May 13, 2009

  • Review: Film Music 2008 (Silva)

    Somehow I still have not tracked down Silva's first "year-in-review" compilation disc from 2007, but the latest compilation is well worth seeking out.  All but one of the 12 tracks on the disc were conducted by producer James Fitzpatrick which tells you that you are in for an entertaining set of performances.

    Of greatest interest is the opening track "Roar!" a concert piece essentially which Giacchino wrote for Cloverfield.  Somehow this was a bit more impressive in the film credit role (big speakers and surround stereo can do that I suppose) but this premiere recording is quite good making the most of the Ifukube nods to Godzilla.  This turns out to be just the beginning to further fine selections.

    Music from Prince Caspian follows and feels like it has a bit more character here than it did on its own.  There's no Bond theme in the selection taken from Quantum of Solace, but it still is quite engaging.  Portman's music from The Duchess is presented as an end credits suite and though the typical minimalist noodling kicks it off, it gets far better as it progresses.  A recurring excerpt (from other Silva compilations of late) from The Dark Knight follows with an aggressively recorded percussion opening.  It is here too where one realizes the fine overall imaging of the orchestra itself throughout this disc.  The music is made to sound somewhat close to the original performances but with a nod to more realistic orchestral placement.  The result is often beautifully detailed in many positive ways.

    Music from Iron Man and Hancock follow in this semi- Media Ventures/Zimmer section of the disc.  While competently performed they do little more than add a bit of faster-paced music and energy to the disc as a whole.

    Burwell's music from Burn After Reading is quite impressive in the track "Lind Looks for Love" in a fine performance that is followed by an all too brief (because it is so good) character segment from Wall-E.  End title music from Eastwood's score for Changeling are a nice addition to the disc.  After about 4 minutes this particular selection seems overlong.  The theme from the TV series Sex and the City gets its 30 seconds of fame.  The biggest disappointment is that Silva chose to just re-use "The Raider's March" from previous outings with Nic Raine at the helm instead of a truly new piece of music from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

    Overall though this is a fabulously enjoyable release of good music representing some of the films of 2008.  It barely runs 50 minutes though, most noticeable because the music making is so good that you do wish it would go on a bit more.  But no doubt the licensing and arranging of such new music is not exactly cheap.  This is a disc as successful musically if not more so, than those released back in the mid-1990s from Varese Sarabande when the label recorded similar discs of film music.