Hard Target

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Graeme Revell isn't a favorite of mine, as with many fans I think. But at times he surprises even the most of us, one or a couple of times. And when re watching the fun action movie Hard Target, I again met the score of Revell that worked well in unison with slow motion pigeons and a cool as ever looking Van Damme. But it was especially the guilty pleasure of Revell of hearing him do things he didn't do often enough that made the score fun, and in a way extremely cool. Just right for the film I say. Varčse Sarabande released the score, and so little was said about it, I believe people must see the film again to appreciate the effort what Revell did for it. And when hearing the score on disc, you have to say its a perfect mix between action and calmness, and in truth one of Revell's more interesting scores and easier to like efforts. Revell used for this score especially the drum band Kodo and this helps like in Robots of John Powell to set the nature of the rhythm again just a little better in effect. Already this is noticed in the first track 'Hunting Season Opens' where lounge piano, a rhythm for brass and voices (which would later evolve in Tomb Raider but sounding just as good here), and ethnic flutes and drums are making all kinds of effect. This is not experimental because it fits very well with the visuals, but it sounds like Revell was experimenting with a tone we didn't expect of him yet. Not at that time and even in this time, it comes as a refreshing breeze. No better a breeze then the funky and cool tones of the guitars in 'Natasha' (with saxophone), 'Chance and Carmen' where a violin and funky western guitar set the sound of Van Damme just right, to be expanded with coolness in 'Streetfighting Van Damme', where the slow motion scenes of Woo make for extreme satisfying fight scenes and a must for Van Damme lovers.

Its in fact surprising to hear so much easy music, you were expecting something harder in advance, and the tracks as 'Friends' and 'New Orleans Mission' are setting either the soft touch of the guitar or the piano at work. Naturally the funky tone of the guitar is for Chance (or Van Damme). And 'Miles to Go' and 'Epilogue' are more of the satisfying piano music, with the last track especially being an enjoyable affair and far more interesting then his underscore of late. Sadly one track doesn't' do much and that is 'The Dove and the Garotte' where more moody music is heard (with brief action music for drums and guitar), 'On the Docks' has a wailing of the guitar that is heard alongside rattling, and emotional violin and piano. Luckily the action music comes off being interesting and challenging, and not the typical music of today. 'The Lark Descending' starts with whirling strings and brass (like From Dusk till Dawn) and extremely promising for a picture as this. Further, 'Motorcycle Chase' is a great drum like rhythm affair, its especially fetching the way the strings and the brass work around the drums for the effect. And 'Fouchon's Death' is first moody, but the brass and the string return for a suspension builder and this quite well again. The song in the middle was spotted in the film and doesn't interrupt that much but its quite surprising to hear so little action music, because this made me wanna buy the album in the first place, especially in the end the pure orchestral rage of the orchestra portrayed so well the anger in Fouchon's role and was a must to hear alone loud and strong. This however makes the Hard Target score a very entertaining album but also an easier one then I expected. This however is also for the entire album a good sign, because everything is mixed well in order and you get somewhat of everything in 40 minutes of well spend music. Its not classy music as said but works very well for the picture, and especially shows a kinda fresh approach from Revell, something that must convince the non Revell fans he is at least a composer with good ideas, and when put in slow motion Woo like Van Damme coolness, it works very fluently. And its Hard not to like this Target then in the end.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Hunting Season Opens (4.50)

2. Natasha (1.33)

3. Chance And Carmen (1.48)

4. Streetfighting Van Damme (1.52)

5. Friends (1.28)

6. The Lark Descending (2.29)

7. Won't You Let Me Go?: Buckwheat Zydeco (4.28)

8. The Dove And The Garotte (2.30)

9. Motorcycle Chase (2.47)

10. New Orleans Mission (1.31)

11. On The Docks (1.25)

12. Mardi Grass Graveyard (2.26)

13. Miles To Go (2.50)

14. Fouchon's Death (4.27)

15. Epilogue (1.55)

Total Length: 38.30

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Graeme Revell ===