Labyrinth

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Animation was at the time not that hot. We are talking about the '80 and what was more treasured was puppetry, the kind of master Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back, the beasts in Return of the Jedi and the kind of funny entries in likes as the Muppets and the other Jim Henson creations. However, Jim Henson also created non Muppet movies and showed his vision in fantasy more then enough with The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. I only saw Labyrinth to this day but its a movie that breaths so much more emotion and life into the fantasy genre then most special effects movies can create now, and that it looked stunning, sweet, funny, devious and adventurous all alike was because the sets were amazing, the creatures complexly detailed and above all just Henson like in vision. Now, Trevor Jones also returned to compose the music, after his respected score for The Dark Crystal. However, with that score he had the backing of the London Symphony orchestra and the results were heard in often powerful brass statements of the main theme. Here, we have not the orchestral but the electronic bounce of music that supports the adventures of young Sarah. People can rather dislike the effort of Jones for that, simply because its not orchestral. But then you forget the charm which made the music in the film and the effort which Jones created by himself. Basically Labyrinth is a fun ride, one for cheers more then for what could have been.

However, people have to understand that there are two reasons for you to like the music of Labyrinth. Trevor Jones and actor / songwriter David Bowie. David Bowie not only played Jareth so convincingly in the picture, but he also wrote 5 new songs for the film and they all make an impact inside the movie, and they all make the movie better then it is before. 'Opening Titles Including Underground' starts the CD with a song and it will be fleshed out more in a jazz arrangement with choir at the end. However, this piece also shows the main fanfare theme of the score, and it works well. 'Magic Dance' is a big blast, with the additional goblins performing their own act and David Bowie lending his own skill to an otherwise catchy tune, and even you will shake and accept the baby performing with it. 'As the World Falls Down' is a rather soft song, but doesn't misses its effect since it was preceded from the equally soft and mysterious like sounding 'Hallucination' which equally used the dreamy tones of Sarah's theme. 'Within You' is the same with an almost hypnotizing feel. And 'Underground' at the end recapitulates the song with now an even jazzier tone, extra choir at times performing the boogie and simply a great attitude to close of a wonderful film and score. However, don't forget the supplement of Trevor Jones while at it, since he made the movie as memorable as Bowie with his songs and acting. Just listen to the fun and wicked adventure bouncy tones of 'The Goblin Battle'.

There is of course more, 'Into the Labyrinth' which gives way first to some sound effects working as music to present the labyrinth until a faster rhythm starts to unveil the running of Sarah, its all catchy and rather fitting for the synthesizer now. 'Sarah' shows both the theme of Sarah as the main fanfare led theme appearing with almost Vangelis like precision but make sure its all Jones doing it better then before. 'Thirteen O'Clock' shows several themes colliding, including the underscore of the song 'Underground' with the fanfare main theme and 'Home at Last' is a nice piece showing guitar statements of Sarah's theme with then a short but wonderful trumpet statement of the song 'As the World Falls Down'. In the end it might not mean much, but these are statements that make an animation or a great puppet film. Labyrinth altogether can benefit from a terrific technical level and a wonderful musical level. It all brings the movie this unseen fantasy like environment and a beauty of expression from the land where nothing is what it seems. Trevor Jones didn't compose an orchestral score, he didn't redo his Dark Crystal like composition but I don't know if it would have worked anyway with an orchestra. Since both the songs and the score live more because of its bouncy '80 feeling any other way. Labyrinth is a nice soundtrack, especially if you liked the film and works on all levels if you want to revisit the magical dance of a world not far away.

Score: ***
Songs: ***1/2

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Opening Titles Including Underground: David Bowie (3.21)

2. Into The Labyrinth * (2.12)

3. Magic Dance: David Bowie (5.13) Excellent Track

4. Sarah * (3.13)

5. Chilly Down (3.46)

6. Hallucination * (3.02)

7. As The World Falls Down: David Bowie (4.51)

8. The Goblin Battle * (3.31)

9. Within You: David Bowie (3.31)

10. Thirteen O'Clock * (3.09)

11. Home At Last (1.49)

12. Underground: David Bowie (5.57) Excellent Track

* Soundtrack composed by Trevor Jones

Total Length: 44.08

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Trevor Jones ===