ALIENS

JAMES HORNER

Rating:

Original Review: This was the score for which James Horner got his first Oscar nomination in 1986, and is in my opinion, one of the finest action scores ever written. The Main Title, which contains elements of Khachaturian's Gayanne Ballet, is a lonely and desolate piece played on soft strings but, after this slow and calm opening, bursts into life. The first minute of Going After Newt must be one of the three best action sequences I have ever heard: with a pounding timpani and brass fanfares, played alternately by different instruments, always get my adrenaline pumping. The same can be said for the stunning Futile Escape, arguably the best action cue ever written (although I think it gets a slightly better rendition on Cliff Eidelman's Alien Trilogy compilation - some of the synthesiser effects are omitted, and therefore the orchestrations are clearer), and the opening minute-and-a-half of Bishop's Countdown, which utilised a wonderful string section and reaches an incredible crescendo before reverting to a gentle flute theme. I also like Resolution and Hyperspace, which starts of action-oriented but ends with a quiet, lyrical rendition of the main theme. Some of the other music is rather repetitive and occasionally a bit abstract, with screeches, whistles and bangs, but overall is an excellent CD.

EXPANDED REVIEW COMING SOON

Track Listing: Running Time: 41 minutes 04 seconds

TER CDTER-1115 (1986)

Music composed and conducted by James Horner. Performed by The London Symphony Orchestra. Orchestrations by Greig McRitchie. Recorded and mixed by Eric Tomlinson. Edited by Robin Clarke and Michael Clifford. Mastered by Michele Stone. Album produced by James Horner.

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