A Far off Place

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

As of today, I still have these mixed feelings with James Horner's A Far off Place. The problem I encounter is that despite the overall attractive main theme and its somewhat original approach (meaning no serious recurring themes of other scores) I can not enjoy it as the purest musical form. I feel there is too much dissonance, scary music, rumbling piano crashes and overall a scary sound. For a Disney movie this is somewhat of a surprise and while I accept it as the musical structure behind the movie, it is the sound on disc that leaves me wanting more of the good stuff. Its when you stop the CD and asks yourself what on earth has stayed with you, it is the last track that will give you the memories, not only because it was the last but because it also was the best of the soundtrack. I simply wondered what would my impression be if this wasn't on the score. But still, this soundtrack becomes better with each listen. First, this score is like listening to a mix of Jumanji and Mighty Joe Young, binded together with an attractive main theme. And the overall pleasing feel that with each listen you get more out of A Far off Place. The main theme bursts a la Willow momentum in the middle of 'Main Title' and will blow people away with the sensational 'Epilogue / End Credits', making begin and end still a worthy try. The middle is more scary rumbling music then anything else, if you read the track titles: slaughter, attacks, death, swamps and sandstorms, so expect that this becomes no simple Walt Disney sound and overall James Horner returns to no nonsense practices such as Brainstorm, Jumanji and many other parts of Horner scores.

The Willow shakuhachi returns on several occasions, most notably in the first track as in 'Sandstorm'. One of the better suspense tracks is 'The Swamp' with some excellent rumbling piano solos and a majestic but short end fanfare. But overall it is still a score that took multiple listens and isn't the kind of release that will satisfy perhaps non James Horner fanatics. If one thing has to be said about A Far off Place, it is that James Horner had to tackle the emotions of the adventures and dangers the characters were facing on screen and of course Horner is one of the better that can achieve it with an orchestra. See it as dramatic musical sounds effects, or noisy atonal pieces of music but they will achieve their goal and overall they somewhat become audible after multiple, read "multiple" listens of the score. But I am still glad a piece like 'Epilogue / End Credits' is found on such a soundtrack release. It surely offers us almost 6 minutes of pure Horner majesty and this full emotional development will surely give you something to remember at the end. A Far off Place was bound to become a lesser participant in the Horner collection but the last track gave me an extra bonus, I'm glad that last track gave me the opportunity to change my mind.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title (5.18)

2. The Slaughter (4.36)

3. The Elephants (5.06)

4. Attacked From The Air (3.44)

5. Gemsbock Gift (2.15)

6. The Swamp (3.47)

7. "Sandstorm" (6.58)

8. Death In The Mine (2.48)

9. Epilogue / End Credits (5.31) Excellent Track

Total Length: 40.16

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

=== Link to Composer Site: James Horner ===