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Posted: |
Oct 12, 2022 - 10:51 PM
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By: |
MatthewP
(Member)
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https://lalalandrecords.com/overwhelm-the-sky-limited-edition/
There's a mention or two of this score in their LLL 20% sale thread (I think Yavar raises some interest in this release but 95% of it revolves around Zimmer's Ring)* but I thought I'd start a new, separate one, for any future discussion about this score/CD.
It's a gamble to release a CD for a little known film from an unheard of composer these days.
Most crash and burn, sales wise. Hell, even some well-known composers can't shift that many units!!
I've just played the samples at their site and was surprised to hear the cues from the title score containing whiffs of the modernistic approach ala Alex North and Jerry Goldsmith within them.
And this from a 2017 film!!
Conversely, the snippets from the other score (TORCH) sounded akin to something Michael Convertino might write.
Much more sweeter and melodic.
Both sounded fully orchestral and didn't seem to have that 'programmed-in' boxed off writing endemic of most modern film scores.
I may well add this CD to my next Intrada order, as the samples have done exactly what they should do, which is to sell this release to curious or prospective listeners or buyers.
I would have liked to buy it directly from LLL, but even with the 20% off, the savings are minimal** and are actually outweighed when compared to my ordering 6-8 discs from Intrada within a future order.
* 
**no thanks to the awful exchange rate between the sterling and dollar at the moment.
I wrote this in the earlier LLL 20% sale thread, but I'll say it again. As the co-producer of the OVERWHELM THE SKY album, obviously I'm more than slightly biased as it's a project that I worked hard on for well over a year. As a film score fan first, I understand this as much as anyone - unknown scores by unknown composers is a tough sell these days. I don't know exactly why, but it is. I remember the days 10, 15, 20 years ago when I would buy scores sight unseen, not knowing the composers work, and being richly rewarded, but those days seem to be gone. I have shelves with well over 5,000 score cd's and at least a quarter or more are albums to films I've never seen and scores I'd never heard prior to buying it. But, times and quality changes. Heck I rarely buy new scores for major films anymore - probably haven't in a few years. The overall quality and originality just isn't there. It all sounds either insanely generic, like Zimmer or a Zimmer clone, or drone-y sonic wallpaper. The one thing I will say about Dafnis' OVERWHELM THE SKY is that is it doesn't sound like any of those - it's a truly original score and that's what drew me to it and what made me champion its release. The guys at La-La Land, put their money where there mouth is and released this little score to an almost unknown film that didn't even get a chance to get a theatrical release due to COVID. I worked tirelessly on the album, knowing full well that most likely it would get lost in the shuffle or ignored by the majority of "film score fans", but for those willing to take a chance on an off the beaten path score - one that if you're expecting a huge Hollywood-esque score with massive themes, it's not going to be your cup of tea. But if you're open to something a little different, this challenging score will be rewarding (I think). The fact that this score to a micro budget movie even got a cd release today is a minor miracle and hopefully enough people will take a chance and buy it.
For those still potentially on the fence or contemplating, this Thursday, October 13th at 7pm UK time (11am pacific/2pm eastern time, The great Tim Burden will feature a selection of composer Costas Dafnis' score from OVERWHELM THE SKY on his radio show MOVIE MAGIC. You can listen/stream the program live at www.belfast247onair.com. The program also replays on Sundays at the same time. Give it a listen and maybe you'll hear something that grabs your attention.
Yes, I'm obviously biased and it's impossible to remain impartial on the subject of the album/score as I put my heart and soul into producing the album, and I would never try to force anyone to buy something they don't want to, and I know times are tight money wise for many of us. I am a film score fan first - always have been and always will be, and rather than listen to people on the message boards and social media whine, bitch and complain lamenting the lack of quality in film music today (of which I generally agree is the case), all I'd say is there's still some wonderful stuff out there to be found and worth seeking out and I hope everyone here at least gives OVERWHELM THE SKY a chance and perhaps it'll win you over.
-MP
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Posted: |
Oct 13, 2022 - 4:59 AM
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By: |
Urs Lesse
(Member)
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For those still potentially on the fence or contemplating, this Thursday, October 13th at 7pm UK time (11am pacific/2pm eastern time, The great Tim Burden will feature a selection of composer Costas Dafnis' score from OVERWHELM THE SKY on his radio show MOVIE MAGIC. You can listen/stream the program live at www.belfast247onair.com. The program also replays on Sundays at the same time. Give it a listen and maybe you'll hear something that grabs your attention.
Thanks a lot for the heads-up Just in time for me, although to be honest, I'm not on the fence anymore, just waiting until I have a more sizable CD order to save on shipping costs and the like. Shipping especially from the USA to Europe (but, to a lesser extent, also within Europe) has become so expensive that I am bundling my orders more than ever now, and I think that's the case with many other European buyers, too. So if OTS is not moving many copies yet, this might still come.
Samples sound very, very promising. Will set an alarm to make sure to tune in at 20:00 German time tonight.
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Same here Urs.
I've got an Intrada package in transit, with 6-7 CD's made up of my 'Most Wanted' recent titles (including WILLOW...Finally!!!).
This CD will more than likely be part of my next Intrada order, together with whatever the likes of Intrada, LLL, Quartet, Music Box, BSX et al announce in the coming weeks/months.
Times are tough, even for us people with spare money!!
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Posted: |
Oct 13, 2022 - 7:27 AM
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By: |
MatthewP
(Member)
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Same here Urs.
I've got an Intrada package in transit, with 6-7 CD's made up of my 'Most Wanted' recent titles (including WILLOW...Finally!!!).
This CD will more than likely be part of my next Intrada order, together with whatever the likes of Intrada, LLL, Quartet, Music Box, BSX et al announce in the coming weeks/months.
Times are tough, even for us people with spare money!!
Trust me, I know times are tough and money can be very tight for many of us, so I understand the hesitation in buying something you’re familiar with versus something that you don’t know… I get it. I just hope that people are willing and able to take more risks on the smaller/lesser known stuff. Believe me, I know it’s a tough call sometimes (especially these days) when we have limited disposable income and this was always gonna be “The Little Project That Could” and I truly appreciate and am happy every time I see someone going out on a limb and grabbing a copy. It makes all the hard work worth it, so thanks guys.
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I hope it does well, Matthew.
The thing that clinched it for me was the contrast between the two scores.
From the darker, more intense modern/classical sounding OTS to the sweeter, melodic music from the TORCH score.
It's cool that suites from this other score were included too.
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Posted: |
Oct 13, 2022 - 8:19 AM
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By: |
MatthewP
(Member)
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I hope it does well, Matthew.
The thing that clinched it for me was the contrast between the two scores.
From the darker, more intense modern/classical sounding OTS to the sweeter, melodic music from the TORCH score.
It's cool that suites from this other score were included too.
Thanks! TORCH, while definitely the lighter, more “traditional” of the two scores does have some darker moments. Assembling the suite was quite a challenge, my original intention was to include no more than 10-12 minutes, but as it progressed and working with the composer it changed (cues moved in/out/around and grew to nearly 20 minutes. In the end, the way it was constructed, with its ups and downs I felt worked best. It almost plays like a little symphony.
OVERWHELM was its own challenge in assembling/arranging because the score on album is different than the score in the film. On album there’s about 40 minutes of score. The film is nearly three hours long with many repeated cues or cues that are only slight variations to elicit a feeling or memory of a scene or character from earlier. There’s also songs, source cues, some classical tracks that blend with the score and play an important role in the narrative. There were also some other cues that were built by the director editorially that layered cues upon each other and added SFX and voices (some I tried to include on the album, but for certain reasons wasn’t able to). So, in the end the album in some ways functions a little like a concept album, rather than a straight representation of how the score plays in the film.
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I hope people will check the album out. Really interesting music by a really talented composer, and a mile away from other current film music (not saying that in any negative way toward current film music, just saying it because it is!)
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Thanks for the heads up.
I've just included it in an order with the good folks at the triple L.
I'll report back with my thoughts upon playback.
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