I Am Dina

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

More and more people begin to see Marco Beltrami only as a horror composer and sadly that isn't true. Recently Angel Eyes or a rejected score for Texas Rangers could have changed that fact, but sadly they aren't released so why would people think differently. One that has been released by Decca is sadly not mentioned and that is I Am Dina, showing of that Marco Beltrami's gift lies more towards the classical line of composing. Its a very dark drama that captures both the more gritty attitude at times but also the classical surroundings of the era as the drama that beholds her life. Nonetheless, Marco Beltrami adds a special touch to the score that barely non other score possesses of him, namely a classical edge. Its all orchestral but with the fact that not many grand orchestral moments are heard. Its simply more the instruments that play a part in the score and likely so, they are noticed rather quickly. 'I am Dina' starts the score with shrieking violins, moving further to state a more strong but dark fanfare, even brief electric guitar is heard before it ends with a fanfare and a brief sign of cello. Already here do the trademarks of Beltrami return but in a more classical surrounding, making not everything as horror sounding as it might have sounded at first. And it sets the tone further for the rest of the score.

If any, I Am Dina could have been disliked by me very quickly but it didn't since it mixes the good parts with the lesser interesting ones, and together it forms a whole that can be appreciated overall. The more weaker parts or basically non interesting ones are either classical by nature or simply mood overall, 'Dina's Etude' with its harsh strings, piano and cello, 'Dina Tunes Out' with its moody tone, 'America or Bust' that captures screeching violins without any real melody and 'Slow Dingo' which also sounds a bit too much classical for my liking. Together they hold a portion of the score into their grasp but its all fair considering the better parts are longer and more in number. Of actual themes so to speak off, there aren't real ones but just returning moments in case, 'Dina Delivers' has the fanfare of track 1 in burdensome circumstances. And a returning jig is heard in 3 tracks, 'Firklover String Jig' is lively, 'Firklover Piano' has the theme on piano and 'Dina's Firklover Party' on both piano and accordion. Together they count as themes of the disc. Of more inspiring material, 'Organ Grinder' is lovely with its beautiful strings, 'Goodbye Lorch' with beautiful cello solos and a collision of cello and orchestra moving to outstanding heights is witnessed in 'We are Dina', a wonderful centerpiece for the score's string line. 'Swiss Miss' is intriguing when it combines horns in the background and strings on the foreground. But its not like they are the highlights of the score, because Jorane is responsible for that alone.

Jorane is credited on the soundtrack and her inclusion is brilliant to say the least. See her as Lisa Gerrard and Yo-Yo Ma together. First, she's underscores Beltrami's piece entitled 'Dina's Lullaby' with a mesmerizing mix of cello and vocals. Together she adds momentum to the score where Beltrami could have only dreamed off. Further, 'She Said' adds a bit more life into it, 'Dit-Elle' is the French version and is more upbeat and more modern, with backing samples of vocals and electric guitar but in all the weird mix, its a stunning one as what The Cranberries would bring, without the cello of course. 'Film III' is stunning since its a very moving, slow version with amazing combinations of the cello and a very effective beat after it. And that with Jorane's voice its all too good. And that Jorane is quite talented is also the fact that she performs the same piece of track 21 and 23 again, but this time in English. Her accent is perfect in both French and English and here the version is even more modern sounding as in 23, but that doesn't take away the brilliance of the piece. Don't think that Beltrami's effort is nothing in the end because its a working mix of long classical lines, and the effort Jorane does with his melody is quite beautiful. But its when Jorane does her own thing, mixing vocals with cello and beats and more modern sounding instruments, then it becomes truly mesmerizing. Her inclusion of 3 tracks with 2 cues for the film has been a welcome inclusion from the Decca producers. Trust me, I knew nothing of Jorane but when people will hear just these pieces, they will never forget her. Maybe it takes away the effect of Beltrami's music a bit, but she has ended the overall soundtrack of I Am Dina with a sensational breeze nonetheless.

Score: ***
Jorane's inclusions: ****

\ľľľ/

Tracks

Single Disc

1. I Am Dina (5.01)

2. Graveyard (2.34)

3. Dina's Etude (2.03)

4. Dina Delivers (1.29)

5. Marco Marries Dina (1.50)

6. Firklover String Jig (1.18)

7. Dina Tunes Out (1.13)

8. Organ Grinder (1.54)

9. Lorch Serenades (1.36)

10. Love & Marriage (3.39)

11. America Or Bust (2.00)

12. Goodbye Lorch (1.35)

13. Labor Pains (1.36)

14. Good Will Hunting (1.01)

15. Slow Dingo (2.02)

16. Can't Buy Me Luv (2.31)

17. Firklover Piano (0.41)

18. Swiss Miss (1.52)

19. We Are Dina (2.08)

20. Dina's Lullaby * (3.12) Excellent Track

21. She Said ** (3.05)

22. Dina's Firklover Party (1.58)

23. Dit-Elle: Jorane (4.07)

24. Film III: Jorane (5.22) Excellent Track

25. Dina: Jorane (3.54) Excellent Track

* Written by Marco Beltrami and Jorane, featuring Jorane

** Featuring Jorane

Total Length: 60.24

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Marco Beltrami ===