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| This is a comments thread about FSM CD: The View From Pompey's Head/Blue Denim |
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Hey, I see that nobody's received their copy of this yet and that I am the first to comment. Mind you, it was only released in 2001, and what with strikes, winter snow and things like that, if I were you I'd wait just a few more weeks before you start complaining to Lukas Kendal. He is NOT the postman, FFS!
And so there I was, pondering over the futility of my life, when I thought - as I do three times a year - that I'd fill that existential void and order some CDs THAT I MIGHT NOT EVEN LIKE. That really made me shiver with excitement. I felt almost alive again.
Bernstein and Herrmann are two composers who run hot and cold with me. I adore some of their work, but I feel I've grown away from about 50% of it, for whatever reason. But just reading through the great liner notes by Christopher Husted had me break sweat for the first time since 1963. I'd forgotten how much I love the FSM releases - reading up on the background to the films, following the track-by-track analyses while listening for the first time...
And so it came to pass that I realised that I had put off getting this combo for so long just because there was always something else to do. And THE VIEW FROM POMPEY'S HEAD sounded like it might be Elmer at his soapy sudsy "best", from the era of sobbing violins. And on first listen, I did detect those soap-suds, but I thought they were wonderful. Even the rapturous crescendos for when people kiss (I suppose that's what was happening). I love it all. It's also very like FAR FROM HEAVEN, which is kind of logical.
BLUE DENIM is classed as "Baby VERTIGO". I'm glad I haven't seen the film. I've made up a better one in my head. Yes, Herrmann (from what I gather) was probably too overblown in his approach to this. But it's GREAT Herrmann. If VERTIGO is great, so is this. It's just probably for the wrong film.
A few more observations before you pass out - For THE VIEW FROM POMPEY'S HEAD, the CD credits Fred Steiner with the orchestrations. At FSM's online link to the CD info, it states "Orchestrator Ed Powell", presumably Edward B. Powell. For BLUE DENIM, the CD says "Orchestrations by Bernard Herrmann" (as would be expected). The online link states "Arranger Earle Hagen". Can anyone clarify those enigmas? Thanx!
Looking forward to your own comments when the CD arrives on your doorstep at Christmas!
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