CD Reviews: Craig Armstrong As if to Nothing and Moulin Rouge 2
As if to Nothing ****
CRAIG ARMSTRONG
Melankolic Virgin CDSADDJY13
15 tracks - 68:53
OK, so it's not a soundtrack album, but as the composer's fans will
tell you, Craig Armstrong's work is cinematic in breadth and approach,
and this also sneaks in to FSM by virtue of its re-arrangement of
the Faraway, So Close! soundtrack song "Stay." A follow-up to Armstrong's
1996 non-soundtrack album The Space Between Us, As if to Nothing
is a more accomplished release because of the stronger narrative that links
the tracks, and an impressive array of guest vocalists.
Soundtrack collectors looking for a "Best of" soundtrack compilation
will be disappointed. The Space Between Us featured "Balcony Scene"
from Romeo and Juliet, and so it seemed logical that this disc would
include pieces from The Bone Collector and Moulin Rouge!
Indeed, the title track from Kiss of the Dragon is "As if You Said
Nothing," and I assumed that it would feature on this album by way of word
association. I was wrong, but not disappointed. Once you've ditched your
pre-conception of what this album might be, and focus on what it actually
is, you'll be more than satisfied.
Armstrong has cited that the cuts on the album are all linked to the
first track ,"Ruthless Gravity," and exist within that same microcosm.
So, as you move across the album, you find threads weaving in and out of
what would otherwise be unrelated songs and movements. This isn't so much
a concept album as a disc with underlying journey supporting it.
Part of the composer's appeal is his skill in linking the unlinkable.
Witness Moulin Rouge!, where his re-arrangements allowed Bowie's
"Nature Boy" to credibly live in the same world as Elton John's "Your Song."
In As if to Nothing, Indian music, slow pop ballad, German Expressionism
and baroque vocals all sit by side. The laws of music would suggest that
these tracks won't work, but they do. And that's because a good melody
transcends all genres.
Looking at the individual tracks, "Ruthless Gravity" is a rich synth-symphonic
piece, embedded with the seeds of the latter pieces. "Wake up in New York"
is a glorious love song for the (post-September 11th?) Big Apple with gorgeous
vocals from Evan Dando (The Lemonheads) and is understandably is getting
a single release. Elsewhere, "Miracle" is a fusion of Swati Netahar's Eastern
vocals and the Glaswegian riffs of Mogwai, and "Waltz" has indie German
rocker Antye Greie-Fuchs chanting disconnected Teutonic words over the
synthesised melody. David McAlmont's silky vocals add a big James Bond
feel to the lavish "Snow," though my personal favorite is the optimistic
"Sea Song," with ethereal Julee Cruise-style vocals from Wendy Stubbs.
And as if to appease those looking for some trademark chorals, the experience
finishes with the oh-so-appropriately titled "Choral Ending."
Every one of these tracks would sit comfortably on one of Armstrong's
soundtrack albums, and collectively they paint a "big screen" vision of
an emotional journey. Eclectic, electronic, melodic and symphonic; is this
is something about nothing? I think not. -- Nick Joy
Moulin Rouge 2 ****
VARIOUS
Interscope 06949 3228 2
11 tracks - 42:54
Is it possible to enjoy a well-made, beautifully produced CD less because
of what's not there? In the case of Moulin Rouge, yes. This
second release of songs from the Baz Luhrmann musical extravaganza is a
vast improvement over the first CD. Not only are there less pop songs scattered
throughout the CD, but included are songs as they are heard in the movie,
as opposed to cleaned up versions. Included here are Satine's (Nicole Kidman)
opening number of "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend/Material Girl" (although
it's still not the entire number) and the beautiful duet "Come What May."
Also on this CD for the first time are two Jim Broadbent dominated songs:
the dramatic "The Show Must Go On" (originally recorded by Queen) and the
super-weird, but highly effective "Like a Virgin." My favorite inclusions
are the hyper-kinetic "The Pitch (Spectacular Spectacular)" and the beautiful
"Bolero" which is played during the end credits.
With all this bounty, why wouldn't anyone be satisfied? Because this
CD could have been so much better. Instead of an oddly hiccupy remix of
Kidman's "Someday I'll Fly Away," couldn't we get some of Kylie Minouge's
Blue Fairy song? And instead of two instrumental versions of "Your Song,,"
I would have preferred the inclusion of the great overture, which starts
with Alfred Newman's 20th Century Fox theme and then goes immediately into
"The Sound of Music." And where is the movie version of the"Smells Like
Teen Spirit/Lady Marmalade" medley?
Of course, the biggest part of this magical movie that's missing is
Craig Armstrong's score -- promo copies have been fetching big money on
auction sites. Moulin Rouge 2 does include the instrumental version
of Elton John's "Your Song," which Armstrong arranged, and "Ascension,"
(the only original music) paired with Ewan McGregor singing "Nature Boy."
Missing, however, is everything else, including Satine's beautiful theme.
This is not to say that there's a whole lot of original underscore (a lot
are instrumental versions of the pop songs), but at 45 minutes in length,
you would think the producers of the CD could add something else.
But then I remembered what one of my college professors tried to pound
into my head: "Write about what you see, not what you don't." So, with
that in mind, I have to say, this is a well made, highly listenable CD.
But, can't I please complain some more?? -- Cary Wong
MailBag@filmscoremonthly.com
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