CD Reviews: Touching the Void and Trade Offs
Touching the Void *** 1/2
ALEX HEFFES
Harkit HRKCD 8084
14 tracks - 42:34
Touching the Void is a film
from Oscar-winning director Kevin MacDonald (One Day in September, 2000) that
tells the tale of Joe Simpson and Simon Yates. In 1985, the two men
attempted to climb Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. This
documentary, based on Simpson's best-selling book, premiered at last
year's Toronto Film Festival to critical acclaim.
Alex Heffes' score for is a wondrous blend of Romantic orchestral
writing that captures your attention from the opening bars of the main
title. "Approaching Siula Grande" has an arching thematic idea
reminiscent of Goldsmith's Star Trek
sound, and is a recurring element in the score. "The Storm" adds more
techno-related backgrounds that reminded me of Gregson-Williams' action
music. Other structures will have a sound that will seem like they are
kindred spirits to Howard Shore's slowly moving harmonic patterns for
films like The Cell. The
nearly nine-minute "Himalayan Flight" is an amazing wordless choral
work featuring the Overtone Choir. There are also more atmospheric,
ethnic tracks that accompany vast vistas of the Peruvian mountains, and
no doubt assist in making the slow trek up the mountains seem more full
of adventure than it otherwise might have.
Documentary scores rarely get the kind of loving attention that Touching the Void
receives. -- Steven A. Kennedy
Trade Offs ****
DAVID HELPING
Spotted Peccary
25 tracks - 52:40
Composer David Helpling has already released two critically acclaimed
albums on the Spotted Peccary label: Between
Green And Blue (1996) and Sleeping
On The Edge Of The World (1999). His latest CD is the score to
the 2003 independent film Trade Offs.
Helpling has a style that some may find similar to the music of
multi-instrumentalist Patrick O'Hearn, but on this particular score we
find more than a small hint of what is now known as the Thomas
Newman-sound. This listener got several American Beauty-flashbacks while
listening to Trade Offs, but
at the same time Helpling has a warm, personal undercurrent in his
music, making the score very listenable and relaxing.
The "Opening Titles" set the tone, while tracks like "Home" and
"Looking For Answers/Library" develop the Newman-style. "A Forbidden
Friendship" and "The Note" are powerful and passionate, with effective,
pounding drums in the background. Helpling performs most of the
music himself, but he also brings in soloists like indian singer
Nidhi Bhatmuley, violinist Todd Kennemer and flutist Greg Klamt.
There are many short cues on the album, but "Girl Talk"
is an example of a track that is allowed to develop over several
minutes, and it shows the composer's melodic gift. Some of the music is
up-tempo and almost dance-influenced, which gives certain tracks a more
commercial feel.
In all, a pleasant effort from a talented composer/keyboardist. This
25-track version is available through the composer's website www.dhmmusicdesign.com by
request only. There is a slightly shorter version of the album (19
tracks - 44:00) that comes free with purchase of the Trade Offs DVD at http://www.indiaplaza.com.
-- Jon Aanensen
MailBag@filmscoremonthly.com
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