have 30 minutes of The Abandoned and 15 minutes covering two bonus cues. Together 45 minutes to discover Alfons Conde. That both complement each other so well only makes it more believable that the entire disc is a piece of joy from start to finish. If you're into horror music that literally blows your mind in detail and power, then The Abandoned is your lost treasure. But if you want your music to build to a finale then I urge you to listen to that last track. Apparently Michael Giacchino isn't the only one who knows how to build to something wonderful.
Tracklisting
1. Main Titles (3.29)
2. Four at the Pigsty Part 1 (3.00)
3. Marie's Doppelganger (1.16)
4. Olga's Murder (3.47) Excellent track
5. The Journey (2.27)
6. They're Our Deaths (1.47)
7. Four at the Pigsty Part 2 (1.13)
8. Awaiting Midnight (3.11)
9. Kitchen Reconstruction (2.08) Excellent track
10. Escaping the House (4.17)
11. Killing Misharin (1.51)
12. Marie's Death (2.39) Excellent track
Bonus Tracks
13. Adagio: Color of Time (6.14)
14. Fireworks Overture (9.06) Excellent track
Total Length: 46.33