CD REVIEW - IN A BETTER WORLD


In a Better World
Music by Johan Soderqvist
MoveScore Media MMS 10022
23 Tracks 47:12 mins

MovieScore Media's third Johan Soderqvist release is for the composer's eighth film collaborations with director Susanne Bier, the drama In a Better World.
The film's African settings allowed the composer to investigate sounds of the region and the Mbira is used especially for these scenes, and can be heard in many tracks starting with the lightly propulsive title cue and the brief, almost ethereal "Marianne;" together with haunting vocal solos, present in "Trying to Save Her, "Dawning" and "The Revenge." For the film's more domestic settings, Soderqvist principally uses warm strings for the more intimate and emotional scenes, and synths to underline the more atmospheric moments. Rhythmic elements come into play for episodes of tension such as "Let's Do It" and "Elias Says No," whilst strings are added to the mix for the dramatic build of "The Bomb."
All is well by the lengthy "End Title," when strings join with the Mbira to flow nicely to a conclusion, before a brief "Epilogue" ends the album with a reprise of "Marianne."
Go to www.moviescoremedia.com/inabetterworld.html for samples, a trailer for the film, and ordering suggestions for this CD only release.