The Bourne Supremacy

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

How series can expand from nowhere, just like James Bond, Jason Bourne has a knack for attracting attention, yet the difference is here, it has got to do with his past which he wants to figure out no matter what. I considered the first film namely The Bourne Identity to be a slick film with not much hoopla ala Bond but more a human special agent who could also bleed when he fell on the ground. The second film considers to be the same but equally daring in its approach since it got good reviews as a wonderful box office result by audience members. For the ride, John Powell was again on board. I however didn't feel much for the manner in which he enveloped the tone for The Bourne Identity since it was a clang bang approach with minimal thematic development whatsoever. And even the fact was, that minimal approach was the best of that score. Luckily for The Bourne Supremacy, he followed the approach of such scores as The Italian Job and in lesser ways Paycheck. It hasn't got the orchestral heroic themes ala Paycheck but it has got that tone, just like The Italian Job that energy but also that Powell touch. And he adjusts it thank god in here, which makes the listen much more enjoyable. It starts however with a wink towards the previous album and film, making the transition much more smoother for casual listeners. 'Goa' opens softly with the main Bourne theme, making yourself remember back the sea and the presumed dead body of Jason Bourne floating there. It also got guitar and percussion, bringing forward a theme we will hear more. 'The Drop' is more Powell scoring now, with the strings setting up a rhythm ala The Italian Job, but again it works. And what especially works is 'Funeral Pyre', mourning piano tones that are vanquished by that same rhythm theme, yet here sounding much more like anger and therefore its a nice effect overall.

Metal percussion and Italian rhythm by now sets up 'Gathering Data', but nowhere near as repulsive as The Bourne Identity achieved in doing. Piano setting up the first track's theme in 'Nach Deutschland', followed by an incredible beat and that rhythm theme growing in power to make 'To the Roof' a cool track alone on effect. The Bourne theme solo wise returns for 'New Memories', again making the link for what was set up in the first film. The pace is back with 'Berlin Foot Chase', reprising what was heard before, the metal percussion over the string rhythm theme which makes for a speedy listening experience. And so the score keeps flowing much smoother then the first, with 'Moscow Wind Up' letting the string theme of track 1 growing again to its ultimate effect. The final action track 'Bim Bam Smash' again sets the right pace from the start, with percussion giving it its biggest edge, electronic gadgets adding the techno flair just a little and the rhythm bringing back that special theme of track 1, it becomes basically an electronic powerhouse finish. Yet the difference here, occasionally you can stand it very easily, because its few in number and also much smoother then the one's we heard in The Bourne Identity. The soft tones of 'Atonement' and the appropriate song of Moby namely 'Extreme Ways' make perhaps the transition to Bourne 3 again fitting. Frankly, I'm always delighted to see John Powell's name attached to a CD when I start listening because he has become a dear favorite of mine, but for The Bourne Supremacy I had my doubts, simply for the history of what preceded it. Luckily he followed more the footsteps of those mentioned scores before, and not that one of Bourne 1. The first had its charm, in case you're searching for not your every day soundtrack, but as a listening experience it failed, something we can gladly delete of the stamp of The Bourne Supremacy. At times the growing power in the action rhythm is better then The Italian Job, but don't forget that the Italian has more in common then its identity that haunts him still.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Goa (3.00)

2. The Drop (3.42)

3. Funeral Pyre (2.21)

4. Gathering Data (1.54)

5. Nach Deutschland (2.40)

6. To The Roof (5.32)

7. New Memories (2.48)

8. Berlin Foot Chase (5.16)

9. Alexander Platz / Abbotts Confesses (3.34)

10. Moscow Wind Up (6.55)

11. Bim Bam Smash (5.09)

12. Atonement (1.35)

13. Extreme Ways: Moby (3.57)

Total Length: 48.23

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=== Link to Composer Site: John Powell ===