CD REVIEW - BONE DRY


Bone Dry
Music by Scott Glasgow
Intrada MAF 7103 (US)
21 Tracks 72:48 mins

Congratulations to Intrada Records for being voted "Film Music Record Label of the Year," by the International Film Music Critics Association, an award I cannot really argue with, though Film Score Monthly must surely have run them close. Intrada has consistently released rare and interesting titles in the past months and years, with their "Special Collection" releases being particularly rewarding of late. Only recently the guys have released Bruce Broughton's monumental score for the epic mini-series The Blue & The Gray, Michael Small's much sought after music for Comes a Horseman, and perhaps the biggest coup of all, Jerry Goldsmith's Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend; for Disney has often shown reluctance in releasing scores from their back catalogue of films. Let's hope this marks a new era of co-operation and that we shall see other long neglected Disney film scores released in the future.
Of course, all these are limited editions and therefore the guys at Intrada are unable to supply me with review copies, which is personally sad for me, as I would love to cover all of their fine releases for them. They do however occasionally put out a regular release of a new or recent score, and these they do favour me with. So, I am pleased to be able to bring you my review of Scott Glasgow's Bone Dry, a recent thriller, set in the Mojave desert, starring Luke Goss, Lance Henriksen and Dee Wallace; which gave the composer the opportunity to experiment a little, as he is wont to do. Imaginatively, he uses plucked cactus as a primary colour in what is a mostly ominous, atmospheric and often threatening score, more textured than thematic, largely realised in Glasgow's studio, with synths and samples, though there are moments of high drama and excitement, like in "Cactus Torture," with its relentless opening and menacing dissonances, and the rhythmic chase music of "Hood Ornament," and excitement of "Desert Chase." An odd poignant moment can be found however, as in the keyboard opening of "Nightmare."
Director Brett A. Hart was able to secure an augmented budget when Glasgow felt that the beginning and end scenes needed orchestra to provide a more emotional, human feel, and the last few tracks on the album feature the 50 strings of the FILMharmonic Orchestra Prague, recorded by means of a link-up between Prague and Los Angeles, a technology that is being increasingly utilised these days. The results give an effective end to the score, with an overall feeling of anguish and desperation, leading to a huge emotional release in "Redemption."
With his willingness to experiment with unusual and interesting sounds, plus his dramatic sensibilities, Scott Glasgow is an emerging talent worth keeping an eye on.
The accompanying eight-page booklet features stills from the film, plus quite extensive notes by the composer and his director.
Go to http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.5736/.f?category=101 for further details and samples, and of course to order your copy.