The Mask

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

I would have imagined that Randy Edelman had fun composing this score, his wild and electronic sound being supported by the Irish Film Orchestra and instead to make an orchestral flourish he created a handful of comical themes, and put them together all at once. The effect that it creates in the movie is hilarious along with the amazing special effects and Jim Carrey as the leading star, but on disc it's nothing more then wild, silly and comical struggles that support the scene one by one. I like it and the themes sound fun in their own way but to describe it as good film music is something else. Randy Edelman's known style is fully recognizable in The Mask, his themes, not strikingly new or superb but every time do they fit with the genre of the movie. And the number of themes is immense, first of all the main theme (great thing and the dark undertone it supports is definitely enjoyable), the Milo theme (the dog), the theme for the two police captains in the movie and the love theme for the beautiful Cameron Diaz and for the charming Amy Yasbeck. The main theme is the best, it starts this album with great flair in 'Opening / The Origin of the Mask', followed by a concert version of the theme (not heard during the movie), to the short theme when the mask is discovered. 'Tina' presents a sleazy sexy trumpet theme when Cameron Diaz makes her entrance in show business hall of fame, and believe me, you will remember it. 'Carnival' and 'Out of the Line of Fire' are playful if what too comical pieces to hear and its carnival esque tone works but sounds dated in a way. During the movie, no problem but they aren't that superb to hear over and over again.

The main theme is heard during some scenes, every time when the mask is presented or put on, the way the brief but stunning synthesized choir grows over the theme in 'Transformation', (that has some wild sound effects) is great and also in 'Dorian Gets a New Face' its menacingly awesome. The comical themes never stop actually and they surprise you every time. They aren't terrible but if you don't understand the reason they have to support, then it's difficult to fully appreciate them. A short moment in 'Milo to the Rescue' is very enjoyable, the first 25 seconds of that track provides the listener with some good fanfares but sadly it doesn't last, it returns back to wild music and a full package of synthesizer sounds, mainly the ones you have been hearing all over this score. The Mask is definitely one of the craziest scores I have heard in a long time. They fit all with the movie but Randy Edelman throws them all together and that makes it sound so mixed up and simply too much to handle. But the real problem is simply the obnoxious synthesizer whooshes and comical tones. They all work inside the movie but when you expect to hear an orchestra (even Irish I don't care), then this score sounds in fact just like any other synthesizer score of Edelman, but more tacky overall. Edelman fans will really know what I'm talking about and they will enjoy some pieces, or even the entire score. But for those who think this is another good Edelman score think again, too much to handle, too much to pay attention at and everything is so energetic but above all synthesized funny. Great for the film but it makes you spin around and that's not a good thing, is it?

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Opening / The Origin Of The Mask (3.15)

2. Tina (1.57)

3. Carnival (2.15)

4. Transformation (2.13)

5. Tango In The Park (2.06)

6. Lovebirds (2.39)

7. Out Of The Line Of Fire (2.04)

8. A Dark Night (2.15)

9. The Man Behind The Mask (1.57)

10. Dorian Gets A New Face (3.00)

11. Looking For A Way Out (1.35)

12. The Search (1.04)

13. Forked Tongue (1.44)

14. Milo To The Rescue (2.40)

15. The Mask Is Back (2.14)

16. Finale (1.47)

Total Length: 35.49

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

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