Seven Swords

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Japanese Kenji Kawai is one of the most known composers in Asia, having contributed music to some of the biggest hits of the Asian cinema (Ringu, Ringu 2, Avalon, Dark Water and Ghost in the Shell 1 and 2) to name but a few of the most successful productions. With Seven Swords, the epic drama that received nice critic another will be added to that list in the future. Because the score can pack a punch too. Fully orchestral and a builder, this score proves my point that the successful tone of Avalon's charm is ever working in another setting. If people heard Avalon, they will realize that Kawai builds his music slowly and continuously returns to the same motif or theme, but by that bringing each time a further element to that music that makes the feeling more positive each time you hear it. And while you perhaps expect that in the begin, it doesn't lead up all too much, its the constant building of impressive orchestral pounds and rhythmic delights that proves you wrong in the middle. It begins with a brief prelude, a taste of things of come and in 30 seconds, Kawai more or less unfolds his attacking music, rhythmic and with a sense of speed in the proceedings. However the first part after that is rather calm and doesn't bring much of real interest, 'Massacre Rhapsody' has some suspension music by the strings, 'Flute in Danger' the same suspension moves but this time by unsettling brass while a duduk truly settles the listener in uneasy territory in 'Women from Yonder'. Its not until 'Fire from Heaven / Mount Heaven Serenade' that moody bells lead into a solo vocal and some color. And that color also pushes the action suspense music further to promising heights. In 'The Attack Aftermath' its the rhythmic build up by trumpets that impresses you, not building up in power but building up to a resolution. And in 'In Search of Beauty in Life' lovely gentle strings suddenly explode in the adventure trumpet theme that Kawai nicely held from us until the middle part, that's what I like about scores, don't bring all your high points at once in the beginning, wait for the middle and end.

While no really big themes are heard or recognized, Seven Swords is not without themes, it moves further ala Avalon, bases its tracks as sole thematic strong holders and let them lead the dance. 'Setting the Horses Free' suddenly rises to a magnificent emotional string movement in the second minute after a soft beginning while 'To Hell and Back' signals the suspension music and adventure theme around bells in just 59 seconds. And from then on, it never looks back to amaze the listener. 'The Spirit of the Swords' needs 2 minutes to lull you to sleep until the suspense builds around the adventure theme with nice variations but a really awesome rhythmic feeling and a wonderful build up to the theme that really impresses. You must hear it to believe it. And it goes on and on, 'The Final Sword Battle / The Dragon vs. the Transience' begins dark and with pounds, but a more heroic color is soon unleashed that doesn't stop until its over, leading in to all of these heroic orchestral moments. And in 'Children at Dawn' the celebration cheers us to the end, with first a children chorus, then the emotional string theme and later a performance of the celebration tune in full force, its proof that Kawai held at the end even new wonderful ideas. In 'Seven Swords' Victory' the heroic theme is repeated but with additional light choir to spice things a tiny bit up. This proves perhaps Seven Swords needed time to build up, but it was this build up that basically made the journey worthwhile. And like in Avalon, the promising track by track build up made it 70 minutes worthy of your attention. There is just a little bit of innovation lacking in the action / heroic music (because it centers all around one theme and movement) and that the begin just needs time to get used too, for that Seven Swords doesn't get more in quotation. But as said, it still holds many surprises, is naturally a fresh feeling score due to its Eastern market and proves that the Asians have gotten used to making a score sound so European like, it will appeal to many people who simply give it a chance.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Ode To The Seven Swords (0.32)

2. Massacre Rhapsody (3.09)

3. Flute In Danger (2.45)

4. Woman From Yonder (3.45)

5. Fire From Heaven / Mount Heaven Serenade (6.19)

6. Trial And Conquest (4.12)

7. The Attack Aftermath (4.47)

8. In Search Of Beauty In Life (3.53) Excellent Track

9. Encounter At The Shrine (4.50)

10. Going Home / Ambush In The Mist (2.10)

11. Setting The Horses Free (3.14) Excellent Track

12. Death Of Green Pearl (1.38)

13. To Hell And Back (0.59)

14. The Spirit Of The Swords (7.09) Excellent Track

15. The Final Sword Battle / The Dragon Vs. The Transience (7.38) Ex. Track

16. Children At Dawn (6.48) Excellent Track

17. Seven Swords' Victory (6.08) Excellent Track

Total Length: 70.08

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