September 26, 2013

  • Wiedmann Heads to the Justice League

    In Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, a shift in time effects The Flash and alters history that results in a fight between the forces of Atlantis and the Amazons thus setting up conflict between Aquaman and Wonder Woman.  The Justice League must discover a way to mend this rift.  Frederik Wiedmann has already garnered much critical acclaim for his work on The Green Lantern, and here continues to expand the animated superhero universe with an exciting score.

    The opening “The Incident” is a mostly string piece that sets the tone for the style of the score with interesting thematic material introduced, but also with hints of darkness as it moves to its conclusion.  Wiedmann adds in a fuller orchestral sound for big action cue moments (“Rogue”) and his thematic ideas manage to provide additional interest as they soar over interesting string textures on full display in “Justice League.”  To further set apart some of the cultures in the story, Wiedmann uses a collection of guitars to depict the Amazons (“Chased by Amazons”), and ambient and electronic music for Aquaman’s underwater world (“Atlantean War”).  There is even a little noir-ish trumpet to kick off “Sin City” before it heads into action music territory with its drum sequencing.  Chris Bleth’s unique ethnic woodwinds enter the picture in the mysterious “Inside the Batcave.”  The score is well sequenced here shifting from slower narrative support to exciting action cues all held together by thematic ideas.  Some will be surprised at a sort of anti-hero music used for “Superman”, a result of the direction of the story here.  Wiedmann’s use of electronics, often coupled with orchestral effects, is also excellent at setting tone for sequences.  These notably are all quite brief tracks in which Wiedmann must paint his musical support but he is quite adept at this ratcheting up the energy level rather quickly, but not just simply turning on his drum machines.  This helps make the score a rather engaging work overall.  Both “Last Man Standing” and “Hell of a Messenger” provide some longer musical moments towards the end of the disc that help bring together a variety of thematic ideas and sounds of the score.

    The Flashpoint Paradox makes for a rather exciting action score.  Thematic ideas are rather engaging and the sound shifts for different characters help delineate the narrative somewhat in this presentation as well.  Wiedmann continues to provide some excellent musical support for these superhero animated films.

    The present release is a 2000 limited edition CD available from La-La Land Records.