The Touch

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

The big difference between adventure scores like Tomb Raider 2 and The Touch is simply the one composer had the time, the ideas and the inspiration to compose the score. Alan Silvestri did a remarkable job on Tomb Raider 2 but the composer didn't have the time, the fresh ideas couldn't pop so quickly in the head and the inspiration came with the ideas while composer Basil Poledouris had it all when he composed the Chinese adventure film The Touch. It was from Crocodile Dundee in L.A. that Basil Poledouris scored something, from '99 that he composed inspirational music from the heart. And just my heart is telling this, The Touch is not the epic adventure score full of Poledouris blockbuster themes but just an inspirational listen that does it through its listening experience. There are many scores where moments make the score happing when the underscore isn't too inspiring, despite their effectiveness. Yet there are other scores where the whole score interest you and satisfies your needs, while the better moments come as the best pieces on earth. And as expected, The Touch is one of those scores. I have to tell you, people looking for a full orchestral effort like Conan the Barbarian will quickly diminish this effort because it lacks power. In fact it does lack power but it has heart, emotion and beauty all at once with occasional moments of genius and inspired writing. The Touch is a return of Basil Poledouris showing us his talent, and while its not powerful and fully loaded with themes, the inspiration makes the listening experience worth it, and that for a full hour.

A score such as this packs a song, and especially when it concerns Eastern efforts. And just like the VG franchise of Final Fantasy, this score captures a song based on strings and light percussion. Its good and very soft to listen to. The score by Poledouris (who also arranged the song) starts great too with 'Legend of the Touch', an inspirational piece with the song theme returning beautifully before playful and interesting beats support a variation of it with beautiful soft choir. Just like Wind it feels ethereal but oh so beautiful. The following track is equally good, with choral accompaniment and fanfares of wonder does pound 'The Monkey King Enthralls' also some Chinese percussion, at times sounding strangely like True Lies. The following pieces all contain enough Ethnic performances of the Chinese percussion, flutes and strings and all listen admirable and lovely while not showing too much true vintage ideas. 'Memories of Days Gone' represents the song theme soft but lovely while 'Trouble under Blue Skies' reminds me a bit of On Deadly Ground, showing after the percussions some Poledouris brilliance with adventurous moments of heroism and short but inspiring action themes. 'Farewell Kind Soul' is mournful with its solo flute and low bass cello and stands apart from either the more melodic highlights from being a bit too somber for the liking. But its a fact that the second part is a breeze to listen to, 'Healing of Hearts' has some piano work while the bells, some brass and the strings grow in 'Thru' the Forest', its the begin of the wonderful moments.

There is a serious rattling of the instruments in track 13 but the score is serious but good to hear and signals that the best period of the score is about to begin. The following 22 minutes are some of the best to listen to music after each other because of its flowing elegance and enjoyability. Its not that the score is sensational but it flows and listens so good, its hard not to like. 'I'll Never Leave You' is the absolute highlight of the disc with beautiful passages, adventure moments like heard in Under Siege 2 (but even so much better) and then the song theme exploding with string momentum at the end, its some of the most inspired writing in years and like say for instance Howard Shore's 'Forth Eorlingas' of The Two Towers, it touches your heart the deepest. The 13 minute 'Destiny Awaits' is not the choral masterpiece I thought to receive but its lovely to hear nonetheless, with its constant side of interesting ideas over glimpses of choir and adventure music, it flows from the first to the last minute flawlessly through the speakers. And 'I Believe' is capturing everything we heard in the score from percussion to the choir bringing some awe before the Chinese violin and orchestra match together to perform the theme at the end. The final track even has a lovely string version of the theme with what sounds like a playful version of American Beauty's quirkiness. Its weird to hear but its good so why bother. Don't expect that The Touch is the return to the good Poledouris of Conan the Barbarian or say Quigley Down Under. No, just like For Love of the Game, The Touch is an inspiring journey where the electric guitar of the first is replaced by Ethnic and East European tones of the second. Its not loud nor is it exciting, but its lovely, inspiring and a return of the Poledouris we all love. The ideas and performance are excellent and if you like Poledouris and his more inspired writing in Chinese like form, there's no reason to say that The Touch is a winner in emotional form.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. The Touch: Kelly Chen (4.01)

2. Legend Of The Touch (2.14) Excellent Track

3. The Monkey King Enthralls (1.46) Excellent Track

4. The Heart Of Dun Huang (1.38)

5. In The Heart Of The Night (2.44)

6. Memories Of Days Gone (3.41)

7. Trouble Under Blue Skies (5.31)

8. Glimpses Down The Path (2.12)

9. A Light Dimmed (2.30)

10. Farewell Kind Soul (1.49)

11. Healing Of Hearts (3.19)

12. Thru' The Forest (3.20)

13. Secrets Revealed (4.22)

14. I'll Never Leave You (4.39) Excellent Track

15. Destiny Awaits (12.51) Excellent Track

16. I Believe (4.32) Excellent Track

17. Time To Choose (3.34)

Total Length: 64.56

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