Composer George Kallis has over the past few years established himself as a composer who is not only talented and gifted in creating rich and thematic film scores, but also has become a composer who film music collectors and fans look to for inventive and innovative soundtracks. One of his recent assignments is First Love, which is a beautifully crafted work that beguiles and mesmerizes via its delicate and affecting compositions, it is a score that is brimming with emotion, overflowing with poignancy and possess deep emotive musical foundations on which the composer shapes and builds the remainder of his ingratiating score. His haunting tone poems are filled with a fragility that one cannot fail to be affected by, the light and melodic airs are like wispy soft strokes from a paint brush that is adding colour and texture to a canvas, the composer drawing his simple but absorbing notes from a palette that is crammed with so many notions and creative auras.
The score is a delight to listen to, it purveys a sense of fragility, and conveys a heartfelt and heart melting sound. The music is low key and understated but makes a lasting impression upon one. The score is performed in the main by piano and strings, with the composer introducing a sprinkling of electronic support here and there in cues such as Could’nt be Brighter, which for me had to it a slight nod to the work of both John Barry and Basil Poledouris, The theme rising but never fully developing fully thus leaving the listener on the edge of an emotion that has been building.
In other cues such as Big Changes, Empty House, and A Funeral the composer fashions music that is totally consuming because of its high level of emotional content, the latter utilizing the cello to create a melancholy musical persona.
With Empty House tugging at the heart strings via its charming and enchanting solo piano performance. The cue I Don’t Hate you is one of those rare moments in film music when the music envelops the listener even if they are not watching the movie, it floors you and gives you chills and teary eyes. The score is one you should add to your collection, it is a work of quality and one that I am confident will be returned to many times after the initial listen. Highly recommended and available on digital platforms.
MOVIE MUSIC INTERNATIONAL. (MMI) . 