The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Trevor Jones
" The Dark League of Trevor Jones "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
If composer Trevor Jones stands for some things, it is this. He is a master in writing big explosive themes, and he is a master in making mood so dreary and bleak, it actually becomes interesting. The second plagued From Hell a bit too much however, making the extremely long album a tough soundtrack on its own. But the examples were this dreary style sky rocketed the experience are aplenty nonetheless (Dark City and Merlin to name a few). However, I never thought to hear just that trademark returning in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
In fact, this score is one overlong dreary mood setter where almost nothing sounds heroically uplifting. This is dark music, and alongside of that you receive the most powerful brassy action music to accompany it with. Thirteen Days was a case in point where the dark mood worked like clockwork on CD, making everything so suspenseful that a single fraction of action elevated the album up a notch. In the case of League here, the score should have received (in my opinion) powerful heroic music like we heard in the trailer (alternating a more pumping version of Cutthroat Island's music).
This makes The League a score that will not be enjoyed as you would enjoy the music of a Cutthroat Island or say Sinbad. It's bleak, powerful but above all dark and strong, and shows no sign of heroic relieves. The sole versions of the uplifting pieces are for me even so unfitting that I basically believe they aren't that suitable on disc. The African pieces "Kenya / Wait for Me" and "Son of Africa" are unfitting if you place them around moody and brassy music. Of course in the film they serve a purpose that explains it better than solely on disc.
After having said that, the score of Jones does capture 2 distinctive voices, one being the typical underscore like only Jones can bring them. Here they are discovered in "Task Requires Heroes", "Old Tiger", "Mina Harker's Secret", "Phantom's Lair" and "Portrait of Dorian Gray". Bleak and alike in tone, the one is more disposable than the other.
The action music however (which is the second voice) is something else. Dark and brassy, The London Symphony orchestra received a real workout with this one. "Dawn of a New Century" opens the score with a dark, strong and foreboding piece. "Nautilus / Sword of the Ocean" has a fanfare that tries to become heroic, and there's powerful potential in "The Game is On", especially its main theme is strong and foreboding at the end.
The best track that shows us the relentlessness of the action is found in "Capturing Mr. Hyde", containing good action ideas and Dark City structures. Near the end we encounter a mammoth track called "Storming the Fortress", that gives us Jones at his best. After that "May this New Century be Yours" finishes with a major fanfare (backed up with whirling strings) of the main theme.
What pleases me is the relentless bombardment of action music, but it's not Independence Day I might add. Why I say Independence Day is because the main theme is so close to sounding like the dark fanfare for the Alien threat. Especially the final performance in "May this New Century be Yours" will show you what I mean.
It was nostalgic to know that this was the first album to seduce its buyers with a downloadable score only; until it was rescued by Varèse Sarabande after a while. In the end League is not so heroic as it could have been, but then again so wasn't the movie. And then you come to the conclusion a dark, brassy and moody feast was the only way to go. So typical Trevor Jones stuff, and that is what we got.
Tracklisting
1. Dawn of a New Century (4.27) Excellent track
2. Kenya / Wait for Me * (3.30)
3. Task Requires Heroes (4.08)
4. Promenade by the Sea + (2.54)
5. Nautilus / Sword of the Ocean (3.29)
6. The Game is On (2.54)
7. Old Tiger (2.55)
8. Capturing Mr. Hyde (3.29)
9. Mina Harker's Secret (3.17)
10. Phantom's Lair (5.30)
11. Portrait of Dorian Gray (3.38)
12. Treachery (5.28)
13. Storming the Fortress (3.54) Excellent track
14. May This New Century Be Yours (2.32) Excellent track
15. Son of Africa * (2.08)
* Score Lyrics written and composed by Trevor Jones & Joseph Shabalala
+ Score Lyrics written by Victoria Seale
Total Length: 54.43
In fact, this score is one overlong dreary mood setter where almost nothing sounds heroically uplifting. This is dark music, and alongside of that you receive the most powerful brassy action music to accompany it with. Thirteen Days was a case in point where the dark mood worked like clockwork on CD, making everything so suspenseful that a single fraction of action elevated the album up a notch. In the case of League here, the score should have received (in my opinion) powerful heroic music like we heard in the trailer (alternating a more pumping version of Cutthroat Island's music).
This makes The League a score that will not be enjoyed as you would enjoy the music of a Cutthroat Island or say Sinbad. It's bleak, powerful but above all dark and strong, and shows no sign of heroic relieves. The sole versions of the uplifting pieces are for me even so unfitting that I basically believe they aren't that suitable on disc. The African pieces "Kenya / Wait for Me" and "Son of Africa" are unfitting if you place them around moody and brassy music. Of course in the film they serve a purpose that explains it better than solely on disc.
After having said that, the score of Jones does capture 2 distinctive voices, one being the typical underscore like only Jones can bring them. Here they are discovered in "Task Requires Heroes", "Old Tiger", "Mina Harker's Secret", "Phantom's Lair" and "Portrait of Dorian Gray". Bleak and alike in tone, the one is more disposable than the other.
The action music however (which is the second voice) is something else. Dark and brassy, The London Symphony orchestra received a real workout with this one. "Dawn of a New Century" opens the score with a dark, strong and foreboding piece. "Nautilus / Sword of the Ocean" has a fanfare that tries to become heroic, and there's powerful potential in "The Game is On", especially its main theme is strong and foreboding at the end.
The best track that shows us the relentlessness of the action is found in "Capturing Mr. Hyde", containing good action ideas and Dark City structures. Near the end we encounter a mammoth track called "Storming the Fortress", that gives us Jones at his best. After that "May this New Century be Yours" finishes with a major fanfare (backed up with whirling strings) of the main theme.
What pleases me is the relentless bombardment of action music, but it's not Independence Day I might add. Why I say Independence Day is because the main theme is so close to sounding like the dark fanfare for the Alien threat. Especially the final performance in "May this New Century be Yours" will show you what I mean.
It was nostalgic to know that this was the first album to seduce its buyers with a downloadable score only; until it was rescued by Varèse Sarabande after a while. In the end League is not so heroic as it could have been, but then again so wasn't the movie. And then you come to the conclusion a dark, brassy and moody feast was the only way to go. So typical Trevor Jones stuff, and that is what we got.
Tracklisting
1. Dawn of a New Century (4.27) Excellent track
2. Kenya / Wait for Me * (3.30)
3. Task Requires Heroes (4.08)
4. Promenade by the Sea + (2.54)
5. Nautilus / Sword of the Ocean (3.29)
6. The Game is On (2.54)
7. Old Tiger (2.55)
8. Capturing Mr. Hyde (3.29)
9. Mina Harker's Secret (3.17)
10. Phantom's Lair (5.30)
11. Portrait of Dorian Gray (3.38)
12. Treachery (5.28)
13. Storming the Fortress (3.54) Excellent track
14. May This New Century Be Yours (2.32) Excellent track
15. Son of Africa * (2.08)
* Score Lyrics written and composed by Trevor Jones & Joseph Shabalala
+ Score Lyrics written by Victoria Seale
Total Length: 54.43