Sahara

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

I was quite looking forward to the music, not per se score of Sahara! Why? Because supposedly Brian Tyler was hired to write the music for the epic adventure, and this is adventure music, possibilities ready for an orchestral breath of exhilaration. Yet Brian Tyler was forced to step out of the deal and leave the scoring duties to Clint Mansell, known as composer for Requiem for a Dream (as well as his fantastic remix for the trailer of The Two Towers), Murder by Numbers and now for Sahara. Because its Sahara that will make him big with fans for sure. Its nice to have scores that still surprise you, not that it throws in the newest form of adventure music, or refreshing ideas. But the key word here of its success is simply fun. How many scores nowadays can make you have fun? Well, I have fun hearing Sahara, because I wasn't expecting much of it and it delivers simply great action music. Already from the start, you feel Sahara has more then the regrettable and forgettable other score, and 'Ironclad' doesn't disappoint, basically simply stating the good main theme and letting it grow over a pounding orchestral form, the extra touch of brass and choir alone makes it an opener that surprises you positively and firmly. Of course, the key ticket of any score is make it not too much of the same, and 'Beach Attack!' is not like the other action tracks, with its ethnic instruments. 'Here we Go!' is lot more funkier and comedic, with first ethnic music ala the beach sequences of Deep Blue, later making it funky with the vocals and percussion. And guitar of the main theme in 'Calliope at Night' and 'Mosque' with its ethnic touch and female vocal show this score starts slowly. But it builds and that makes sure the rest is not forgotten that easily. Because 'Hold Tight!' and 'Hold Tighter!' is not to sleep with. Rushing orchestral crowd pleasers, its the speed, the brass, the extra Bond (or The Incredibles if you would like it more) trumpets and the main theme in all 6 minutes of orchestral fun, action tracks can be fun if they simply deliver the key ingredient, sheer explosiveness.

Another theme, yet not so profound or simply noticeable is the rather dark percussion and thumping noises of Kazim, appearing in 'Kazim's Theme' and 'Kazim Arrives' while the better no great action rhythm again builds in 'Fight in Asselar', watch out for the Willow fanfare and ruckus building. A brief respite with a female vocal for sorrow in 'Death in the Desert' make for brief respite while 'Ambush' delivers some angry building strings with thumping percussion, while the male African song returns here for some ethnic color, like in 'Bonding' which is lovely in its effect as well. Some light fantastic choir with the super light strings in 'A Clue' show the wonder truly well, but again its the action or better said the main theme truly breathtaking and adventurous in 'All Aboard!' and 'Land Yacht', with the extra doses of choir and the energy of the orchestra, it alone makes you feel alive again. And it are these tracks that make that the rest improves more as well, while the ethnic mood of 'Desert Trek' wouldn't do much otherwise, the tracks surrounding the action make for more relaxing and soothing stuff in the end. In 'Solar Plant' you truly hear the Stargate angriness of David Arnold while 'Truck Escape' is the comedy sidekick and its nice to not have each time the serious action music per se, but the finale surely delivers the same, yet just longer, and building between that with the angry and finale attitudes of a David Arnold. 'Burn Tower' and 'Bomb Alley / Ironclad Revealed / Victory' are wonderful tracks to hear. The brief 'Celebration' makes perhaps for a softer finish then expected, but it still grows to something, and ethnic by the way, so Mansell means well. PS, I deleted the remix version because it didn't do well for the ending. Ok, Sahara might lean a bit too much on the Bond fanfares but it works (and Nicholas Dodd who orchestrates for Arnold) surely meant the wonderful addition of its blazing fury, ok the theme is good yet not that good but at least its riveting in its adventurous form and ok the softer portions make for the lesser half of the album, but they keep you at least waiting for the next outbreak. Sahara as said doesn't do it new, but it does do it fun and that was the general idea of the movie, and by so score. Clint Mansell will win many hearts with this effort, and rightfully so, his action music is among the most fun to come out this year.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Ironclad (3.55) Excellent Track

2. Beach Attack! (1.12)

3. Here We Go! (2.22)

4. Calliope At Night (1.17)

5. Mosque (2.43)

6. Into The Unknown (2.05)

7. Kazim's Theme (2.31)

8. Hold Tight! (3.18) Excellent Track

9. Hold Tighter! (2.56) Excellent Track

10. Discovery At Asselar (1.57)

11. Eva Investigates (1.15)

12. Kazim Arrives (4.25)

13. Fight In Asselar (2.06)

14. Death In The Desert (2.55)

15. Ambush (3.05)

16. Bonding (2.19)

17. A Clue (2.22)

18. Desert Trek (2.40)

19. All Aboard! (2.38) Excellent Track

20. Solar Plant (3.07)

21. Truck Escape (1.18)

22. Desert Heat (2.02)

23. Land Yacht (1.15) Excellent Track

24. Dirk's Got A Plan (1.16)

25. Burn Tower (6.25)

26. Bomb Alley / Ironclad Revealed / Victory (9.48) Excellent Track

27. Celebration (1.29)

Total Length: 74.58

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