CD Reviews: K-Pax, Mythodea and Bruce Broughton Concert Work
by Nick Joy
K-PAX *** 1/2
EDWARD SHEARMUR
Decca 440 016 192-2
12 tracks - 43:19
Edward Shearmur is an enigma. Just when you think that you've tied down
his particular "sound," he shifts approach and surprises you by throwing
in something new from leftfield. From the period drama of Wings of a
Dove to the schlock horror of Species II or overblown high drama
of Charlie's Angels, this guy is a chameleon. To prove the point,
his score to the Kevin Spacey "Is he or isn't he an alien" chart-topper
is an electronic opus. A throwback to the mid- '80s, this score might be
retro in style, but in no way is it a retro step for the composer.
I hesitate in using the word "ambient," but ultimately that's the best
description of this selection of chill-out tracks that are predominantly
structured around simple piano melodies with synth backing. Not dissimilar
to Thomas Newman's score to previous Spacey drama American Beauty (did
they temp this film with a Newman extravaganza?) the music also harks back
to Jack Nitzsche's thematically-linked Starman. But this is a more
robust multi-layered composition that works equally well away from the
screen. Sure, read the listing and then deconstruct tracks as you try to
recall how the music served the movie, but add another dimension to your
listening experience by listening to it "cold" and appreciating it as a
mood piece.
If you yearn for those halcyon days when Pink Floyd set the tone for
a generation, and cutting-edge soundtracks featured Christopher Franke
and his fellow Tangerine Dreamers pounding away at the keyboards, this
is a must-buy. It's a frothy feel-good experience and, what's more, a good
way to get a legal high.
Mythodea - Music for the NASA Mission: 2001 Mars Odyssey *** 1/2
VANGELIS
Sony Classical SK 89191
11 tracks - 62:50
OK, so Mythodea isn't a movie or TV score, which raises questions
as to what it's doing in FSM. But with a solid body of film work
behind him, surely any new project by Vangelis is worthy of mention. In
any event, this transcends mere movie soundtracks; it has the loftier ambition
of being a soundtrack for the stars -- specifically the Red Planet of Mars.
Commissioned by NASA as a theme to their 2001 Mars Odyssey program (and
there's plenty to read about this in the copious liner notes) Mythodea
has the distinction of keeping one foot in the past, with another in the
future, and this makes for some intriguing juxtaposition. The space program
is, by definition, a forward-looking exploration of the stars, yet by the
Greek composer's own admission, his theme music is rooted to his homeland's
rich mythical heritage.
And perhaps this is why the music is so typically Vangelis -- another
rich fusion of modern electronic passages that use ancient musical structures
as their cue. As ably demonstrated in 1492: Conquest of Paradise,
the composer has no qualms in using contemporary music for historical subject
matter, though this time he uses a classical approach to underscore a futuristic
setting. The two timeframes are interchangeable, and ultimately the subject
matter of "discovering the unknown" is timeless.
Vangelis has taken the opportunity in this project to branch out beyond
his keyboards by employing soloists Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman and
the London Metropolitan Orchestra. "The Introduction" is an intriguing
series of beeps, whistles and textures more suited to a sound effects record,
but then the project takes flight with "Movement 1," a grandiose fusion
of 1492 and El Greco but with the added accompaniment of
the orchestra. Arguably, the big orchestra sound might alienate some fans
who are uncomfortable with the keyboard wizard delegating responsibilities
to other musicians, but it's a glorious sound. And while "Movement" 1 throws
everything into the mix, subsequent tracks feature the orchestra, choir
and soloists in different capacities.
Following on from The Bounty and 1492, Vangelis embarks
on another voyage of discovery. What a shame that the same approach wasn't
adopted when that sappy song was chosen for Enterprise. It's not
quite "Vangelis Unplugged" (now that would be interesting) but the inclusion
of acoustic instrumentation reveals a welcome previously unseen side to
the synth maestro.
Three Friends - The Music of Ian Krouse & Bruce Broughton, The
Debussy Trio ***
BRUCE BROUGHTON, VARIOUS
RCM 12003
13 Tracks- 55:03
A brief mention for this disc which features the World Premiere Recording
of Bruce Broughton's 1999 non-soundtrack suite Tyvek Wood. Clocking
in at 18:41, the three-track movement leaps straight into "Fast, with energy,"
an initially frantic journey up and down the scales by harpist Marcia Dickstein,
violist David Walther and flautist Angela Wiegand. "Reflectively expressive;
dreamlike" and "Quick and determined" live up to their descriptions, and
the trio of musician's tackle the Silverado composer's material
with gusto and accomplished aplomb. Recommended with reservations for FSM
readers, if only because it's light years away (literally) from the
likes of Broughton's Lost in Space. But it's a revelation for serious
music fans who thought the composer's range was limited to biblical TV
movies or wild westerns.
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