Follow your Dreams Volume 2 (Compilation)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

In the mid '80, a lot of the more obscure work of Hans Zimmer was never released, until they made it their business to somehow push their work to promotional releases and even though black market material or not, at least avid searchers got the chance to hear material not heard before. I mean, The Preacher's Wife (still one of those Oscar nominated efforts) or Two Deaths, The Story of O or what about Insignificance? Basically, this second Follow Your Dreams Volume 2 is a dream come true for Zimmer lovers trying to hear something different from him, and different is definitely what you are gonna get. Perhaps not loaded with actual highlights, it is the listening experience and all the diversity that truly makes this CD sound great. It starts with 'Cole & Claire' and with a guitar led love theme but its the second part with the bouncy synthesizer that makes the fresh material appear. The material of Two Deaths is new, as is the feisty tango in 'Opening Tango', The Lion King like drama scoring in 'Ana's Child' and the heavy Invincible and orchestral scoring in 'Daniel & Ana Die / Finale' that makes it more worth it for the fans. The non vocal track of The Lion King actually works, but so does the non dialogue parts of Toys, making definitely the original release seem like a waste of time. 'Let Joy and Innocence Prevail' is a true Celtic based piece of powerful scoring and listens even better then the non vocal track on Toys' release, 'Battle Introduction' also doesn't have the dialogue and 'The General' even has brief added material before it moves to the wonderful march, non dialogue based which makes this part a recommendation. The last track is actually different from the main original one since its not really that song, but still listens new all the same. And whether or not he scored White Fang (also Basil Poledouris scored it), the wonderful fanfares ala K2 make this 2 minutes of grand Zimmer style.

To continue is The Story of O, another new unreleased piece and again listens charming, 'O's Theme' has beats, electric guitar and saxophone in a cool mix while the tacky synthesizer tones do seem far fetched in 'Madame Pembroke's Gigolo' but they work since they bring back the '80 to life. Dark Obsession with its 'Suite' is another unreleased piece and has piano, jazz and a solo vocal that do work all the same whether you think yes or no. Its however Insignificance that comes down as the strange yet working attraction, first of all the dark ethnic tones in 'World of Theory' aren't that bizarre, but 'Shape of the Universe' surely is, beats and a techno outing make way for constant dialogue (like a TV saying something) and it listens like Toys on steroids, but in all the commotion, Zimmer pulls it off and it listens simply said cool. 'Remember, Remember' by then is perhaps the only non likeable track with its dark mood and vocal effects, but again I don't hate it that much. 'Counting Down the Years' of Calender Girls was actually released on the song album but since nobody purchased that, I can tell you the electric guitar and the swinging attitude ala Thelma and Louise really works. But perhaps most people are anxious to hear something of The Preacher's Wife, an Oscar nominated effort that was released solely as a commercial song album. However, the more I hear this, the more I have to say that its special because its different from what I heard of Zimmer in his entire career. 'The Preacher's Wife Overture' has a Hallelujah choir singing it almost in church style and really sounds cool, before some softer material makes the main theme appear once or twice, this added choir Hallelujah thing reprises (even more heavenly) in tracks 'In Court' and 'Church Saved / Happy Ending' but its 'Dudley Appears' that got my attention good, with a playful marching feeling that is anything unlike you heard of Zimmer before. Altogether, this is fairly new and almost never released, but it works to the advantage of the listening experience that it shows Hans Zimmer being original, innovating and daring, something I kinda miss from him these times.

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Tracks

Single Disc

Days of Thunder

1. Cole & Claire (3.26)

Two Deaths

2. Opening Tango (2.15)

3. Ana's Child (2.18)

4. Daniel & Ana Die / Finale (4.47)

The Lion King

5. I Just Can't Wait To Be King (2.50)

Toys

6. Let Joy And Innocence Prevail (5.03) Excellent Track

7. Battle Introduction (2.37) Excellent Track

8. The General (4.28) Excellent Track

9. The Closing Of The Year (2.28)

White Fang

10. The Ascent (1.47) Excellent Track

The Story Of O

11. O's Theme (2.02)

12. Deviation (1.36)

13. Madame Pembroke's Gigolo (2.47)

Dark Obsession

14. Suite (4.22)

Insignificance

15. World Of Theory (4.09)

16. Shape Of The Universe (2.33)

17. Remember, Remember (1.56)

Calender Girl

18. Counting Down The Years (5.35)

The Preacher's Wife

19. Main Title (1.25)

20. The Preacher's Wife Overture (3.19)

21. Wonders (1.58)

22. Dudley Appears (2.30) Excellent Track

23. In Court (0.54)

24. An Angel (1.45)

25. Church Saved / Happy Ending (2.09)

Total Length: 71.05

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: Hans Zimmer ===