Let’s head off to the land of new releases shall we, and news of soundtracks that are available and others that will be available soon. I notice that one track from composer Frank Dormani’s score for the short horror picture The Vents is available now on digital platforms, the tense and driving piece reminded me of the style employed by Christopher Young when he first started out scoring pictures such as Def Con 4 and Pranks, the fearsome and tense sounding piece is impressive, and although it only has a duration of one minute forty nine seconds, it makes one want to hear more.
I was hoping that the full score will be out soon, but the composer tells me that there will be no more music from the short, because it is just seven minutes long, so check out this cue as it is worth taking a listen. I for one am pleased that scores from horror movies are getting more coverage these days, after all back in the 1970’s we were hard pressed to find a soundtrack album for a horror movie in the racks at the local record store. There is such a wealth of interesting, complex and well written music in films of the horror variety, that it is only fitting that collectors should be able to savour it away from the images it was composed for.
One such score is due for release very soon on the Movie Score Media label, Sting contains an atmospheric soundtrack from composer Anna Drubich,
it’s a tantalising and jumpy sounding affair, the composer utilising symphonic and synthetic colours and textures within the work, the recording will not be available until April 12th, but its worth waiting for.
Anne Nikitin is a composer who never seems to slow down, after the success of her The Moonwalkers, Little Wing and I.S.S., we are treated to Mothers Instinct, which I feel has to it a Goldsmith/Herrmann sound, it certainly conjures up an atmosphere and mood of mystery, and that’s just in the opening cue Neighbours, this is a classy score, and one which I have to admit I adore just a little bit, its subdued, brooding and powerful having to it a style that infiltrates the listeners sub conscious and gets under the skin, its sensual and threatening interludes becoming haunting. Alice and Celine live a traditional lifestyle with successful husbands and sons of the same age. Life’s perfect harmony is suddenly shattered after a tragic accident. Guilt, suspicion and paranoia combine to unravel their sisterly bond. The score is available on digital platforms now.
New to Hulu is We Were the Lucky Ones, the theme from the series is available now on the likes of Spotify, and is the work of esteemed British composer Rachel Portman, the opening piece is a sophisticated and beguiling composition in which the composer utilises cello, piano and strings. Again, this bodes well for the remainder of the score which will also be available digitally soon.
There are some great scores out there at the moment, one of which is from the six-part Swedish TV series, Ronja the Robber’s Daughter, which has a score by composer Johan Sodervist, the composer is one of my own personal favourites and I still return regularly to his scores for Let the Right One In and Kontiki, his style is at times understated, but affecting, his music in this case underlining and adding punctuation to the scenarios on screen, the composer combining a traditional folk orientated style with that of the romantic and the dramatic. Recommended.
Plaza Mayor has released the entertaining score for the comedy Seize Them, which has a soundtrack by Rael Jones, again it’s a score that has a variety of styles and little quirky pieces throughout, the composer fashioning a score that is full of innovative and inventive compositions. The movie is also worth catching if you are a fan of satirical or silly comedy. Set in the dark ages in Britain. Queen Dagan is toppled by a revolution led by Humble Joan.
The Queen becomes a fugitive in her own land and is forced to endure hardship and danger as she embarks on a voyage to win back her throne. The composer utilises symphonic, electronic, driving percussive elements and voices to create a score that works wonderfully for the film and stands on its own as music that I know you will enjoy immensely. On digital platforms now.
Documentary scores are a genre of music that has also become more and more popular in the past decade or so, whether it’s a big BBC production as in the likes of those narrated by Sir David Attenborough or smaller independent films that are shorter and produced on a more meager budget, the music plays an important role and can either work as a background of continuous musical wallpaper or become integral to each piece of the production. Many years ago, I remember the films of Jacques Cousteau many of which were scored by John Scott, I particularly remember The Amazon, which contained a soundtrack that was effective and affecting.
A composer who in my opinion excels in writing music for documentaries or docu-dramas is Maximilien Mathevon. I first recall hearing his music for a film about Hammer movies, Terreur et glamour: Montée et déclin du studio Hammer and was impressed by the way he evoked the past soundtracks of the house of horror, whilst at the same time creating an original style, the two musical approaches being fused and integrated to fashion a powerful sound. His most recent soundtrack is from the documentary Robert et le Diable, which is on digital platforms now. Released via Plaza Mayor, this is a soundtrack realised by electronic and conventional components and is a fine example of the composers’ style and talent. I recommend that you check it out a.s.a.p.
La-La Land Records and Universal Studios present the nineteenth title within the acclaimed Universal Pictures Film Music Classics Collection as issued by La La Land. Death of a Gunfighter, with music by the distinguished jazz player and arranger Oliver Nelson is now available for the first time in any format, the acclaimed composers wonderfully supportive and creative score is paired on this release with his jungle-adventure score for Skullduggery which is also a world-premiere release. Nelson is one of the most distinct and underrated composers of the late ’60s and early ’70s, who sadly passed away far too early at the young age of 43. This release perfectly purveys Nelson’s many talents and his versatility. Also featured is the song “Sweet Apple Wine,” from Death of a Gunfighter, performed by one of the film’s stars, the great Lena Horne. Produced, mixed, edited and mastered by Mike Matessino from stereo vault elements, this special edition is limited to just 1500 copies.
The label has also released Sylvester Levay’s Navy Seals which is inventive, unique and effective, the composer fuses live orchestra and synths in this thematically charged, and brassy work. This edition utilises the stereo Intrada album for its main score presentation, which has been re-sequenced into film order and an effective re-creation of the end titles. The additional bonus mono cues are sourced from a mono 1/4″ tape provided by MGM. Produced by Neil S. Bulk and mastered by Doug Schwartz, this limited-edition CD release of 1000 units features exclusive, in-depth liner notes by author Jeff Bond, featuring new interview comments from the composer and art direction by Dan Goldwasser.
Intrada has released James Horner’s first film score, the 1979 gangster drama The Lady in Red. The producers and directors had a very specific vision for what the music should sound like: they wanted it to reflect the 1930s setting with a score that adapted songs from the period. This is most prominent in Horner’s adaptation of 42nd Street, composed by Harry Warren. James Horner was quite adept at scoring for jazz and big band ensembles throughout his prolific career. His adaptations and original jazz numbers are crisp and skilfully written. The dramatic music is scored for a modest orchestra of trumpets, trombones, acoustic guitars, woods, and percussion.
For this release, Intrada was able to access the 2″ 16-track 30 ips session masters, preserved in pristine condition and newly mixed down to two-track stereo, quite possibly for the first time as the film itself was only mixed in mono sound. Every instrument was recorded onto its own track on the masters, with one exception: the trombone. Given the prominence of the instrument in certain cues, we have positioned the tenor trombone on the left and the second on the right. The resulting timbre is both vibrant and exciting. The film follows the life of young Polly Franklin (Pamela Sue Martin) from her childhood with an abusive father, through prostitution, to her run-in with John Dillinger (Robert Conrad), a notorious American gangster of the Great Depression. The Lady In Red’s originality lies in its feminist interpretation of the gangster film.
Intrada has also released the iconic Danny Elfman soundtrack for Nightbreed, of which Elfman said. “Nightbreed was great fun, and I loved working with Clive Barker. But it was a real difficult score, 75 minutes with a lot of different styles, very dense, difficult music that was very challenging. But as always, the harder it is the more I love it.” Nightbreed not only marked Elfman’s dive into a nightmarish fever dream, but it also marked his first significant use of world music in a film score. South American pan flute, the shimmering beat of a Balinese gamelan and heated drumming all feature in this large orchestral work that is innovative and unique, but also still shines through as being the work of Danny Elfman.
At the time of the film’s release, MCA Records issued an LP record, and a CD became available later. Intrada was able to expand the album into a 2-CD set which is great news for all Elfman fans. The first disc features the complete score which has a duration of one hour and fifteen minutes. With the second disc featuring the original forty-six-minute album that the composer assembled back in 1990, as well as a suite of alternates. Worth adding to your collection.
Disney©+ are now streaming a new eight-part series entitled Renegade Nell, which is a curious but also an addictive watch. Accused of murder, Nell Jackson (Louisa Harland) finds herself forced to live on plunder and expedients with her two sisters. Helped by a brave spirit named Billy Blind, she realizes that fate has not led her astray by chance as she crosses paths with Queen Anne and plays a role in the power struggles that are being played out over the European battlefields.
Music is by two composers Oli Julian and Nick Foster, who have fashioned a score that is certainly different, the work includes folk sounding tracks that are accompanied by dark and sinister interludes, with choral work featuring large especially in the action scenes, the composers also utilising driving percussive elements throughout to add power and drama to the proceedings, which pushes the music forward at pace at times. There is an almost Pirates of the Caribbean style to a handful of the cues as in a jaunty drunken sounding style which is entertaining and works well within the series. The score is available now on digital platforms, its different but that I think is its appeal, I also recommend you look at the series.
Un Monde a Parte (A World Apart) is an Italian produced drama, in which we see a teacher Michele who has decided to leave Rome and move to a remote village in the national park of Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise. The small village of Rupe is an idyllic place all year round, but there are problems with the school in the village which is attended by very few pupils because of the location. Michele has applied to teach at the school but ends up trying to save it from closure. The charming musical score is the work of composer Piernicola Di Muro, who works his magic on the movie via well placed and punctuating quirky compositions, the album which is released by Cinevox records is available now on digital platforms.
Staying in Italy and to the crime TV series Se Pottessi Dirti Addio-which translates as If I Could say Goodbye to You. Elena, is a neuropsychiatrist, whose husband was killed and for whom she seeks justice. But she finds herself treating a man who has lost his memory. As the man heals, Elena discovers details about him that may have to do with her husband’s death. An intriguing watch with a score that is surprisingly tender and filled with melancholy, composer Paolo Vivaldi has written an emotive and romantic sounding work that is performed mainly by strings and piano, this thematic and richly poignant soundtrack at times evoked the style of John Lunn particularly his scores for Downton Abbey, the music being affecting and filled with melody.
There is also an underlying sound that for me at least has to it that Barry-esque sound, lilting melodies understated but at the same time powerful and emotional.
It also contains dramatic content that is just as attractive and haunting as in the cues Leak, and Unexpected Death, where driving strings are centre stage being augmented with electronic components, percussion and piano, as more strings perform an affecting theme that is overflowing with apprehension but soars to tragic near Operatic heights. This is a score I was really taken with and have returned to it many times already. Recommended.
Ten-year-old Kevin dreams of becoming a pilot, so he and his sister Jaimy can escape from their tyrannical father. But when Jaimy gets her hands on her brother’s brand-new model airplane, the bond between the two is put to the test. That’s the story for the three-minute animated short Aeronaut, which is scored by Arend Bruijn, the music has been released in the form of a single track on digital platforms, which has a duration of two minutes nineteen seconds. The composer has created a piece that evokes the style of the likes of Nino Rota when he scored such films as The Clowns, and Amacord, it just has that Italian sound and mood to it. The music also evokes shades of UP by Giacchino, it is emotional but at the same time quirky. Bruijn scored another short back in 2022 entitled Gnomes which I was impressed with, as he crammed so many different sounds and styles into a cue that ran for just over four minutes, the composer creating an innovative work that was filled with energy and inventiveness. Check him out on the likes of Spotify.
Animation again for the next score and to the 2023 TV series Fright Krewe, which is a twenty episode series. An ancient prophecy and a Voodoo Queen put misfit teens in charge of saving New Orleans from the biggest demonic threat it’s faced in almost two centuries. But, honestly? Saving the world might be easier than becoming friends. The impressive vibrant score for the series is the work of Zach Robinson, the music being fast moving, percussive led and full of action. The score is relentless and overflowing with driving themes that are exciting and exhilarating.
The composer utilising choral performances to great effect, combining dark sounding voices with full on racing percussion that is powered forward by strings. Check out some of his other scores on digital platforms such as Shelter in Place and Wrestlers. Impressive and recommended.
Gareth Coker is a composer that we mostly associate with game scores such as Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps, which are both outstanding. But his work for film is also worth listening to. Streaming on Paramount + now is ARK-The Animated Series. The composer does not disappoint with a score that is in a word epic. Symphonic and synthetic elements are fused seamlessly together sweeping themes, proud and thundering brass, and percussion flourishes, and effecting choral performances combine to offer up to the listener a totally consuming work.
The series features the voices of many well-known actors including Gerard Butler, Juliet Mills, Russel Crowe, Madeline Madden, and David Tennant. And is set in a mysterious primeval land populated by dinosaurs and other extinct creatures, people from throughout human history have been resurrected. When 21st century Australian palaeontologist Helena Walker awakes there after tragedy, she must learn to survive and find new allies, or die again at the hands of ruthless warlords, all the while trying to uncover the true nature of their strange new world. Like with all of the composers other scores it is at times hard to take on board that all this music comes from one production.
The action cues are brilliantly done and the more romantic styles he employs are lush lavish and at times opulent. But there is also an intimate and more personal sound to his work, the composer fashioning deeply affecting tone poems and music that does not just support a storyline but becomes a part of it. Highly recommended. Also check out the composer’s music on you tube, especially this which is one of his most recent.
In 1893, Segundo, a Chilean mestizo; MacLennan, an English army captain; and Bill, an American mercenary; embark on an expedition on horseback to delimit and reclaim the lands that the State has granted to José Menéndez. What appears to be an administrative expedition turns into a violent hunt for Onas, the natives of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago.
That’s the plot for the 2023 movie Los Colonos or The Settlers, which is directed by Felipe Gavez Haberle. The music is the work of Harry Allouche. The score is unusual, but I like it a lot. Personally,
I can hear the experimental style that we once associated with Morricone in the early days of the Italian western and also the style that was employed by Gianni Ferrio. The composer making effective use of percussion and brass throughout there are some great riding tracks within the score, that again do evoke western scores of old, this is a score well worth listening to as it is inventive and entertaining.
Apaches follows a young woman who infiltrates the criminal clan who killed her brother. Her plan: to murder each one of them one by one until she gets too close to their fascinating leader. Music for this crime drama is courtesy of Yves Gourmeur. The score is a varied one but has more than its fair share of nods to the Euro western, there are a handful of cues that are entertaining but there is really nothing original within the score that I can mention, available now on digital platforms go check it out. I think that’s all folks, until the next soundtrack supplement take care.
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