Arabian Nights

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Richard Harvey is one of the B- list composers emerging today, mostly scoring TV movies and series it is obvious we haven't heard it all from this British composer. Animal Farm was one of the best surprises of the last years, and while the next feature score of Harvey Arabian Nights isn't from the same league, it again delivers some fine moments. The Hallmark movie, consisting to last for 4 hours did bore me already after 30 minutes, (meaning I stopped already then) and so I can't say I experienced Harvey's score in its own right. But still, multiple occasions and I mean that literately (9 times before the rating was decided) and the score got probably what it deserved. The soundtrack overall isn't thematically rich, we have our dissonant and high tones changes from left to right but the effort and orchestration, power and choral back up along with its solo vocals is impressive alone for a recommendation. The magic of this score starts to rise when Harvey enters the Eastern mood, then it starts to mingle a love theme a la Kitaro's Heaven & Earth into the mix, and those are truly breathtaking, but this doesn't mean that the score is good enough for everyone. This was my first soundtrack of Richard Harvey and it was a rocky experience and still is, the score has the stuff I wanted but not everything is that easy to listen to, and listening to it to understand why it belongs there is a must for sure. I am a normal guy and want a heroic main theme, an epic one that weaves throughout all the action when it concerns a story like Aladdin. This sadly isn't on board, which probably made it harder for me to like all the rest.

There is a main theme but this only appears three times, 'Main Titles', 'The Storyteller' and 'Conclusion / End Titles' and it isn't really the theme I imagined it would be, a short one also. Of course that makes it harder for some but others might dig their way into the rest. And the rest that I adore is the Kitaro influenced eastern music. It supports the love material and truly that begins to swell to excellent proportions witnessed in 'Aladdin's Wish' and 'Aladdin's Perfect Dream / The Illusion Shattered'. Basically these moments are worth the attention. 'Aladdin and the Princess' has even more hints towards his high praised Animal Farm. But the rest is probably the biggest disappointment, not the music itself but probably what some might interpret of it. I mean when you look at the titles you expect perhaps the big thematic adventure with all the themes and the glorifying statements. Sadly this doesn't happen and if the music takes on a different form it becomes more disappointing, while it may sound decent and impressive on orchestration level. Especially the track at the end 'The Final Battle' is nothing but orchestral noise. Its basically music that doesn't speak to me as it supposed to do it, meaning in the heart of things. A Kid in Aladdin's Palace (a soundtrack I refer it too often) isn't perhaps high quality difficult music but I like it, since I personally enjoy its tone more in the end.

Of course the initial thought is only strengthened by a singular review praising that this score is worth the attention to those who loved The Mummy and The Prince of Egypt. First of all, who didn't enjoy those two and secondly comparing Harvey's Arabian Nights with two classic entries of two of the best composers is making it harder for the man in question. The fans will expect more of it eventually and the theme might alone disappoint them deeply. So if people want a theme, even if its not that superb A Kid in Aladdin's Palace of David Michael Frank does miracles in its orchestral rousing form. Arabian Nights is simply too overbearing, making the listening experience harder for sure. Meaning the right mood will perhaps do much in the end. The Mummy packs a heck of an energy, Arabian Nights isn't bad either but it misses the right Goldsmithian thing and Zimmer's Prince of Egypt brings more magic to the fore then this soundtrack. So if people get that right then there might be a good possibility they will enjoy the best moments of Arabian Nights. Sadly and perhaps the ultimate downfall of this score is the mammoth running time, way too long (if it was 45 to 50 minutes it might have gotten 3 stars but its too much). At the end it delivers its small highlights but it isn't enough. One thing to mention, in the begin of track 22 there seems to be a scratch or a loud noise. I'm simply warning you because it scared the hell out of me the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, .... time I heard it. Be warned and if its isn't there, be lucky. Then only this person faces the consequences of his actions.

\ตต1/2/

Tracks

Single Disc

1. Sultan Shariar's Dream (2.53)

2. Main Titles (1.06)

3. The Brother's Feud (2.18)

4. Scheherazade's Decision (1.25)

5. Ali Baba In The Treasure Cave (1.44)

6. Open Sesame! / Black Coda (2.27)

7. Kasim's Fatal Mistake (4.31)

8. Coda's Men Search For Ali (2.20)

9. Under Cover Of Darkness / Thieves Sent Tumbling (2.55)

10. Another Story ... (0.25)

11. Bacbac - Death Of A Funny Man (3.12)

12. Aladdin And The Princess (2.12)

13. In The Tomb Of The Warriors (2.35)

14. The Genie Of The Lamp (3.11)

15. The Storyteller (1.44)

16. Aladdin's Wish (2.57)

17. Schazzanan's Army (2.22)

18. The Heart Of A Princess (4.22)

19. Aladdin's Perfect Dream / The Illusion Shattered (5.07)

20. Mustappa's Victory (0.31)

21. Another Happy Ending (1.51)

22. Amin And The Sultan's Madness (2.36)

23. The Three Brothers (2.40)

24. The Magic Carpet (3.36)

25. Into The Great Desert (0.47)

26. The Final Battle (4.40)

27. Conclusion / End Titles (2.20)

Total Length: 69.21

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