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Conan the Barbarian
serves as a crowning achievement in the impressive career of
Basil Poledouris.
As far as fantasy adventures go, it's a score that is on par with the best
of Star Wars in my opinion and should
be remembered as one of the all-timers.
One step toward
that remembrance is having a proper recording of Poledouris' epic work and
fortunately for us, that time is now at hand, courtesy of Prometheus Records.
The complete score has been masterfully re-recorded with its original
orchestrations and the end result is one of the best soundtracks of all time
never sounded better. The news doesn't get much better than that.
The original
Conan
score had a bit of charm associated with the less-than-stellar recording and
performances, but the truth of the matter is, a re-recording was greatly
overdue. Produced by the capable James Fitzpatrick, who knows a few things
about delivering exceptional re-recordings, this offering provides a
complete presentation of music from the film complete with previously
unreleased material and alternate cues.
With an
orchestra of nearly 100 musicians and choir from the Prague Philharmonic
Orchestra and Chorus behind it, this 2-CD set will immerse you into the
musical experience of Conan unlike any
time before. Even the main title, which I have heard hundreds of times
before, sounded fresh and energized with this newly minted delivery. I was
just a few minutes into my listening experience and I was already certain
that this release was a smashing success.
And I wasn't
wrong. The previously unreleased cues alone are a huge value-add to the
soundtrack, which is evident when you hear a track like, "Pit Fights" on
Disc 1. The barbaric life that Conan was forced to live is represented
amazingly well with this cue of brutality and it is a necessary inclusion to
round out the story, musically. Likewise, the menacing drum beats heard in
"Wolf Witch" and the return of the main theme heard in "Orgy Fight," truly
extends this tale to an even larger, more detailed scope.
Another
glowing aspect about this release is that we finally get to clearly hear the
subtle details that Basil had written into the score, courtesy of this
pristine re-recording. The unique instrumentation and background cues are
truly interesting to take note of, and in my opinion, further distinguishes
this as a score that hails from some other time and age.
The
soundtrack release, priced between $25 to $30 at most online soundtrack
retail shops, is presented with original art not from the film but is apt
nevertheless. There is also an informative booklet of track notes and
background information that is great to take in, especially when you see the
adoration that Basil's family had for him and his work.
Ultimately,
this is a must-have release. Whether you're looking to relive the adventures
with the Cimmerian in a whole new way, or if you're a newbie to this classic
score, it's essential listening for any listener who is serious about film
music. Now, let's get a complete re-recording of
Conan the Destroyer
together so we can really party!
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