Amerika

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

What Amerika was the time it was created was basically a controversial look to society in 1997 (ten years later then because it was created in 1987), when the Soviets took over America and held its countrymen in prison. This then reflected several persons in which 7 episodes detailed their lives concerning this conflict. This controversy was bombarded with boycotts and threats, nonetheless the successful episodes were shown over 7 nights and captured nearly 80 million peoples attention. One of the successful attributes to this winning series was Basil Poledouris score, he had to score for 7 movies basically music that would integrate and link itself to one another like it was a giant big picture! And Basil succeeded because he made sure of one thing, his talent would provide the impossible. Just 6 years after his breakthrough with Conan the Barbarian, Poledouris already was throwing big eyes in the Hollywood business and he made sure that Amerika felt like a movie score, and this with the help of the London Symphony Orchestra he created a massive sounding score, entirely sinking in his musical voice. The Promotheus label made sure that after nearly 18 years Amerika was brought to the population which never even knew it existed. And we have to thank them for that. The 75 minutes which are displayed on the album are bringing exactly 7 episodes into one and it feels as if everything glides together. Starting with the pompous main theme 'Main Title Amerika', this piece breaths just Poledouris stamp and is slightly sounding like Farewell to the King and Big Wednesday, a wonderful main theme. Besides the more marching musical moments, we also have various signs of more emotional material, like 'Supper' in which a main theme is heard around first darker music and later in emotional content. In 'Red Tide Pimple' piano is heard while 'Ride to Brothel / Helmut & Aletha' and especially 'Devin's Return' creates wonderful emotional sparks, with a wonderful performance of the love theme on flute.

However, Basil also creates the more on edge feeling of oppression and confinement, like track 6 or 'Humiliation of Aletha'. With the main theme in militaristic sense 'All Prisoners' marches forward. There are a few sings of where classical cello is heard ('Squatters (Homeless)' or the lovely 'Dieter's View' as the emotional on fire display 'Burial') and in between the oppression music is heard, rising to a fanfare as in 'Omaha Morning / Helmut Intervenes'. With 'The Homeless' March' we enter what is a brilliant finish race, with a growing love and main theme in the best sense. 'Ceremony Montage' is one of those catchy pieces that puts simply a smile on your face because of its Poledouri's inventiveness. The darker tracks 21 and 22 (with a atonal brawling finish) guide us to a more emotional rising of the love theme in 'Andrei's View' and a stirring 'We're all Prisoners Now' showing us the optimistic sounding main theme nonetheless. In 'The Meaning' Poledouris guides us to this explosive finish with the themes all colliding together in a complete blast. And just to mention it for the fun of it all, I have copy 2845/3000. Its nice to see so many Poledouris scores growing out from the ashes to become best selling items. After Big Wednesday and a little bit the awkward choice Making the Grade, Amerika is more proof of exceptionally well movie music. In the time of Amerika, Basil Poledouris already had Conan the Barbarian, Flesh + Blood and Robocop after his name, meaning the man already then proved his talents ample to the people. Amerika is just more proof he remains one of those composers who just scores good music. That he like many other craftsman is out of business is a darn shame because we miss music from this caliber just more then enough. Amerika is just helping you to remind those good times, and its powerful conclusion is shocking but true, Poledouris is needed more and more.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title "Amerika" (2.18) Excellent Track

2. Aletha (1.08)

3. Supper (5.42)

4. U.N.S.S.U. (1.38)

5. Red Tide Pimple (1.01)

6. Ghost & Indoctrination (1.47)

7. Humiliation Of Aletha (1.56)

8. Ride To Brothel / Helmut & Aletha (2.12)

9. Devin's Return (5.09) Excellent Track

10. All Prisoners (2.27) Excellent Track

11. Squatters (Homeless) (1.51)

12. Milford Morning (2.04)

13. Ancestor's Strength (4.20)

14. Omaha Morning / Helmut Intervenes (2.39)

15. The Dance Begins (2.34)

16. Dieter's View (3.26)

17. I'm An American (3.27)

18. The Homeless' March (4.38) Excellent Track

19. Burial (3.47) Excellent Track

20. Ceremony Montage (2.53) Excellent Track

21. Train To Vladivostock (4.23)

22. Terrorists Arrive / Capitol Means (1.53)

23. Andrei's View (3.57)

24. We're All Prisoners Now (2.38) Excellent Track

25. The Meaning (5.16) Excellent Track

Total Length: 75.37

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Basil Poledouris ===