[Closed] Now Playing XLVI

Just played: STAR TREK III: The Search for Spock (1984) - James Horner

This is a splendid score! I love the ethnic elements that Horner comes up with. They give the score a unique and ethereal touch. Its voice is much more indepenent than that of "Khan" that owes heavily to "Battle Beyond the Stars". The nod towards Alexander Courage in the End Credits cue gives me goosebumps.

Volker

I Guardiani del Cielo - Ennio Morricone

A wonderful piece of work - similar to Nostromo in several ways (one cue is almost comically similar to "The Tropical Variation") and to Secret of the Sahara in others. This would be on everyone's list of favourite scores of the 90s had it been written by an American composer for an American film.

POWSTANIE WARSZAWSKIE (WARSAW UPRISING) - Bartosz Chajdecki

I got to hear this score today for the first time. Fans of Chajdecki's work last year will be pleased with this one. That opening track is great - it's a solid theme first elegantly and then powerfully presented on strings. It's one of the best pieces I've heard this year. The rest of the score is high quality, too, with some interesting musical choices. There's some interest ambient sound going on in the third track that Thor will probably enjoy a lot (and not just Thor, but he's who I thought of listening to it). Chajdecki incorporates something like an accordion (it seems like there are a few instruments like that but I'm ignorant of all of them) in a cool way in one track, as well as electric guitar through much of the score under the orchestra in a way that reminded me a little of parts of inception. The reappearance of the main theme in the final track includes the guitar and drums which makes it quite distinct from its orchestration in the first track. The penultimate track is tragic, as befits the subject matter. This is a strong score and will probably end up in my top ten for the year.

NP : MALEFICENT - James Newton Howard



So far, 10 minutes in and I like what I hear.

As I mentioned in the other thread, I think the album does teter off after a great opening, especially as far as thematic material is concerned, but there are many good tracks. The overall balance also seems well thought out (the action with the calm), so they've tried to carefully construct a listening experience.

Although I'm not totally won over, this does seem to be closer to his former self than most else of what he's been doing in the last 10 years or so.

10^6 Ways to Die in the West - Joel McNeely

Extremely enjoyable. Elmer pastiche for much of it, Williams-style action later on.

I really liked their score to WATCH OUT WE'RE MAD, very catchy stuff.

MALEFICENT - James Newton Howard

There's some wonderful highlights here (I especially enjoy the taut action cue "Maleficent is Captured") but the CD is way too long, per usual these days. Need to do some trimming.

I don't agree with you here at all. I thought this album held up PERFECTLY from start to finish. I didn't want to end actually. Sublime music!

-Erik-

"Execution and Attack" is one of my top cues from last year. This was my introduction to Badalamenti and even though I know it's not exactly representative of his style, my interest in him has definitely been piqued.

NP: The Sea Wolf / The Adventures of Robin Hood / The Sea Hawk
The Film Music of Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Volume I and II. Rumon Gamba conducting the BBC Philharmonics

It's my third re-recording of The Sea Hawk, beyond Kujan and Stromberg, the Suite recorded by Gerhardt not counting. I love the sound of these Chandos recordings. And I believe I prefer the more compact presentation of the score to the complete recording on Naxxos, great as it is.

Volker

NP : WALKING WITH DINOSAURS 3D - Paul Leonard-Morgan



NOT to be confused with Benjamin Bartlett's utterly fantastic score to the BBC groundbreaking series.

I listened to this on Spotify and there are a few good bits, there's even a Spaggetti Western pastiche ( not so good ). I doubt I'll return to this and I should have known a film about talking Dinosaurs fer cripes sake would only bode ill for me.

Edge of Tomorrow - Christophe Beck

Absolutely terrible.

He's gone into that mode a few times, and I always like his scores like that far more than his normal stuff. STANDING UP, THE GREATEST GAME..., and PARTITION are all quite good, IMO.

Maleficent - Howard

Most entertaining.