Caboblanco

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Rarely happened in the career of Jerry Goldsmith, when in 1980 he only had to write music for one movie, when in reality he had to battle months after months to compose a bunch in the other year. Of course, we know better and its more then likely he already wrote music for the movies that came out the very next year. Yet Caboblanco remains the sole listed score in the beginning of the '80. And its a score for another Charles Bronson movie, one that doesn't ring a bell at all with most people. And perhaps same about the score, since the Belgian label Prometheus released it but not much buzz was made around it. Anyway, it still captures a colorful score by Jerry, but one in more diverse reasons then the charming and sadly infrequently used exotic flavor that led its better counterpart Under Fire to more entertaining heights. It still begins with the best track of the bunch, and as usual its when Jerry makes us hear his main theme of the movie, a charming delightful opening of plucking guitar, maraca's and guitars, setting the strings in motion and capturing a light exotic Western touch ala The Wind and the Lion. Its a good theme all right and when the whirling strings take the effect even more in motion, its again easy to be delighted by the end result. This all as explained in 'Main Title'. Sadly the next efforts don't take this route as delightful as the opening piece, with 'The Diving Bell' being a more angrier affair, opening with what seems like an angry growling brass fanfare (so reminiscent of the later composed Brainstorm) and then some strings ala Poltergeist setting the sturdy effect even more on display. This repeats itself exactly the same way in 'The Drowning', only in the begin the main theme is briefly heard. A good variation of the clever theme is noticed in 'Beckdorf's House' and it are these moments that take more interest then the non composed music by Jerry Goldsmith.

For this score, a couple of non Goldsmith composed cues were used, written by Roy Noble, only Goldsmith used his version of it in the song composed 'Heaven Knows', sung by his wife Carol Heather, as heard also in The Omen. This non theme also appears in true laid back jazz in 'The Very Thought of You', 'The Very Thought of You / Love Theme' and 'The Very Thought of You / Finale and End Credits' and especially in the latter the orchestral version (namely Goldsmith's take on it) is heard and this is more charming then the actual jazzy touches. Its a taste in style you have to like more then the other I'm afraid. The more action or action based moments are for the second part of the score, with 'Boat Attack / Jungle Run' being noticeable due to the rhythmic beginning with whirling strings and brass ala The Wind and the Lion, this however stops and goes into moody play, before a brief mid moment with a good string and brass moment, in utter true Wind and the Lion fashion and an emotional main theme end finish. 'Hide and Seek' and 'The Final Act Begins' are together 8 minutes long and these contain the same rhythmic whirls of the strings, drum marches but the most of the time the minutes are spend on light suspense play, where the exotic instruments are used to create light tension, not directly truly remarkable, only the latter track captures the themes. This is sad since I was hoping for more exotic dancing action music ala Breakout, which was amusing. Caboblanco therefore didn't became the next Under Fire and perhaps this has got to do with expectations. Either way it remains a pleasant score because the moment Goldsmith starts cooking with the Wind and the Lion brass relentlessness, its enjoyable from start to finish. This however happens for me too briefly to really like it. Caboclanco is an effort most if not all true Goldsmith lovers will admire, for those brilliant touches of Jerry, but I believe most people will find there is just too less of the goods present to really herald it in the same league of The Wind and the Lion and Under Fire, 2 scores handling the exotic Western and Mexican flair better.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title (2.37) Excellent Track

2. The Diving Bell (2.48)

3. The Very Thought Of You (Instrumental) * (3.58)

4. Beckdorf's House (1.46)

5. The Drowning (2.01)

6. Heaven Knows: Carol Heather ** (3.32)

7. The Very Thought Of You * / Love Scene (1.12)

8. Boat Attack / Jungle Run (6.20) Excellent Track

9. Hide And Seek (6.40)

10. The Final Act Begins (1.57)

11. The End Of Beckdorf (1.55)

12. The Very Though Of You * / Finale And End Credits (4.46)

* Composed by Roy Noble

** Music by Jerry Goldsmith, Lyrics by Carl Heather

Total Length: 39.40

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=== Link to Composer Site: Jerry Goldsmith ===