DreamTalker follows on from their previous album called "DreamWalker", and continues the exploration of relaxing Native American fusion by the Austrian based duo Wolfsheart & Mexx. Sub-titled "Tree of Life", this is perfectly realised new age, world, ambient, chillout music whose moods range from atmospheric and dreamy to relaxed and then completely laid back. More information, including streamed samples, downloads and ordering details are available from www.DreamTalker.info and www.MySpace.com/dreamtalkermusic.
As it says in the liner notes, the film director for The Black Dahlia imagined a dark moody trumpet accompanying this film, which is good because Mark Isham is a dark moody trumpet player! In true "film noir" style the mood is set by a moody jazz trumpet solo played by the composer, and although there are moments of suspense and action whose tracks are also captured on the album, the overwelming impact of the score is in establishing the dark underworld setting. The soundtrack CD is available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
The novels of Frank Herbert require a mini-series like Children of Dune to bring out their detailed depiction of alien worlds. The soundtrack by Brian Tyler is a superb accompaniment to the series. It has a great main theme, the ethnic music of the Fremen people inhabiting the desert planet Dune, a song sung in their native language, with the political intrigue and heroic action involved in the fight to control the planet and it's key produce: the spice with its wonderful but dangerous properties. The soundtrack CD has a full 36 tracks and is available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
Like the previous film, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is a fun movie, so it needs the same ingredients to appeal to the same audience. The music by Hans Zimmer, who leads the company producing many of today's blockbuster soundtracks, is the same kind of fun experience with over-the-top thrills and action, and the mysterious ghostly magic that suspends disbelieve and draws the audience into its escapist world. The soundtrack CD is available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com and the sheet music can be found at Music Notes.
With Superman Returns, the film makers have tried to remain true to the films of the 70s and 80s starring Christopher Reeve. Part of the success of those films was the music by John Williams whose theme seemed to fit the Superman concept like a glove. With this soundtrack, composer John Ottman has used those key themes by John Williams and added some ideas and themes of his own to create a soundtrack which also remains true to the previous films yet has something of a unique identity. The soundtrack CD is available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
In many ways, Michael Giacchino (Lost) has returned to basics with the soundtrack to the third installment in the franchise, Mission Impossible 3. Not only does he use more of the original Lalo Schifrin material from the original television series, but he has ignored the trend towards increasing use of electronics and techo action tracks to bring back a largely acoustic sound in a similar vein to his Incredibles soundtrack. The action feels real and gritty as a result. The CD is available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
With the soundtrack to The Constant Gardener, composer Alberto Iglesias has again proved his superb versatility. Again quite different to his previous soundtracks for Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, this one is simply a breathtaking blend of warmth and power, with wonderful rhythmic and melodic touches and musical influences both old and new. There is a strong sense of African culture to suit the location and the album includes two songs by Ayub Ogada. The CD is available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
Memoirs of a Geisha is just one of the superb soundtracks created by John williams during 2005. He has very effectively taken some aspects of the instrumentation and styles of Japanese music, and crafted that together with his familiar orchestral sound into a soundtrack which integrates with the setting and yet finds the emotional core to which western audiences will easily relate. With Yo-Yo Ma on Cello and Itzhak Perlman on Violin, the CD is available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com with sheet music from The Music Room.
The soundtrack to A Thousand Roads is a collaboration between Jeff Rona and Lisa Gerrard, both of whom have worked with Hans Zimmer. It very effectively uses the sounds and influences from American India music, and is highly evocative of the landscape, history and culture of the native American people. The music is atmospheric and relaxing, and the album contains some bonus tracks of some genuine Indian music labelled "inspirations". The CD is available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
We all know that babies require stimulation to develop and learn. Classical Baby seeks to provide that kind of environment in the music domain, to enrich and enhance the development of your baby. CD1 "Baby Brain Food" is full of melodic music of varying tempos to provide mental stimulation. CD2 "Sooth and Calm" aims to complement this with comforting and relaxing music. Whether you believe in the Mozart Effect or not, there is no doubt that an early introduction to classical music will improve your baby's appreciation of music in later life. Classical Baby is at Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
Great Film Fantasies is a round up of music from some of the great film series. First there is John Williams' music from all 6 Sar Wars films. Then there is his music from the first 3 Harry Potter films: The Sorcerer's Stone, The Chamber of Secrets and The Prisoner of Azkaban. And finally there is Howard Shore's music from all 3 Lord of the Rings movies: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King. All the music is lovingly played by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra under their principle conductor Erich Kunzel and is available from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada is the directorial debut of Tommy Lee Jones who stars as a Texas ranch foreman who keeps a promise to his best friend to bury him in his home town in Mexico. The main music score is provided by composer Marco Beltrami and the soundtrack is also peppered with a number of popular songs reflecting the location, including tracks by Dwight Yoakam, Merle Haggard and Flaco Jimenez. This film soundtrack is released by the Recall Group in a joint venture with French composer Eric Serra, and can be found at: Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
Tsotsi is based on the novel by South African playright Athol Fugard which tells of a Soweto gang leader who ends up caring for the baby he accidentally kidnaps in a car highjacking. The soundtrack features Zola (who also plays a part as a gang member) performing Kwaito music which is a kind of hip-hop from Johannesburg's urban youth culture. There is also an atmospheric score by Paul Hepker and Mark Killan augmented by voice of world music legend, Vusi Mahlasela. The soundtrack album should now be available from: Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
Match Point is the latest Woody Allen film, starring Brian Cox, Matthew Goode, Scarlett Johansson and Emily Mortimer in a tale described on the posters as one of "Passion, Temptation, and Obsession". For the soundtrack Allen chose a number of passionate operatic standards from Verdi's "La Traviata", "Rigoletto", "Othello" and "Macbeth", Bizet's "The Pearlfishers", Rossini's "William Tell" and others by Gomes and Donizetti. The soundtrack album uses a number of classic recordings by the great tenor Enrico Caruso, and will be available soon at: Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
Walk the Line is the story of Johnny Cash, with Joaquin Phoenix as Cash and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter. The CD features classic Johnny Cash tracks including "Ring of Fire", "Folsom Prison Blues", "Cry Cry Cry" and of course "I Walk The Line". Most of these are sung by one or both leads, but there's also Shooter Jennings, who plays his father Waylon Jennings, Jonathan Rice who plays Roy Orbison and Tyler Hilton who plays Elvis Presley. The movie soundtrack is produced by T Bone Burnett who also composed the film's underscore. Get the CD at: Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
The movie Stoned is a biopic of Brian Jones, founder member of The Rolling Stones, who was found drowned in his swimming pool under the influence of drink and drugs. The soundtrack is full of cover versions of classic Stones tracks performed by The Bees, Kula Shaker, the 22-20's, Jefferson Airplane and Traffic. Haley Glennie-Smith performs acoustic versions of "Love in Vain" and "Come On in My Kitchen" and Bond composer David Arnold provides the main score with 4 tracks on the album. The CD can be ordered at these links Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
March of the Penguins is a French-made wildlife documentary shot by an intrepid film crew over 14 months in Antartica. It follows the migration of Emperor Penguins as they march single file to their traditional breeding grounds. The film highlights the hazards faced by these creatures as they travel, and rear their chicks under these extreme conditions. The English language version is narrated by Morgan Freeman and has a new soundtrack by composer Alex Wurman. More information about this soundtrack album can be sound at these links Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
Following closely behind Pride and Prejudice, The Brothers Grimm is the second sountrack by composer Dario Marianelli in a short space of time. The style of music in the two films could not be more different. Although still showing a leaning towards classical influences, this Terry Gilliam film needs something to accompany a typically dark fantasy with a warped sense of reality and a twisted sense of fun. More information and soundclips from this soundtrack album can be found at these links Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
Manderlay is the sequel to Dogville and is a provocative story of racial prejudice and slavery. Written and directed by Lars von Trier, Manderlay is set in the 1930s in the American South and features an all star cast. Both films have an ambundance of beautiful and heartfelt baroque music, and this album combines the best tracks onto a single album. Featured composers include Vivaldi, Handel, Albinoni and Pergolesi with "Young American" a song by David Bowie. Details about the CD can be found at these links Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
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