The Piano
If you are going to get any album of Michael Nyman's this is the place to start. A hauntingly beautiful, evocative score, it has been my choice of hangover music since I first discovered it :) He captures so much emotion in this music that it is almost overwhelming. This album would be my number one desert island disc.
Gattaca
This soundtrack comes a very close second. Once again, a haunting, minimalist score, chilling at times to reflect the sanitised world the movie inhabits. But romantic and beautifully heart tugging :) As with most of Nyman's music, it is so easy just to immerse yourself in it.
This soundtrack comes a very close second. Once again, a haunting, minimalist score, chilling at times to reflect the sanitised world the movie inhabits. But romantic and beautifully heart tugging :) As with most of Nyman's music, it is so easy just to immerse yourself in it.
Wonderland
And in joint second with Gattaca, comes this wonderful score - of which I have never actually seen the film, which might give some idea how good this music is to stand alone. Sensitive, simple, intense, I am repeating myself in each of these reviews I'm afraid, but Nyman's ability to stir up emotions with his music is just unsurpassed. This soundtrack relies a lot more on strings (the previous two concentrating more on piano) and, well, I'm a sucker for strings done so beautifully :) For many people this is actually Nyman's career highlight.
The Claim
In third place, a score for a film that, once again, I have not seen! This score at times feels more expansive that the previous three, as if we have gone outdoors. I don't know if this makes any sense, purely a personal feeling :) Maybe the music is a little more outward looking. But like the previous three, it still conveys emotions tenderly and simply, but without touching me *quite* as deeply as the previous scores. That said it is *still* a beautiful, emotive score, just not quite at the level of the previous three - for me anyway :)
The End of the Affair
This is the last of this particular style of Nyman soundtrack that I own. Melancholic, romantic music again in a beautiful, relaxed, simple style and pace. All these scores have almost an ambient feel. Similar to the previous score, I really like this album, but it does not (for me) reach quite the heights of the previous soundtracks.
The Cook, the Thief, his Wife and her Lover
This is a slightly disturbing, eclectic, dark and lovely soundtrack that demands a totally different mood and more effort from the listener than the previously listed scores. I would like to associate the music with the film, unfortunately it has been many years since I saw it, so I have no real recollection (other than that it was a *strange* movie, and I kinda liked it) of what it is Nyman's score is describing. And unlike the previous scores I list here, this score I think would benefit from that extra little bit of input :) All that said, this is still a worthy addition to any Nyman collection!
A Zed & Two Noughts
Almost everything I mentioned about the previous score, I could say about this one. A disturbing, strange score, best described by a reviewer (on that amazon link) who said 'demented fairground music gone wrong'. I might not go that far :) but it certainly requires effort on the part of the listener; that said, this effort *will* be rewarded, and once again a lovely piece of music will emerge!
As I find more of his soundtracks, I will add them in here.
Slán! Jim.
Hmmm ... Updated 02 November 2009: Wonderland has moved up to joint number 1 with The Piano - it really is a *lovely* soundtrack :)
nice! for some reason I don't usually gravitate to Nyman's style (styles?) but his scores and piano music really work for me for whatever reason. The Piano definitely is what started it for me, so it holds a special place in his catalog...I agree with pretty much all your observations. I have to throw in PARTS of the S/T for Carrington too. Three parts in particular "If This is Dying", "Every Curl of Your Beard" and "Outside Looking In" (which rehashes some of those other themes) are stand-outs from an otherwise so-so score. But enough to make it a worthwhile listen.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that, I'll keep an eye out for the Carrington soundtrack then :)
ReplyDeleteI actually have one of his non-soundtrack albums - "The Suit and the Photograph" - and I just can't really get into it, though I have tried a few times. Not that I dislike it, it just doesn't do a whole lot for me.