[Closed, Sink] Now Playing XXXVIII

NP: The Mechanic (The Assassin's Edition) - Mark Isham

I suppose everything about this score needs to be kept in context of the movie. And as such, there's a lot of rhythmic percussion driving through a lot of this score and when it's not the driving percussion it's some ebbing-and-flowing ambient soundscapes. This statement may have you thinking that the comments are going to be pretty negative but they are not. And that's due in large part to the orchestration that Isham's chosen for this score and to the suite style of this particular edition of the score. I imagine that this way of putting together the score will work better than having the individual tracks stopping and starting.

This edition runs to just over 50 minutes (the complete score runs to 70+ minutes) and is divided into 6 tracks (the final two are short and may just be direct lifts from the complete score version). One track here runs to over 20 minutes in length. It's rhythm that permeates throughout the score and for me the talent of Isham is highlighted by the fact that he uses various orchestrations to perpetuate the rhythm in an interesting, constantly changing way. Yes there's the seemingly ubiquitous ostinato strings and the thumping synth percussion but there's also variations such as bass guitar providing the beat and tam-tams (I believe).

The director wanted a "hook" for the score that would make it easy to identify this score and Isham provides this hook and is quite memorable when it's played by electric guitar.

I'm not sure what the differences between this suite form and the track-by-track complete score are (save for the suite vs individual track formats) but listening to the beginning of some of the suites and the corresponding tracks (the title of the suite tracks seem to be taken from corresponding tracks from the other release that arise at approximately the correct place in the track-by-track version if these tracks had just been spliced together to make the suites) it seems Isham has tailored the ends of the tracks to seamlessly (on the whole) from one to the other. And remember, there's 20 minutes missing from this Assassin's Edition.

I like this version with the suite form - and I'm less looking forward to the track-by-track Complete Collector's Edition - and there's enough variation to keep the interest keen even in the 20 minute suite. I'm not that familiar with Isham's work to place it at an appropriate level in his discography.

I wouldn't want to give the impression that the use of ostinato strings is heard throughout this score. But it is used as one of several ostinato devices to drive the rhythm.

Do you honestly think he's a genius? I like the Hisaishi music I've heard so far but IMO he's not in the league of his compatriot Ryuichi Sakamoto.

In my mind anyone who can write a heartwarming melody and get it orchestrated is a genius

Yes, minus 100.

And I notice that Isham's The Mechanic is one of the Top Soundtracks To Own For January titles from "Film Music Magazine".

Picked that up for $6 recently.

NP: TANGO & CASH (Harold Faltermeyer)

Could have done with some serious re-arrangement (it doesn't hold up well in C&C), but when it's funky, it's really funky! Plus, it has the autograph by the man himself.

I agree. On the one hand we say that they are rubbish and we don't care. Then we are rooting for our favourites!

Gustavo Santaolalla is not nominated this year.

NP : STAR CRASH - John Barry



Another score John Barry has probably selectively forgotten he ever had any involvement in It's full of themes and entertains me greatly, that's all that counts to me!

I see that BSX have released a 7-minute suite of music from Barry's score for Star Crash as a digital download. You would recommend this Tim?