Treasured Island
Nicholas Dodd
" I wouldn't call Treasure Island a failure because for that the intentions are still saturated in the positiveness. "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Let's get something straight right now. Whatever you're expecting Treasured Island to be or to sound like, it is not. Ok? People expecting another CutThroat Island or a Pirates of the Caribbean have got it all wrong. Treasured Island ain't both. Whenever I hear that a fantasy / adventure score is available I start to dream. No matter the fact it's for TV or a true big spectacle Hollywood movie. And the somewhat dodgy looking Treasured Island became an anticipated little piece, considering we got the wonderful epic George & The Dragon from the label earlier. But in all honesty Treasured Island lacks a composer's hand. The hand that can give us creativity, new wonderful themes and variation.
The composer's voice on Treasured Island is actually coming from Nicholas Dodd (of course mostly known as David Arnolds orchestrator) who has scored his second motion score with Treasured Island. It's nice to see conductors or orchestrators giving their own distinct look upon a project and no matter how hard Dodd tried, there is still a big gap between those that do it on occasion and those that do it all the time.
And it's evident when hearing the fully orchestral score for the very first time. You always expect a great tune when such cd starts with "Main Title". It doesn't matter but a pirate movie needs to have a great tune. While this one is quite nice and holding one thing very clear: darkness! Think of the dark themes of Independence Day but then slightly weaker. Or even a try towards a Hook pirate melody. But it's not even half as strong as those. This main theme is also the theme that will appear almost throughout half of the tracks. Whether in an even much darker variation or in its initial presentation, the theme is everywhere. With a vocal and guitar accompaniment in "The Treasure and Jim's Heart", on a rhythmic tone in "The Ship" or subdued in "The Map", it is basically all around.
What's even more surprising at first while being fully understandable is the action music and tone. Think of basically the two Bond scores before Casino Royale. They are structured in the same tone, rhythm and beat that thrived those pieces. "Confession and Chase" even holds some electronic support for the beats.
Luckily it gets a bit more exciting in "Fight, Recognition and Spaniards" even though Bond is never far away. And while the beats may sound weird it is the percussion and exciting brass that amuses me more. There is a secondary theme even though I must confess both piano pieces in "The Baroness" and "Save the Gold" are short and nothing special.
What's even more considered of a problem, is the simple anticipation what the track titles bring forward and their ultimate final experience. They differ too much in expectation. "Duel and Escape", "Landing on the Island / Pirates Cave" or "Finding the Treasure" bring not the music that you expect with a title like that. Even the last one holds no grandeur or no fanfare. It's basically the mysterious vocal from the second track supporting the main theme. In these situations you miss a composer's hand. One that can bring an extra dash of creativity or variation.
It's unfair to expect this of Dodd yet we must express it the way it is. More main theme appearances are aplenty in "The Sailor Gets It" and "Finale: Treasure Island", both mixing the first two tracks together. It's only in the last action tracks that Treasured Island gives an extra boost. Nothing special considering it's all in the Bond tradition but the trumpets and the beats still bring a little more exuberance to it. "The Chase and Ben Gunn", "Final Fight and Explosion" and the most exciting one being "Spanish Fight". That final one lasts the longest and here we kinda get the brass shrills and the exciting pace we wanted.
But is this enough? No! Especially considering and hoping for a razzle dazzle ala Cutthroat Island. I understand that it isn't fair to compare it with one of the best adventure scores ever written but anticipation goes a long way when you expect something so desperately. I wouldn't call Treasured Island a failure because the intentions are still saturated in the positiveness. But this is still a serious missed opportunity and that is sad.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title (2.09)
2. The Treasure and Jim's Heart (2.29)
3. Jim Lad (1.17)
4. Confession and Chase (1.52)
5. The Baroness (0.45)
6. The Ship (1.25)
7. The Map (2.45)
8. Fight, Recognition and Spaniards (2.15)
9. The Baroness Nightmare (1.49)
10. Hypnotizing Jim (2.26)
11. Duel and Escape (1.43)
12. Landing on the Island (2.25)
13. The Sailor Gets It (2.49)
14. The Chase and Ben Gunn (1.36)
15. Pirates Cave (2.05)
16. Spanish Fight (3.16) Excellent track
17. Finding the Treasure (1.58)
18. Final Fight and Explosion (1.17)
19. Save the Gold (1.55)
20. Finale: Treasure Island (4.08)
Total Length: 42.32
The composer's voice on Treasured Island is actually coming from Nicholas Dodd (of course mostly known as David Arnolds orchestrator) who has scored his second motion score with Treasured Island. It's nice to see conductors or orchestrators giving their own distinct look upon a project and no matter how hard Dodd tried, there is still a big gap between those that do it on occasion and those that do it all the time.
And it's evident when hearing the fully orchestral score for the very first time. You always expect a great tune when such cd starts with "Main Title". It doesn't matter but a pirate movie needs to have a great tune. While this one is quite nice and holding one thing very clear: darkness! Think of the dark themes of Independence Day but then slightly weaker. Or even a try towards a Hook pirate melody. But it's not even half as strong as those. This main theme is also the theme that will appear almost throughout half of the tracks. Whether in an even much darker variation or in its initial presentation, the theme is everywhere. With a vocal and guitar accompaniment in "The Treasure and Jim's Heart", on a rhythmic tone in "The Ship" or subdued in "The Map", it is basically all around.
What's even more surprising at first while being fully understandable is the action music and tone. Think of basically the two Bond scores before Casino Royale. They are structured in the same tone, rhythm and beat that thrived those pieces. "Confession and Chase" even holds some electronic support for the beats.
Luckily it gets a bit more exciting in "Fight, Recognition and Spaniards" even though Bond is never far away. And while the beats may sound weird it is the percussion and exciting brass that amuses me more. There is a secondary theme even though I must confess both piano pieces in "The Baroness" and "Save the Gold" are short and nothing special.
What's even more considered of a problem, is the simple anticipation what the track titles bring forward and their ultimate final experience. They differ too much in expectation. "Duel and Escape", "Landing on the Island / Pirates Cave" or "Finding the Treasure" bring not the music that you expect with a title like that. Even the last one holds no grandeur or no fanfare. It's basically the mysterious vocal from the second track supporting the main theme. In these situations you miss a composer's hand. One that can bring an extra dash of creativity or variation.
It's unfair to expect this of Dodd yet we must express it the way it is. More main theme appearances are aplenty in "The Sailor Gets It" and "Finale: Treasure Island", both mixing the first two tracks together. It's only in the last action tracks that Treasured Island gives an extra boost. Nothing special considering it's all in the Bond tradition but the trumpets and the beats still bring a little more exuberance to it. "The Chase and Ben Gunn", "Final Fight and Explosion" and the most exciting one being "Spanish Fight". That final one lasts the longest and here we kinda get the brass shrills and the exciting pace we wanted.
But is this enough? No! Especially considering and hoping for a razzle dazzle ala Cutthroat Island. I understand that it isn't fair to compare it with one of the best adventure scores ever written but anticipation goes a long way when you expect something so desperately. I wouldn't call Treasured Island a failure because the intentions are still saturated in the positiveness. But this is still a serious missed opportunity and that is sad.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title (2.09)
2. The Treasure and Jim's Heart (2.29)
3. Jim Lad (1.17)
4. Confession and Chase (1.52)
5. The Baroness (0.45)
6. The Ship (1.25)
7. The Map (2.45)
8. Fight, Recognition and Spaniards (2.15)
9. The Baroness Nightmare (1.49)
10. Hypnotizing Jim (2.26)
11. Duel and Escape (1.43)
12. Landing on the Island (2.25)
13. The Sailor Gets It (2.49)
14. The Chase and Ben Gunn (1.36)
15. Pirates Cave (2.05)
16. Spanish Fight (3.16) Excellent track
17. Finding the Treasure (1.58)
18. Final Fight and Explosion (1.17)
19. Save the Gold (1.55)
20. Finale: Treasure Island (4.08)
Total Length: 42.32