Ocean Men: Extreme Dive

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

I don't know when exactly the success of composing stopped for Cliff Eidelman, but it was somehow around 1998, when One True Thing showed that drama movies were nice but not successful. And sadly it somehow slowed the career of Eidelman with it. Occasionally the opportunity came along, like 2001's Ocean Men: Extreme Dive, a sort of Imax feature about deep-sea diving. For Eidelman this was promising since Imax features can bring out the best of composers, and for Eidelman this could have been the confirmation around his beauty for the seas Free Willy 3. Most people will expect the same, and hear the same since performing vocalist Francine Poitras returns in this score as well, yet sadly it doesn't get to the heights of that score, for that its too subtle and relaxed. However, the album does show 2 things and apart from the 30 minute score, we also have songs and instrumental material, ranging from the popular Enya or Vangelis to specifically well chosen pieces. The entire selection of songs and instrumental material is not bad, and each will enjoy either Enya's performing acts, or Vangelis' soothing stuff, or A-Ha's returning flair, but for movie music buff's still Eidelman's material will only matter at the end, and this gets to end the score off with 11 selections of score material. Starting with 'Stargate', the soothing vocal of Poitras and the strings directly set the link between this score and Free Willy 3. Sadly it all falls a bit too short in reaching that sweet little scope of that CD. 'The Birth of Free Diving' is more reflective scoring, and the flute settles the mood well, but its all too soft to really go into the flow. If a score was containing the grand orchestral moments as well, the softer pieces could have easily picked up the attention, but not here.

And it follows the line like this, with occasionally the change in the tone. 'Rivalry' has a nice guitar rhythm and will appear later one with its theme, like in 'Climbing the Mountain' with the voice as well as the guitar moments. 'Into the Blue' has the lovely vocals and flutes and the long 'Ocean Being' some nice moments when the whirling strings start to re create the beloved Eidelman moments of Free Willy 3 and Triumph of the Spirit, but these sink again in the calmness before recharging late in the track. Sadly as all tracks, the climax is sorely missing. The guitar in 'Water Dance' and the growing factor of strings in 'Pipin's World Record' are noticed easily, but it never explodes. Not in the soft 'Prelude' or the other lacking 'Umberto's World Record', which despite their attractive moments still lack that special thing. To do the work of Cliff Eidelman injustice is not the way here, because Ocean Men has lots of nice material, but it simply doesn't reach Free Willy 3 if you want to compare it to big brother here. And while the selections of songs and score do present 70 minutes and more, it remains an effort for the fans of either the feature or composer. Of course, Eidelman still remains to have lots of fans, but these still have to remember easily that Ocean Men doesn't show much new or earth shattering in the end. Ocean Men: Extreme Dive comes as a nice free flowing listen that can be played when simply talking with family or friends, because as Enya and Vangelis, its got that nice soothing flow. And as score, its got moments, but again these lack the powerful emotional feel if you want to remember what's been heard that last hour or so, then other scores of Eidelman do the trick more.

Score: ***
Songs: ***

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. A Day Without Rain: Enya (2.38)

2. Lazy Days: Enya (3.43)

3. World Looking In: Morcheeba (3.38)

4. En El Muelle De San Blas: Manā (4.19)

5. The River: Cultured Pearls (4.57)

6. Songs Of The Seas: Vangelis (6.12)

7. Oceniana: Mike Odlfield (3.22)

8. Minor Earth, Major Sky: A-Ha (4.02)

9. Gebet An Den Planet: Thomas D. (6.10)

10. Welcome To Blue World: Quintilian (3.15)

11. Stargate (3.36)

12. The Birth Of Free Diving (3.20)

13. Rivalry (2.16)

14. Climbing The Mountain (2.20)

15. Into The Blue (2.57)

16. Ocean Being (5.12)

17. The Science Of Free Diving (1.09)

18. Water Dance (1.14)

19. Pipin's World Record (4.06)

20. Prelude (1.47)

21. Umberto's World Record (3.16)

22. Ocean Men (0.50)

Total Length: 74.30

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=== Link to Composer Site: Cliff Eidelman ===