Black Knight

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Not to be suspicious or covering new ground but the movie is as ordinary is they feel today. Not that it looks stupid but it has been done before and simply the idea of Martin Lawrence doing his thing with people from the Middle Ages (meaning hip hop and everything) and basically accepting it all is simply idiotic. If I would be giving my sneakers away and saying cool, my head would have been chopped off rather quickly in that time. Anyway, the same can be said about Randy Edelman's music surrounding this blackhooded tale. But the thing is, what I can't so say of the movie, the music still actually works on disc. I'm not speaking here of the greatest discovery since man invented to fart his name, ... but it still somehow clicks, no matter how simplistic it may sound for the regular listener who likes his score full and complex. So, if you want that stick with John Williams or the latest of John Debney. However, if you simply need something to spend your money on, don't care what it may be and actually accept the synthetic easy listening of a guy like Randy Edelman, then it at least will do something right in the book. I do not know if the orchestra was used because at times I simply don't hear the difference in the synthetic sound, but if it at times revives the spirit of Kindergarten Cop and Dragonheart, perhaps it at least is an answer to your question. In any way, Black Knight is here to do a thing for you, or against you if you knew how humans did it, .... the farting.

Not to take this review serious or not (since I don't care about that) but Black Knight is still an easy listen. You have the several themes and all the trademarks you were dying to expect from good old Randy. At times, you will even guess the ending before Randy performs it on disc. Whether this is bad depends on you. Some will think this is simply a weak side of the score and composer but others sometimes are irritated more if they don't spot the trademarks of the composer in the first place. Anyway, the main theme is typically Edelman, and so is the first track. 'A Queen and a Dream' states the main theme early (contains slight references to Kindergarten Cop), some cheap fanfares a la Dragonheart and later a short funky style. This can be for some a bit of a drag, and I'm meaning the funky style. However, it is not used a lot during the score. 'Jamal on Horseback' is a more playful piece with guitar and inserts while at it a harmonica like those cowboy films did, it actually works. Of course the occasional darker sections appear from Daylight and Dragonheart (like track 4) but more, the love theme is there also. How simplistic it may sound, it is the better of the two themes and weaves its way on piano (track 5) or on strings (13). It is very enjoyable in its nature and the better one to appreciate.

Of the tracks that got noticed easily we have several that demand different attention. Easily one of the best is 'The Black Knight' which combines both the lesser appreciated tension music but also a good thematic highlight. 'Escape over the Moat' could have come from either Dragonheart or Daylight and a serenade delivers a tiny bit of color in 'The Middle Age Inn'. There is more, 'Training for the Battle' is a bizarre but strangely enjoyable mix of a spiced up musical sound covering the love theme while a bit of jazz stops it at just 1.07. And this all is reprised in 'Renaissance Sway', covering the whole time the main and love theme, ending with its piano based version. Varèse Sarabande delivered us more then enough score since this is all what Black Knight needs. And even the occasional short track doesn't hinder. Of course many people will ask why in the hell this album is special. You are right, the music is predictable, simplistic and at times very non inspiring, but it overall remains a fairly fun melodic listen, not consisting much of the dreadful tension music, which is definitely a start to begin with. Still its just for those that like Edelman's music in general. Or those who are still wondering why man in the first place started farting his name.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. A Queen And A Dream (2.52)

2. Castle World (1.18)

3. Jamal On Horseback (1.21)

4. Danger In The Early Morning Mist (1.45)

5. A Medieval "Hood" (2.16)

6. Romance In The Hood (1.21)

7. The Black Knight (2.38)

8. One Day With Honor (1.57)

9. Escape Over The Moat (2.38)

10. The Middle Age Inn (1.52)

11. Upcoming Execution (1.47)

12. Winning The Crowd (1.20)

13. Looking Toward A Rainbow (2.29)

14. Where's Victoria? (1.02)

15. Checkmate (0.31)

16. Training For The Battle (1.07)

17. Elliot's Lullaby (0.49)

18. Backwood Rebels (2.11)

19. Renaissance Sway (3.29)

20. Closing (1.37)

Total Length: 36.20

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Randy Edelman ===