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 Posted:   Oct 24, 2023 - 6:35 AM   
 By:   Hurdy Gurdy   (Member)

Mother Of Miracles!!!!
They had a copy of this...ON CD...in the HMSweetShop in Liverpool, for the same price as an on-line copy too!
Although it was hiding amongst the Spoken Word section, near the end of the Soundtracks aisle confused

Anyway...it's mine now...and thoughts and feelings may well follow.

 
 
 Posted:   Oct 24, 2023 - 7:38 AM   
 By:   Hurdy Gurdy   (Member)

Status Report...

SIGNS is great and that 2nd cue (Mike notes above) is fantastic. Had me on the verge of tears.
Quite low-key selection from SIGNS though, missing the striking Main Titles and stonking bits from Hand Of Fate.
THE VILLAGE was quite disappointing.
I think I expected the most from that one, but it meandered along and was finished before I noticed it.
Again, missing some of the stand-out moments of the OST.
Nice tracks from THE SIXTH SENSE...I always forget how truly lovely and bittersweet that Finale/Love Theme is.
I absolutely LOVE LADY IN THE WATER score. It actually makes me think the film is good (or certainly better than it is) when I play the soundtrack. I really enjoyed the 4 tracks from this film, even if, again, the greatest stuff is on the OST. Nice renditions though...I will return to this often.
While UNBREAKABLE has never been a fave JNH/MNS score for me, I really like the 2 tracks on here cos the sound quality whups the miserable sounding score/OST CD that puts me off playing it. So...recommended.
I've never had much time for THE HAPPENING, a truly terrible film and one I always feel even JNH couldn't muster much inspiration for...or save. The 3 tracks here are okay, but nothing really stands out (I remember liking the Finale cue 'Be With You' on the score CD). It's been turned into a bit of a cello concerto here, which is cool, but thematically, it's still one of the weakest on this album.
AFTER EARTH, a film I've never been able to sit through when it's being shown on the telly, is another weaker/tame effort from JNH for MNS. The one cue represented here has been transformed into a (mainly) piano and choir piece that sounds more like something from his recent fantasy efforts (MALEFICENT, the FANTASTIC BEASTS films). I don't remember owt like it on the score album/OST, but this version is very nice indeed.
Flow Like Water from THE LAST AIRBENDER is one of my favourite cues from JNH for MNS. I've never seen the film, but I like the OST score album. Here, it's been scaled down to a delicate solo piano piece and it's really nice to hear this stripped down version, as a nice contrast to the EPIC version on the original album.
It does mean this album ends with a bit of a whimper, but overall, this is a nice 71 minute set that I will play on many more occasions, even if the original OST's will still be my Go-To versions, for their extra music and definitive representations (at least until the Expanded Editions come out).

 
 
 Posted:   Oct 24, 2023 - 8:32 AM   
 By:   Hurdy Gurdy   (Member)

From listening to this CD, one would think MNS has directed a series of romantic dramas, based on the tracks and performances by JNH herein.
It's a very smooth and soothing album, with nary a note of discord to be heard.
Sweet dreams!

 
 
 Posted:   Oct 24, 2023 - 8:54 AM   
 By:   Spymaster   (Member)

Mixed feelings on this one. It came, it floated gently past my consciousness, it left. It wasn't bad, it just didn't leave much of an impression at all, but then neither does JNH in general these days.

The recording has that same frustrating softness as do many of his soundtrack recordings.

 
 
 Posted:   Oct 24, 2023 - 5:19 PM   
 By:   TerraEpon   (Member)

Mixed feelings on this one. It came, it floated gently past my consciousness, it left. It wasn't bad, it just didn't leave much of an impression at all,

Yeah same. It's fine but it didn't hit the right.....oomph.....for me.

 
 
 Posted:   Oct 24, 2023 - 10:41 PM   
 By:   keky   (Member)

I only sampled the album on Spotify but planning to buy the CD. It sounds nice but, yes, some of the greatest moments of the original scores are lost due to the "bare" orchestration here (mainly piano solos). But as JNH told in an interview that was his intention, to offer a soothing, meditative experience with the album and it seems he managed to do just that.

 
 
 Posted:   Oct 25, 2023 - 1:49 AM   
 By:   Thor   (Member)

Love the album. The soothing aspect, as many of you allude to, is the main draw for me here. It's that kind of music I mostly listen to these days. If it makes most people fall asleep, it's probably pitch perfect for me!

 
 Posted:   Oct 25, 2023 - 4:52 AM   
 By:   Nicolai P. Zwar   (Member)

I enjoyed it, it's quite interesting how Howard made a new album out of the various different film scores. So it does not feel like a "compilation" album, but rather like a new cohesive whole. Very good performances. Yes, it's more a soothing, meditative album, and it works well as such. I like the reduced orchestration and the focus on piano and violin. I have all these scores in other formats, and I enjoy how the material was re-worked to make a new album, rather than just a selection of tracks from already existing albums.

 
 Posted:   Nov 25, 2023 - 10:51 AM   
 By:   Hitch22   (Member)

It finally arrived! Hoeray! Now, did I expected a little bit more from this cd? Perhaps... But I must say, I really love the idea behind it, serving as a "best of", yet remaining fresh. I wish more composers would reimagine a selection of their older arrangements. Wouldn't mind a John Williams / Steven Spielberg or a Thomas Newman / Sam Mendes album. smile

 
 
 Posted:   Nov 25, 2023 - 4:01 PM   
 By:   Smaug   (Member)

Mixed feelings on this one. It came, it floated gently past my consciousness, it left. It wasn't bad, it just didn't leave much of an impression at all, but then neither does JNH in general these days.

The recording has that same frustrating softness as do many of his soundtrack recordings.


Yeah, I have listened three times. Each time my attention waned about 10 minutes in. I stuck with it but it never recovered. The width of the musical language/gestures is just so slim, and the dynamics too.

I would figure if you are gonna foot the bill to record an hour if your own music with top flight in-demand soloists, you might “go for it.” Maybe even write something new.

I always look forward to these kind of albums and re-records in general because they give a hint of what the concert arrangements actually be like (or in some cases what printed scores might exist at all). Also it’s an invitation for the composers to really put together something that might work in the concert hall, I.e. something to hold a listeners attention.

He’s got some good stuff from over the years. It seems like a missed opportunity to me.

 
 
 Posted:   Jan 3, 2024 - 12:46 PM   
 By:   scatmanjack   (Member)


Nice podcast interview that JNH did for this release...

https://www.yourclassical.org/episode/2023/11/01/new-classical-tracks

 
 
 Posted:   Jan 3, 2024 - 1:41 PM   
 By:   Jus678PJ   (Member)

This is a nice collectible piece but as far as a listening experience it’s mainly for casual film music fans, hardcore fans will not like this and will want to stick to listening to the actual original score recordings. Buy it as cheap as possible for your collection.

 
 
 Posted:   Jan 3, 2024 - 1:47 PM   
 By:   Martin B.   (Member)

This is a nice collectible piece but as far as a listening experience it’s mainly for casual film music fans, hardcore fans will not like this and will want to stick to listening to the actual original score recordings. Buy it as cheap as possible for your collection.

You say that, but I’m one of the biggest lovers of his scores featured here, and I adore this album. Sure it’s a very different experience listening to this, but that’s not a bad thing.
I love these more stripped back versions, and this whole album plays beautifully. It’s a very relaxing, listening experience.

 
 Posted:   Jan 3, 2024 - 1:52 PM   
 By:   richsto   (Member)

This is a nice collectible piece but as far as a listening experience it’s mainly for casual film music fans, hardcore fans will not like this and will want to stick to listening to the actual original score recordings. Buy it as cheap as possible for your collection.

You say that, but I’m one of the biggest lovers of his scores featured here, and I adore this album. Sure it’s a very different experience listening to this, but that’s not a bad thing.
I love these more stripped back versions, and this whole album plays beautifully. It’s a very relaxing, listening experience.



Couldn’t agree more, such a nice alternate interpretation and listen. Stumbled onto this one via Qobuz, purchased the hi-rez and now it’s in frequent rotation. Super relaxing and love the music. Two thumbs up!

Rich

 
 
 Posted:   Jan 3, 2024 - 2:05 PM   
 By:   BrenKel   (Member)

Nice podcast interview that JNH did for this release...

https://www.yourclassical.org/episode/2023/11/01/new-classical-tracks


Thank you for sharing. Really enjoyed listening to it.

 
 
 Posted:   Jan 3, 2024 - 2:06 PM   
 By:   BrenKel   (Member)

This is a nice collectible piece but as far as a listening experience it’s mainly for casual film music fans, hardcore fans will not like this and will want to stick to listening to the actual original score recordings. Buy it as cheap as possible for your collection.

You say that, but I’m one of the biggest lovers of his scores featured here, and I adore this album. Sure it’s a very different experience listening to this, but that’s not a bad thing.
I love these more stripped back versions, and this whole album plays beautifully. It’s a very relaxing, listening experience.



Couldn’t agree more, such a nice alternate interpretation and listen. Stumbled onto this one via Qobuz, purchased the hi-rez and now it’s in frequent rotation. Super relaxing and love the music. Two thumbs up!

Rich


Totally agree with both of you. I am a hard core film music listener and love this interpretation of the scores.

 
 
 Posted:   Jan 3, 2024 - 2:07 PM   
 By:   BrenKel   (Member)

This is a nice collectible piece but as far as a listening experience it’s mainly for casual film music fans, hardcore fans will not like this and will want to stick to listening to the actual original score recordings. Buy it as cheap as possible for your collection.

In my very humble opinion I don’t agree.

 
 Posted:   Jan 3, 2024 - 2:10 PM   
 By:   Nicolai P. Zwar   (Member)

I don't even know what a "hard core" film music listener is supposed to be?

 
 
 Posted:   Jan 3, 2024 - 2:22 PM   
 By:   MichaelM   (Member)

I don't even know what a "hard core" film music listener is supposed to be?

Someone who listens to porn music? …but only the original recordings, no new interpretations!

 
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