Millennium: Tribal Wisdom and the Modern World

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

The soundtrack to The Power of One is not the only African based score there is to be found by Hans Zimmer. No, there are other examples and one truly mesmerizing beauty in the collection is Millennium, a TV series which received a Zimmer score non like any other you heard today, it stands far away from the others in the list if you compare it even with the more African based soundtracks. When listening to this score, you barely pick up moments or even the style of Zimmer. Not even that some tones could perhaps sound familiar but not with Millennium. No, this is a piece of art where basically nothing is repeated twice and the themes and addition of drum rhythms, African vocals or synthetic choir make this not a historical accurate listen but a stunning one nonetheless. It opens with a 27 second guy mumbling something and this will repeat itself from time to time. But then the second track kicks in and in 1 minute Zimmer delivers a theme more then most of 6 minutes can bring in 'Stories for A Thousand Years'. And the beauty continues in 'The Journey Begins', a wonderful string and flute melody is reaching the highest order in its capacity with an emotion too grand not to like instantly. And basically from here, you will not hear much repeated while of course an occasional melody is repeated for the sakes of having themes at all. The synthetic element is pretty obvious in 'The Stone Drag' and the African singing (if you can call it that) is intrusive but its nonetheless works like clockwork.

The next track 'Courting Song / Love in the Himalayas' is more relaxing with flutes and even a synthesized choir and the welcome tone of the piano adds much diversity in 'Inventing Reality'. Another stunning track which basically brings the same theme repeated over and over is 'Fiddlers / Pilgrimage to Wirikuta', but here the high string theme is returning and returning, until added synthesized choir gives it the final extra magical touch. Truly fantastic to hear. While bird calls and a more relaxing jungle mood is settled in 8, 'Race of the Initiates' does more with added African choral based background signing and once more, its truly mesmerizing to hear such a combination of female choir, male choir, flute and a pounding rhythm in such dazzling design. 'The Art of Living' lets the great theme of track 3 return in pleasing form while 'Geerewol Celebrations' does it with the theme of track 2. The trumpet theme with bells and flutes in 'Pilgrim's Chant / In the Land of the Ancestors' is amazing, the playful duet of violin and flute in 'Well Song / A Desert Home' excellent and the use of tribal rhythms and choir glorious performing the second track theme in 'Initiation Chant / Rites of Passage' is all the more spectacular. All this combining to the glorious end that will follow.

'The Journey Continues' shows the third track theme in synthesizer emotion but that what's it is also, pure emotion signing off the series. More, true, absolute true ethnic magic with the second track theme receiving its most stunning ethnic tilting ballad is heard in the standout 'Millennium Theme'. One of those tracks bringing the best of finales in glorious sign with pan flutes up the wazoo. To tell you, people should have to get crazy over the themes and beautiful combinations of choir and score, because its one of the most inspiring set of themes, moments and combinations I have heard in my life. But its the fact that Zimmer used a whole array of electronics and synthesizers and not the real deal of orchestra and choir which could cause some trouble. Of course we all know how Zimmer does the synthesized sound better then anyone else but still, people could get frustrated over that. Yet, you can't get frustrated with the themes and its dazzling emotional effect. The parts where the choir adds the emotion are stunning and simply the tones of pan flutes recreating magic in 2, 3 and 18 are some of the best signs of magic you will ever get, Beyond Rangoon not taken with it. In context, Millennium is a typical Zimmer product with the whole score synthesized. But take it from me, you haven't heard something like Millennium before from Zimmer, which makes it fascinating, daring, new and a challenge on itself, to describe the beauty and the brilliance behind it all, which captures you every time.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Shaman's Song (0.28)

2. Stories For A Thousand Years (1.00) Excellent Track

3. The Journey Begins (1.57) Excellent Track

4. The Stone Drag (2.19)

5. Courting Song / Love In The Himalayas (3.18)

6. Inventing Reality (2.16)

7. Fiddlers / Pilgrimage To Wirikuta (4.29) Excellent Track

8. The Shock Of The Other (7.15)

9. Race Of The Initiates (2.00) Excellent Track

10. The Art Of Living (2.17)

11. Geerewol Celebrations (5.00) Excellent Track

12. Song For The Dead (0.56)

13. Pilgrim's Chant / In The Land Of The Ancestors (3.49)

14. An Ecology Of Mind (4.32) Excellent Track

15. Well Song / A Desert Home (3.37)

16. Initiation Chant / Rites Of Passage (2.09)

17. The Journey Continues (3.12) Excellent Track

18. Millennium Theme (3.07) Excellent Track

Total Length: 53.57

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