Bird on a Wire (Bootleg)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

It are these examples why people call Hans Zimmer action composer and nothing more. I honestly don't know why because if you hear the difference in tone solely between this and the stuff he composes now, there is a gap that not even the Titanic could fill with ease. Bird on a Wire was always one of my favorites on the screen. There was a time I was so desperately to hear the music that I simply taped it on cassette. A bootleg was the only answer and that initial response of mine was already made before listening to the score, cool enough for the era but not very stimulating as a listen. I know that a lot of people will be hardly moved with the action sound but its always a question of accepting it as theme or as tone. There is a difference in liking the theme if its performed on trumpet or guitar, its always the difference in liking the material if performed on synthesizers or orchestra, it can make serious difference in liking it from the begin. A word of Zimmer first, "Yes, I recorded Bird on a Wire in the U.S. If it's a 103-piece orchestra, you're talking serious dollars." I don't know what to think of it, Bird on a Wire an orchestral score because it damn sounds Zimmer like, meaning synthesizers and all. If so being a detractor, the chances are already thinner than before.

Its not a question of not liking in this case Bird on a Wire, but getting a feel out of it. I know that Zimmer isn't really into his old efforts, the action kind for instance and he feels them as not stimulating enough for release, though he had more problems with this one. In the case I can speak for Zimmer, it isn't the case of liking the score but more receiving the satisfaction of it. But most, how cheap the sound may be, it is one of Zimmer's richest scores in themes and ideas. We have the main theme, which is also the love theme appearing in tracks 1, 4, 8 and receiving attention now and then, we also have various action themes (4 to 5) with for instance a cool version already in the first seconds of the score, 'The Final Fight / Mr. Wriggley is Back' is actually the final track but it appears to brake open this score without warning. The 10 minute action track 'In the Zoo' has a lot in common with Black Rain, uses sound effects to a maximum but also has rhythm and pace to prove it. The sound itself is typical for bootlegs, not bad but missing a clarity to really make the music more satisfying. Also another action theme is heard briefly in 'Way to the Zoo' that caught my attention and the finest of the action themes is used in the biggest action tracks, namely 7, 9 and the best of the lot 'Gas-Station Shootout. This theme is so jumpy in tone that it actually puts a smile on my face, no matter how cheap it may sound. Choral music, which you wouldn't directly expect here is noticed in 'Main Theme' and is most welcome, and even believe it or not a short operatic vocal is heard, mixed in the action music in 'Bank Robbery / Motorcycle Chase', strange but actually intriguing enough.

As further as the score develops, you start to pick up those short moments of good material, like the clever variation of the travel theme on guitar in 'On the Journey Part 2' and further we have two moments I haven't mentioned yet. First the most disturbing use of actually raged sounding sound effects combined with the sorrowful main theme on the background, in all its difficulty there is goddamn class in it, supporting the flash back sequence in 'Jamie's Death' and believe it or not, another action theme (and a cool one) in 'Air Combat' which was my favorite when hearing it on tape and uses the sounds of a rotor blade dying when the chopper has crashed on the ground (also having the best sound quality). I always believed that Bird on a Wire was cool but cheap. While it is most likely cheap for many, it is mostly the thematic constant varying tone of themes that keeps this score afloat, it isn't Black Rain where sound effects rain but it actually has in most cases a theme or a tone that satisfies the scene it accompanies. And strange, considering its sometimes unsatisfying quality, it is still one of Zimmer's better action scores. Of course, some will forget and throw it in the garbage but first you still have to find it. And if people are willing to locate its sources, forget its typical Zimmer sound, concentrate on the thematic constant variation and load of themes (while putting the movie out for a spin), you actually might consider it okay. I think I list it way below many three star efforts but it deserves nonetheless small recognition, especially of those hard ass Zimmer fans out there.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. The Final Fight / Mr. Wriggley Is Back (4.02)

2. In The Zoo (10.10)

3. Dueling Tigers (1.30)

4. Love Scene (1.38)

5. Dark Intentions / The Arrival (1.51)

6. Way To The Zoo (6.33)

7. Police Chase (4.33)

8. Main Theme (1.42)

9. Bank Robbery / Motorcycle Chase (5.04)

10. On The Journey Part 1 (0.24)

11. Researches (0.33)

12. On The Journey Part 2 (0.49)

13. Jamie's Death (2.32)

14. The Aim (0.27)

15. Rick's Computer File (1.58)

16. Erasing Rick's File (0.46)

17. Memories (1.13)

18. Gas-Station Shootout (3.14)

19. Hotel Escape (3.39)

20. Rick Is Back / Burning Gas-Station (2.59)

21. Air Combat (4.32)

Correct Order: (8 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 20 - 14 - 19 - 7 - 13 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 21 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 2 - 3 -1)

Total Length: 60.23

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Hans Zimmer ===