Phenomenon (Bootleg)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Thomas Newman, the mastermind of orchestral capabilities equally scored movies that combined his roots in both orchestral as experimental side. This experimental side is mostly still heard through normal instruments (and nothing like the list of instruments that grow with each new score of him) but it still somewhat started around the era of Phenomenon. A bootleg, this tiny score is an example of Newman's growing status as both the orchestral composer as the experimental one. However there is also something that doesn't make it that unique. It is a typical Newman piece, in the line like How to Make an American Quilt, The War as passages of Meet Joe Black's piano play. The strings are pleasant, the mood interesting as the listen lovely, but it still is not great. Mostly due to the short running time and the resulting short track times which make it all a bit short to really set standards. 14 tracks for a 25 minute score is proof that Thomas Newman can't really set great things in motion because the development is too short. But Newman as ever has got great moments in those short tracks, making the bootleg of Phenomenon one for those Newman enthusiasts.

It starts with the main theme and a bit of guitar in 'Phenomenon', in here the theme gets a lovely string moment and there will be other fine moments of the main theme. Like the piano statement of this theme a la Meet Joe Black (including the following orchestral underscore) in 'Shout at the Sky'. And as ever, a short but great swelling of the main theme is noticed in 'End Titles', making it a fine finisher of the score. Personally, I find these three tracks the best of the lot, not grand but lovely and capturing some moments which were expanded with pride in some of his other scores. Other short points to pick out of the remaining tracks is the guitar sound which is not far away from the likes of Something to Talk About by Zimmer and Preskett in 'Chicken Wire' and 'George Malley'. Further the soft piano in 'Portuguese Angel / Lace' which is lovely and some typical yet still interesting experimental pieces in the begin of track 6 and in 8. Overall this score is not a hidden gem, but it is a hidden gem for its short listen and overall attractiveness in material and experience. Phenomenon is therefore one bootleg (with acceptable yet not sharp sound quality) to have if the price is one of a normal soundtrack and that you like short listens of Newman's style. Like How to Make an American Quilt and The War, it contains some moments of Thomas Newman which are lovely, even if they are short.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Phenomenon (3.44)

2. Something To Do (1.00)

3. The Orchard (2.28)

4. Illusion Of Light (0.57)

5. Earth And Trees (1.30)

6. Chicken Wire (1.46)

7. Portuguese Angel / Lace (0.51)

8. Lousy Scenario (0.59)

9. Shout At The Sky (2.29)

10. An Expedition (1.12)

11. Home (2.19)

12. George Malley (1.56)

13. The Rest of Us (1.06)

14. End Titles (2.42)

Total Length: 25.35

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Thomas Newman ===