ScreenSounds

Dedicated to reviews and news of music for film, TV and games

Friday, August 31, 2007

CD REVIEW - BABYLON 5: THE LOST TALES


Babylon 5: The Lost Tales
Music by Christopher Franke
Varese Sarabande VSD 6829 (EU)
28 Tracks 39:39 mins

I very much enjoyed the several seasons of the sci-fi TV series Babylon 5 which was a mix of action-adventure and political intrigue. Since the series ended there have been a number of feature-length spin-offs, the latest of which is The Lost Tales and, from the cover, it appears that at least Bruce Boxleitner and Tracy Scoggins remain from the series cast.
As with the series, the music is courtesy of Christopher Franke and is, as always, credited to "The Berlin Symphonic Film Orchestra" (actually Franke and his synths). It seems to me however that this approach does sound rather dated these days and the bulk of this album, fairly brief though it is and populated with equally brief tracks, just drones on pretty uninterestingly. It promises much, opening with the noble then poignant "Intro 1" and the strident "Main Title," but seldom holds the interest for long thereafter. The few highlights include the building menace of "Energy," the dramatic "Send Back," with its sampled voices, poignant keyboard and stridency; the heroic mover "Starfury;" the purposeful "Landing;" the bombastic "Party;" "Epilogue 2," with its variations on the intro music; and the "End Credits," which I believe features one of Franke's series main themes (of which there were several), though I haven't had time to research this. Whatever, it brings the album to a satisfying close at least.





Thursday, August 30, 2007

CD REVIEW - RUSH HOUR 3


Rush Hour 3
Music by Lalo Schifrin
Varese Sarabande VSD-6834 (EU)
19 Tracks 50:44 mins

Director Brett Ratner, stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, and composer Lalo Schifrin return with the latest instalment in the buddy cop series, and Schifrin has come up with another score that is reminiscent of his '70s action efforts, with a touch of the modern-day thrown in.
The album begins with the composer's collaboration with Salaam Remi on the series main theme, which is played pretty straight, but with modern percussion; and ends with an awful remix by Ruy Folguera and Ryan Schifrin on the same theme. In between we have some exciting action tracks, like "Chasing the Assassin," "Dragon lady," "Bikers," "Swordfight" and the suitably Oriental-styled "Giant Kung Fu." Orientalisms also feature in "Su Yung Returns" and "Shi Shen" and there are scene-setting snatches of the main theme here and there. There are of course typical Schifrin suspense cues, particularly in the middle part of the album.
Whatever you think of the Rush Hour series, it is great that, thanks to these films, one of the last links to the inventive scoring days of the '60s and '70s has undergone something of a career revival. So for reviving Lalo Schifrin's film scoring career we must be thankful to Ratner in particular.

Monday, August 27, 2007

CD REVIEW - I KNOW WHO KILLED ME


I Know Who Killed Me
Music by Joel McNeely
Varese Sarabande VSD-6833 (EU)
21 Tracks 43:22 mins

This Lindsay Lohan thriller has generally been poorly received, not least for the fact that she apparently plays a stripper but actually displays very little flesh, and if you're after that sort of thing, I guess you'll have to continue to rely on the the paparazzi that follow her every move.
As for the music, well, McNeely provides conventional support with his eerie, suspenseful mix of orchestra and electronics, with Klaus Berhmal's piano leading the way, and decidedly Herrmannesque strings making their presence felt.
There is one reasonably nice melody on display, the "Fairytale Theme," first heard as a lonely piano solo, and then later featuring the wordless vocals of Caitlin Kazepis. Some pretty menacing moments errupt from the suspense later on in the album, before the theme receives its best and most powerful performance in the concluding "Prelude/Reunited."



Sunday, August 26, 2007

CD REVIEW - Hostel Part II


Hostel Part II
Music by Nathan Barr
17 Tracks 42:00 mins

I haven't seen either of the Hostel films, which I understand are pretty nasty. Nathan Barr composed the music for both films, continuing his colllaboration with director Eli Roth, started on another shocker, Cabin Fever, and I understand both films carried a full orchestral score, recorded in the Czech Republic and conducted here, at least, by Adam Klemens.
The way this album begins you would in fact be hard pressed to realise the music written for the six-minute "Suite ('Amid a Crowd of Stars')" was for a horror film. It begins very lyrically with solo cello and delicate harp accompaniment, before moving along to sweeping strings, then becoming more subdued before ending in a variation on the opening theme. Track two, "Beautiful Skin," continues the theme, starting out delicately, but then it takes a sudden turn to frantic action, ending in a dissonant crescendo. "Train" introduces a frantic action theme for Herrmannesque strings that does indeed move along like a train accelerating. The theme is developed further in "Bidding War."
Much of what follows is dark, mysterious and suspenseful, with many dissonant crescendos, but there are a couple of poignant moments along the way, and later tracks do contain some pretty menacing and exciting moments of action, with "Turning Tables" perhaps being the highlight.

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Forthcoming CD: ICE CUBE - IN THE MOVIES


On September 17th, EMI will release a 16 track compilation of the best of Ice Cube's many recordings to have been used on such movie soundtracks as Barbershop, Boyz N The Hood, Scary Movie, Higher Learning and Bulworth. The artists has compiled and sequenced this collection, and among the chosen tracks are colaborations with Dr. Dre, Ice-T and Paul Oakenfold. Included is also the out-of-print song "Maniac in the Brainiac, with Mack 10.
So, if you're a fan of rap, and you like Ice Cube in particular, this could well be one for you.

Friday, August 24, 2007

CD REVIEW - 1408


1408
Music by Gabriel Yared
16 Tracks 56:28 mins

For this supernatural thriller, Gabriel Yared has composed a score most unlike anything I've ever heard from him before. It's basically your usual eerie, often dissonant mix of orchestra and electronics, like the scores of numerous films of this genre in recent years. There are a few bursts of excitement here and there, but on the whole this is pretty hard to listen to on disc, although I'm sure it supports the film very well.
Of course, the staple of the haunted house (or in this case room, I believe) movie is the sad or mysterious piano theme, and Yared comes up with his own rather delicate melody, though it does burst forth on the strings at one point.
Once quite a distinctive voice on the film scoring scene, I do hope that Yared's experiences on the likes of Troy haven't lead him to question his approach to the art. We need some originality in film music these days - someone to stand out from the pack.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

CD REVIEW - GEARS OF WAR + News of a new release from Screen Archives Entertainment and BYU


Gears of War
Music by Kevin Riepl
Sumthing Else SE-2035-2 (US)
28 Tracks 69:21 mins

I am sure fans of the game Gear of War will be delighted that Kevin Riepl's fine score has been finally released on CD, courtesy of the enterprising Sumthing Else label. An album of mainly loud rock songs has been available for some time but Riepl's score certainly deserves a release and it's yet another excellent game score album, easily the equal of any film score soundtrack making the rounds.
I'm not a gamer, so am not overly familiar with the premise of the game, but it appears to be an outer space combat adventure, similar in some respects to the film Starship Troopers.
Riepl has previously scored such games as Shrek 2, Pitfall - The Lost Expedition and the Nancy Drew series, and provides a largely orchestral score, featuring the dependable Northwest Sinfonia, under the experienced baton of Tim Simonec, who also orchestrated, along with Chris Tilton, who has orchestrated for Michael Giacchino, as well as having written game scores himself.
As one would expect, there is plenty of high octane action writing to be found over the album's generous playing time, sometimes purely orchestral, at others enhanced with electronics or a range of percussion, some of it quite industrial. Pitted against the propulsive main theme, there is a kind of dark march for the villains of the piece, which is suitably menacing, along with some atonal, scene-setting atomospherics, but these latter moments are few and far between, and even the suspenseful moments of the score often have movement to them, making this a thoroughly entertaining listen throughout.


SCREEN ARCHIVES AND BYU PRESENTS MAX STEINER'S THE LETTER

For more detailed information, click on this URL:-





Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Correction!


Although the press release I posted yesterday from Costa Communcations suggested that the soundtrack album to Dexter would feature Daniel Licht's score for the show, the actual track listing provided seemed to indicate that this wasn not so. Anyway, I'm glad to say that this was an error and that the composer's music does indeed feature on the album. The amended track list is given below:-

DEXTER

Music by Daniel Licht

Track Listing

01. Dexter Main Title by Rolfe Kent

02. Tonight's The Night by Michael C. Hall and Daniel Licht

03. Conoci La Paz by Beny Moré

04. Uruapan Breaks performed by Kinky

05. Flores Para Ti performed by Raw Artistic Soul feat. Rafael Cortez

06. Blood by Michael C. Hall and Daniel Licht

07. Con Mi Guaguanco by Ray Armando

08. Perfidia performed by Mambo All Stars

09. Sometimes I Wonder by Michael C. Hall and Daniel Licht

10. Born Free performed by Andy Williams

11. Dexter Main Title remix by Kinky

Original Score Selections by Daniel Licht

12. Escalation

13. Shipyard

14. Deborah Loves Rudy/The House

15. I Can't Kill

16. Voodoo Jailtime

17. New Legs

18. Photo Albums

19. Courting the Night

20. Hide Your Tears

21. Wink

22. Astor's Birthday Party

23. Epilogue/Bloodroom

24. Blood Theme

Bonus Track

25. Die This Way performed by Jon Licht


Should be plenty there to get one's teeth into, and my thanks to Tom Kidd for clearing this one up.




Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Latest Issue of Film Music magazine + news from Costa Communications and Screen Archives Entertainment


Film Music Vol.7 No.3

If, like me, you are increasingly drawn to the often quite innovative music being written for video game industry, you will not want to miss out on a copy of the latest issue of Film Music magazine, which takes an in-depth look into the business of composing music for games. Over ten pages questions are put to composers Rod Abernethy, Jason Graves, Jesper Kyd, Garry Schyman, Jack Wall and Inon Zur, and there is also an interview with specialist game music composer agent Bob Rice. Brief profiles are also provided for each composer, together with a colour portrait. There is also an interview with APM's President Adam Taylor, regarding the music library's collaboration with Cherry Lane Music and Electronic Arts to create a library release of music composed especially for games.
But don't think this is all this excellent issue has to offer, as there is also a seven-page interview with Jeff and Mychael Danna, who have carved out successful separate careers in the film industry, as well as having collaborated on a number of scores over the years. Again, there are some nice colour portraits to accompany the piece.
An interview with Alf Clausen on the occasion of the 400th episode of The Simpsons also features, and Nathan Barr talks about his score for Hostel: Part II, the CD of which I have just received and will be covering on the site in due course.
Go to www.filmmusicmag.com to subscribe.


From Costa Communications

MILAN RECORDS RELEASES THE SCORE TO
DEXTER
FEATURING MUSIC BY COMPOSER
DANIEL LICHT
Soundtrack drops Aug. 28

(Burbank, CA) Milan Records releases the soundtrack from Season 1 of the hit Showtime Original series "Dexter," featuring music by composer Daniel Licht on August 28. Along with Licht's score, the soundtrack features the theme song by Rolfe Kent and a diverse collection of songs from the first season of the hit TV program. The first season DVD hits stores August 21.

Licht's talent and experience allowed the composer to create a unique sound for "Dexter," as his music contributes an eerie yet ironic pulse to the show. Licht has already begun work on Season 2 of "Dexter" which premieres September 30.

Based on Jeff Lindsay's novels Darkly Dreaming Dexter and Dearly Devoted Dexter, the show tells the story of protagonist Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) and his life as a forensic blood spatter for the Miami Dade Police Department. Based on a code instilled in him by his foster father, Dexter hunts down people who have escaped justice and makes sure they don't get away with a crime again. The series won TV Program of the Year at AFI in 2006 as well as four IGN awards and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actor.

Dan Licht has been writing music for film and television for over twenty years. His credits include such films as "Hellraiser Bloodline," Stephen King's "Thinner," and "Permanent Midnight" starring actor Ben Stiller. Licht has also written the music for several TV series including "Jake in Progess," and "Kitchen Confidential." Most recently, Licht was awarded the BMI TV music award for his work on the first season of "Dexter."

Milan Entertainment, Inc. has a proven dedication to releasing quality, award-winning soundtracks for film and television as well as cutting edge electronic, world and Latin music. Its catalog includes such notable soundtracks as "Ghost," "Mulholland Drive," "Monsoon Wedding," "Spirited Away," "Talk To Her," "City of God," "Bend It Like Beckham," "Once Upon A Time in Mexico," "Match Point" as well as the Academy Award Winning films, "March of the Penguins" and "Tsotsi." Milan Entertainment, an independently owned operation with offices located in Burbank, California and Paris, France is distributed by WEA Inc., Warner Music Group's (an AOL Time Warner Company) manufacturing and distribution operation.

DEXTER

Music by Daniel Licht

Track Listing

1. Conoci La Paz (Benny Moore)
2. Bobine (Ska Cubano)
3. Flores Para Ti (Raw Artistic Soul)
4. Uruapan Breaks (Kinky)
5. Com Mi Cumbanchero (Ray Armando)
6. El Cubanchero (Ruben Gonzalez)
7. El Canonero (Beny More)
8. Jammin' Nation (Rocky Dawuni)
9. Make Me Lose Control (Eric Carmen)
10. Panic Oh (Los Abandoned)
11. Perfidia (Mambo All-Stars)
12. Slow Ride (Foghat)
13. Born Free (Andy Williams)
14. Cuando Estamos Lejos (Los Numus Del Pacifico)




From: "SCREEN ARCHIVES ENTERTAINMENT"
INTRADA LIMITED EDITION OF RICHARD BAND'S ZONE TROOPERS & THE ALCHEMIST (1000 EDITION)
For more detailed information, click on this URL:-

Monday, August 20, 2007

CD REVIEW: THE BRIDGE AT REMAGEN/THE TRAIN


The Bridge at Remagen/The Train
Music by Elmer Bernstein/Music by Maurice Jarre
RFilm Score Monthly Vol.10 No.8 (US)
32 Tracks 71:08 mins

This limited edition disc features two scores for World War II-set films of the '60s, the first a much sought-after score by the late, great Elmer Bernstein, for the 1969 George Segal/Ben Gazzara/Robert Vaughan starrer about the American push towards the German homeland towards the conclusion of the War, the objective to find an intact bridge over the Rhine. Despite the film being quite lengthy, Bernstein only wrote around 30 minutes of score, all of which is preserved here, thanks to two monaural tapes kept in the composer's personal collection.
Although it is a fine score, with great moments of excitement and bombast, as well as more sympathetic and poignant underscoring, it will be remembered for a typically fine main theme, not quite a march in the traditional sense, but rhythmic and propulsive. The theme gets its finest workout over the "Main Title," but also crops up in variations here and there in subsequent score tracks, and of course concludes the film.
Coupled with Bernstein's fine score for The Bridge at Remagen is Maurice Jarre's complete score for the 1964 Burt Lancaster starrer The Train, taken from the original soundtrack album masters, as well as the isolated laserdics and DVD score. These latter tracks are included in a bonus section at the end of the album tracks, but the score is dealt with in chronological order in the usual excellent booklet notes by album producer Lukas Kendall.
At the heart of the score is the theme for the tragic train conductor Papa Boule, played by Michel Simon, which receives countless variations throughout the score tracks, sometimes poignant, at others rousing, and even comical. There is also music of tension, excitement and bombast - all very familiar to fans of Jarre's music of this his most fertile period.
A thoroughly entertaining album all round then, and it's great to finally have The Bridge at Remagen available after such a long wait. For further information and audio samples, go to www.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm?ID=7705.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

TWO FROM LA-LA LAND RECORDS


Yes, I'm back - well, kind of! There's so much going on in my life at the moment that I just am not able to spend all the hours I did previously on analysing and reviewing CDs and, whilst I am not intending to give it up altogether, I cannot promise to always deliver detailed reviews of things that come my way in the future. I hope the kind folks who send me their releases continue to support me, and I hope they know that I will always give some kind of coverage to everything they share with me but, if they choose not to, I'll understand, and it may be that my blogging days will then come to an end. I'll keep you posted.

Anyway, there are a lot of CDs arriving at the moment, so I'd best make a start, and where better than by making you aware of the latest releases from the enterprising La-La Land Records.

GODZILLA
Music by David Arnold
La-La Land Records LLLCD 1058 (US)
Disc 1 - 25 Tracks 55:28 mins Disc 2 - 15 Tracks 53:47 mins

Following on from his excellent symphonic scores for Stargate and Independence Day, David Arnold composed another big orchestral/choral score for Roland Emmerich's take on the famous Japanese Godzilla franchise. Fans of that series were less than happy with the changes made to their favourite monster, and the film didn't fare that well at the box office, but fault certainly couldn't be found with Arnold's score, which pushed all the right buttons. His Godzilla theme was suitably powerful and reminiscent of his "bad guys" music for the other two Arnold-scored films previously mentioned. And there was of course a good deal of exciting action music to support Godzilla's on-screen rampages. Arnold also composed a fine, heroic martial theme, which was used all too sparingly and he was suitably light and romantic in the more intimate encounters.
At the time of the film's release, though prepared, a score album was never issued, just a song-filled album, with a couple of score cues thrown in almost as an afterthought. Fans of Arnold and his music have been hoping for a score release ever since. Well, finally they have one, and what a fine release it is, a double-disc presentation of the sccore, plus a handful of bonus tracks of alternate takes and the album version of the Godzilla theme. All this, and a splendid accompanying booklet, featuring plenty of colour stills from the film, plus Don Goldwasser's detailed notes on the production and its music, including the composer's enlightening reminiscences. Grab your copy soon, as it's a limited edition of just 3000 units.

The Dark Crystal - 25th Anniversary Edition
Music by Trevor Jones
La-La land Records LLLCD 1059
13 Tracks 40:37 mins

If you were unlucky enough to miss out on Numenorean Music's limited edition release of 2003, which coupled both the original album tracks and the complete score, you might like to pick up a copy of this special 25th anniversary release of Trevor Jones' brilliant music for the 1982 fantasy The Dark Crystal. Here, we have solely the original album tracks but, to be honest, this is all one needs, as it is such a brilliantly put together album and really highlights the best aspects of Jones' score.
The composer had previously only really been known for his work on Excalibur and, even then, most people will only remember the classical pieces utilised in the film. Who was to know what a brilliant score he would go on to write for this production of the Jim Henson Creatureshop?
At the heart of the score is his majestic main theme, and there is some pretty menacing music for the villians of the piece, the Skeksis, with more pastoral and ethereal writing supporting the here and heroine of the piece, the Gelflings, including a gorgeous, yet somewhat sad love theme between them. Amongst the big orchestral writing, a kind of medieval style is employed, not only in the Gelfling music, but also the dance of the Pod people. Particularly powerful moments in the score include "The Funerals" with its flowing organ and that for the resolution of the tale The Great Conjunction," whilst the "Finale" brings together the main thematic material for a satisfying close.
Accompanying the disc is another colourful booklet, with stills from the film and Randall Larson's essay, which includes comments from the composer himself.
Visit www.lalalandrecords.com .





Friday, August 17, 2007

News from Top Dollar PR


From Top Dollar PR
CLIVE BARKER’S JERICHO TO FEATURE

ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK BY CRIS VELASCO


New Gameplay Video Available and Release Date Set for

Clive Barker’s Upcoming Action/Horror Videogame


Burbank, CA – Friday, August 17, 2007 – Codemasters announced today that multiple award-winning videogame composer Cris Velasco (God of War, God of War II) has scored an original soundtrack exclusively for Clive Barker’s Jericho - the eagerly anticipated action/horror FPS due out this fall. Codemasters also released today a new gameplay trailer, featuring music taken from Velasco’s soundtrack, currently available for download at www.jericho-game.com.

Hand picked for Clive Barker’s Jericho by none other than Barker himself, Cris Velasco has composed a haunting choral and cinematic orchestral score that enhances the game’s epic, paranormal horror experience.


“Cris Velasco’s music for Clive Barker’s Jericho is exquisite,” states Clive Barker. “Filled with yearning, dark energy, threat and redemption, it is the unstoppable engine in the terrifying ghost train of Jericho.”


Velasco has enjoyed considerable recognition for his prior work in videogames, including top honors from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences for “Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition,” GameSpot’s “Best Original Music Award,” IGN’s “Best Original Score Award,” and G.A.N.G.’s “Music of the Year.”

A spectacular, creative, and unflinching realization of Barker’s cannon of nightmares, Clive Barker’s Jericho is an interactive experience that mingles the darkest elements of Barker’s horror fiction with an ambitious, age-spanning story aimed at mature gamers, fans of Clive Barker and horror fiction enthusiasts.

Clive Barker’s Jericho will unleash its supernatural assault on retail outlets nationwide in late October, just in time for Halloween, and will be available for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system from SCEA, Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and Games for Windows®, and is rated “M” (Mature – Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language – Content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older) by the ESRB.

For more information on Clive Barker’s Jericho, be sure to visit the official game website located at: www.jericho-game.com.

# # #

About Codemasters

Codemasters is a leading developer and publisher of best-selling interactive entertainment products for a global audience across multiple gaming platforms and channels. Established in 1986, the company’s dominant brands include Colin McRae DiRT, Overlord, Clive Barker’s Jericho, Race Driver, and Operation Flashpoint. Codemasters is headquartered in Warwickshire UK, with North American operations based in Burbank, Calif. The company also maintains operations in Germany, France, Spain, and Benelux. Codemasters receives over two million visitors to its web site every month, discover why at www.codemasters.com.

Press Resource Web Site

Download game artwork, screens and essential Codemasters’ press materials direct to your desktop from: http://www.codemasters.com/mediabank.

Codemasters Code M

It’s free to subscribe to Code M, Codemasters’ privileged subscriber community. Sign up and receive priority access to playable demos, downloads and information ahead of general release. To subscribe, simply click this link: http://www.codemasters.com/codem.

“PlayStation”, “PLAYSTATION” and “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Microsoft, Xbox and the Xbox logos are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or in other countries and are used under license from Microsoft.

Monday, August 13, 2007

News from Costa Communications


From Costa Communications
AWARD-WINNING COMPOSER
EDWARD SHEARMUR
SCORES JUSTIN THEROUX'S
"DEDICATION"
Film Hits Theaters Aug. 24, Commotion S/T Sept 11

(Los Angeles, CA) Award-winning composer Edward Shearmur scores "Dedication," the Weinstein Company's latest feature from director Justin Theroux ("Zoolander," "Miami Vice'). Shearmur previously collaborated with Theroux on the box office hit, "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle." "Dedication," starring Mandy Moore and Billy Crudrup, opens in New York and Los Angeles theaters on August 24th. Soundtrack to be released on Commotion Records Sept 11.

For "Dedication," Shearmur's score combined orchestral and electronic elements to create an ambient tone, a style that can be previously heard on his score to "K-PAX." Most recently winner of an Emmy for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music for "Masters of Horror," London-born composer Ed Shearmur has also won a Golden Slate Award for his Best Original Score ("Cruel Intentions"), multiple BMI Film Music Awards ("Charlie's Angels," "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" and "Miss Congeniality").

"Dedication" is a modern love story in which protagonist Henry Roth (Crudup), a misanthropic children's book author, is forced to work with a beautiful illustrator (Moore) following the death of his best friend. As Henry struggles with letting go of the past, he discovers that maybe all he needs is a little dedication.

Shearmur began his career at age seven singing in the boys choir at the Westminster Cathedral. Upon graduation from Eton College, he then studied at the Royal College of Music and went on to earn a scholarship to Cambridge. Following his education, Shearmur further perfected his talent by serving as an assistant to composer Michael Kamen , contributing to the orchestration on such films as "License to Kill," "Die Hard," and "Lethal Weapon." Since his debut as a film composer for the highly acclaimed "The Cement Garden" in 1991, Shearmur has displayed his ability to create music for multiple arenas including the memorable scores for the popular films "Charlie's Angels," "Cruel Intentions," "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, ""The Count of Monte Cristo" and "K-PAX."

With a deep love for rock n' roll, Shearmur has also collaborated as a keyboardist and arranger with such icons as Annie Lennox, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton and Bryan Adams. Additionally, he toured for a year with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.

The composer's upcoming projects include the eagerly-anticipated historical fiction from director Justin Chadwick, "The Other Boleyn Girl." Starring Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson, "The Other Boleyn Girl" is scheduled for release in December 2007.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

News from Top Dollar PR


From Top Dollar PR
INON ZUR SCORES CRYSIS


Award-winning composer creates epic "alien" score
for ground-breaking first person shooter video game

Los Angeles, CA – August 10th, 2007 – Film, television and video game composer Inon Zur has created the original musical score for Crysis the next-generation PC first-person shooter developed by Crytek and published by Electronic Arts.

Renowned for composing emotionally dynamic orchestral music, Zur was commissioned by Crytek to produce a modern cinematic score that heightens the impact of the dramatic storyline, realistic environments and highly-evolved gameplay.

"Inon’s ability to describe a complex situation through music is uncanny," said Crytek Audio Director Joseph Zajonc. "He grasps human interaction and internal conflict and delivers musical support for these scenarios with sensitivity and assuredness in his compositions. Inon’s sense of orchestration and the sound palette he has developed for this title are integral to the feel and identity of Crysis."


The score was recorded with the acclaimed Northwest Sinfonia Orchestra in Seattle. Zur’s compositions feature sweeping themes, immersive setup pieces, intense action music, and "otherworldly" musical soundscapes performed by the orchestra to invoke the alien influences in the game.

Joseph Zajonc adds, "

Inon has such an enthusiasm for composing, it’s a joy to work with him. He really wants to provide exactly the right material for a given game moment, often coming up with an approach that surprises."

Zur’s diverse repertoire of projects includes Hollywood film trailers, network television productions, CGI movies, blockbuster video games and symphony concerts. Most recently Zur composed the music for CBS' "Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side" TV webisode series directed by Claudio Faeh (Hollow Man 2, Starship Troopers 3).

For more information on Inon Zur visit www.inonzur.com.

For information on Crysis visit www.nanosuit.com.







Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Exciting News from Screen Archives


From: "SCREEN ARCHIVES ENTERTAINMENT"
GREAT NEW JERRY GOLDSMITH 2 CD SET FOR THE WIND AND THE LION
For more detailed information, click on this URL:




Thursday, August 02, 2007

NEWS FROM COSTA COMMUNICATIONS & SCREEN ARCHIVES


Sorry I have been absent the past few days, but other projects have had to take priority, I'm afraid. Besides, I have very little to review for you at the moment - it usually goes a little quiet in terms of CD releases this time of year. Anyway, here's some news:-

From Costa Communications:-

THE SOCIETY OF COMPOSERS & LYRICISTS and BMI

Present an evening with GRAMMY WINNING songwriter and composer JESSE HARRIS and singer ROCHA

Featuring a screening of ThinkFilm's THE HOTTEST STATE followed by a Q & A

TUESDAY EVENING, July 31, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.

The screening will take place at:

Pacific Design Center
Silver Screen Theater (2nd floor)
8687 Melrose Ave (Melrose and N San Vicente Blvd)
West Hollywood, CA 90069

Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Jesse Harris wrote all the songs and composed the score for ThinkFilm’s "The Hottest State" soundtrack and serves as the album's co-executive producer along with the film’s writer/director Ethan Hawke. Together they assembled a peerless group of artists to record Harris' songs: Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones, Cat Power, Bright Eyes, Feist, The Black Keys, M. Ward, Brad Mehldau, Tony Scherr and Argentinean newcomer, Rocha, who sings throughout the film and on the soundtrack in English and Spanish. Jesse Harris also appears in the film. The soundtrack will be released through Hickory Records.

Harris, who has known Hawke since the early 1990s, has released six albums as a solo artist. His songs have been recorded by Madeleine Peyroux, Pat Metheny, and Lizz Wright, and in 2003, he won a Song of the Year Grammy, for writing Norah Jones' smash hit "Don't Know Why."

Harris met Rocha, in Buenos Aires while he was on tour. Harris was looking for someone to sing the parts for the lead actress Catalina Sandina Moreno and asked Rocha to sing the songs for the film into a cassette recorder. He
played the tape for Ethan Hawke, who loved the innocence of her singing and immediately made arrangements to fly her to New York.

Adapted by Ethan Hawke from his own novel of the same name, THE HOTTEST STATE is a bittersweet romance that distills the joy, pain, erotic highs, and emotional lows of first love. Ethan Hawke directs and co-stars in the film along with Mark Webber, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Laura Linney.

THE SOCIETY OF COMPOSERS & LYRICISTS (SCL) is the primary organization for actively-working professional composers and lyricists, with a distinguished
60-year history in the fine art of creating music for motion pictures and television. Current SCL Members include the top creative professionals whose experience and expertise is focused on many of the creative,
technological, legal, newsworthy and pressing issues of the film, television, game music industry today.

Now marking its 65th year in business, BMI is an American performing rights organization that represents more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and publishers in all genres of music. With a repertoire of more than 6.5 million musical works from around the world, the non-profit-making corporation collects license fees from businesses that use music, which it then distributes as royalties to the musical creators and copyright owners it represents.


SCREEN ARCHIVES PRESENTS FOUR NEW DVDS ON FILM MUSIC AND FILM MUSIC COMPOSERS

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