The Last Days (Promo)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

If you think about it, 1998 was one of Hans Zimmer's top years and still today holds some of his best works! With The Prince of Egypt and Thin Red Line he has captured many fans' hearts. And in between he found time to write the nominated As Good as it Gets and the unknown The Last Days, a documentary about the holocaust and the atrocities done to Jews in the 1940. Told by 5 survivors almost 50 years later, the documentary got the stamp by some of the best names in the business to pump up its effect, namely Steven Spielberg amongst the many qualified names. Hans Zimmer, composer in between all his works found the time to bring this effort a much needed subdued score and for free of charge, he brought music to support the horrific scenes with a sense of tragedy, a touch of emotion and a feeling of hope. The score never became publicly available but as a promo, Hans Zimmer's music became a much sought after score, and considering I've listened to it now, I know why! Its another slap in the face to anyone who believes Zimmer can't score nothing but action and MV music. That year especially he's proven to have written not one score as equal and the same as all the others. His versatile voice and difference of ideas has proven that year the utmost creativity and The Last Days is the one where he puts it in sensitive underscore that takes the meaning of the scene further then anyone imagined. Its easy to basically think of Schindler's List and call it just an influenced score, but Zimmer's brooding sense of the scene as his inner voice does nothing Williams like, in that case The Last Days is all his! It begins with 'Main Title' where a somber opening is heard along with a solo vocal stating the theme of the score. This track however sounded so distant and flat, I was afraid the sound would ruin the entire listen. Luckily it was the only track that sounded this way. The other tracks sound remarkably better!

With 'Innocence' a lovely solo violin creates a Jewish like waltz while the charming delight of the violins performs a slightly uplifting movement in 'Prosperity', nicely reminding us of Zimmer scores' in the genre ala Invincible and such. That the score is not a doozy was basically to be expected, the moody score is understandable and his brooding sense of darkness was found already long in his music. And so it supports many tracks, including 'Occupation / The Arrow Cross' where an intriguing technique is heard, a sort of tripping pizzicato technique while the piano adds the emotion to the solemn violins in 'Auschwitz'. In the scenes the music speaks for itself. 'Shabbat' brings back the vocal that opened the score while the flute and piano perform a nice duet of the theme in 'Search for Edith'. The warmer score is noticed near the end and this to the delight of the listening experience, which isn't bad but more on the fact it doesn't stray away from the expected touches of darkness and loss. However the fact many tracks are rather short is true to that the development sometimes can't bring the expected brilliance. Its however true that Zimmer builds to this brilliance near the end. The last 3 tracks are what the others couldn't bring together in multiple efforts. 'Life Today' is magnificent, emotional score for violin and piano and when the cello adds its distinctive tone, the effect was never any bigger. One of those Zimmer movements that does it all. And in 'End Credits' and 'The Last Days Suite' he heralds his theme and ideas in a longer fuller effect, and in the best sense these tracks create all the fuzz. The classical technique is ever-present and the brooding score grows to emotional tear jerkers that bring the needed effect finally on CD. Its true, The Last Days will create a better impact with the visuals, the score however builds to these moments and in the end the ideas become the music you wanted to hear. For Zimmer collectors its another bulls eye because it holds the warm delights of his brilliance. For Zimmer haters, its a much needed testament this man can score so much more then action. For everyone else, its not Schindler's Lost, its however Zimmer Rediscovered.

\ตตต1/2/

Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title (1.09)

2. Innocence (1.48)

3. Prosperity (1.25)

4. Refugees / Naivety (1.36)

5. Occupation / The Arrow Cross (3.22)

6. Wallenberg (3.25)

7. Auschwitz (1.57)

8. Separation (2.37)

9. Numbers / Experiments (1.49)

10. Shabbat (1.11)

11. Cannot Forget (1.20)

12. Search For Edith (2.57)

13. New Freedom (1.14)

14. Returning (1.02)

15. The Synagogue (2.28)

16. Life Today (2.42) Excellent Track

17. End Credits (4.47) Excellent Track

18. The Last Days Suite (7.45) Excellent Track

Total Length: 45.15

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

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