VIY.

Composer Anton Garcia (not to be confused with Anton Garcia Abril), is a relative newcomer to the world of film scoring, he began his musical career as a member of the thrash band SHAH in Russia who over a period of a few years had numerous hits and became one of that countries most popular and successful bands. After the members of SHAH went their separate ways Anton Garcia turned to music production as a career and worked on a number of albums for high profile artists. As well as producing albums he also contributed to their content with compositions and lyrics. It was at this time that the composer/producer began to work on a number of advertisements which were mainly for television providing these with music that was supportive and also quick to establish itself thus creating a link between watching audiences and the product the ad was for, this eventually led to the composer working on motion pictures. His most recent scoring assignment is for the Russian/German/Ukrainian/Czech co-production of VIY. Which stars Jason Flemyng and Charles Dance. The movie which is a fantasy/thriller/horror has been successful in Eastern Europe and there is now a sequel being planned. VIY started production in 2009, but after numerous halts in filming which were mainly due to lack of funding the movie was not completed until 2012, eventually reaching cinemas in Russia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan in 2014. The musical score is a pulsating and commanding work which is a large scale affair being performed by symphony orchestra and synthetic support, it is filled to brimming with rich and vibrant thematic material, that switches from full on powerful action music to tender sounding tone poems and is underlined with an atmosphere that simply oozes mystery and menace which Garcia creates by combining strings, woodwind and choral components. In many ways his score is a contemporary take on the soundtracks from bygone days that adorned many a Hollywood production filled with luxurious, haunting and lush themes that gave greater impact and depth to scenes and scenarios on screen. Garcia fashions a highly entertaining score which utilises both the brass and string sections to their maximum, with percussion, woodwind and choir ably supporting throughout. The composer utilises jagged sounding brass stabs and flourishes to purvey a sense of urgency, with strings creating a driving, relentless and robust foundation and at the same time provide a dark and sombre mood to some of the cues. Garcia builds his score on a foundation of brass and strings with the choral parts further enhancing the dark atmosphere giving it a far more foreboding presence which is at times malevolent in its presentation and sound.

The music is for much of the scores duration tense and urgently fraught but it does however posses a beauty that shines through the more dissonant/action material revealing the works gloriously melodic heart of the which is poignant, frail, graceful and emotive. This is a powerhouse of a soundtrack and one which any self respecting film music collector should own. This is a swashbuckling, adventurous work which has certain affiliations and similarities with other film scores such as CUTTHROAT ISLAND, YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN and at times evoked memories of both Goldsmith and Barry and is a score that I know will bring much satisfaction to many. Anton Garcia is a composer that one should make note of as I am confident we will be hearing more of him and his music. Available soon on Kronos records,highly recommended