Avatar Music From The Motion Picture Music Composed And Conducted By James Horner [+digital booklet]

For me the soundtrack of a film should bring back images of that film and transport you back to that place. This soundtrack does just that. It doesn't matter that James Horner has done previous soundtracks before, and yes it does has some similarities to Titanic, but composers have their own style and this is obviously James Horner's. If you have seen the film, then the music will take you back to Pandora, with all the beautiful flora and fauna, creatures of the forest and the magnificant, but gentle Na'vi. I would recommend this soundtrack to anyone, it is just beautiful, just close your eyes and go back to Pandora!

Having read the other reviews I am going to be controversial and give this soundtrack 5*. As with all movie soundtracks, it is often hard to 'see' them as music in their own right. Not just the ambient 'noise' created to embelish the emotions being conveyed through the visuals. I loved Avatar and am still haunted by the images of Pandora. James Horner's score significantly helped to embed those memories and listening to the soundtrack brings them flooding back. Yes, Horner has a distinct style of composing and this 'voice' can be heard in all his movie scores (Titanic, Willow etc) but ultimately the Avatar score is moving and uplifting, mysterious and delicate. See the movie and listen to it in context, it evokes Pandora perfectly, but even alone it is a beautiful score.

Avatar * * * *
Composed by James Horner
Fox Music/Atlantic 7567-89576-1 (RT 78:59)

Collaborations between Horner and Cameron are rare; however, their last effort ended in triumph - their newest one again seems destined for even more. Track 1: You Don't Dream in Cryo starts with ethereal voices and rolling drums as Horner plays with the mysterious location of Pandora, home to the Na'vi. A solo voice coupled with string backing covers disabled Jake's arrival to the planet, moving up a gear with drums as the ship lands at the base. A 5-note theme plays here on strings, with an ominous woodwind for what lies behind the fence.

2: Jake Enters his Avatar World: here is where Jake tries out his avatar for the first time - Horner supplies the first few notes as Jake begins to explore his newfound mobile attributes. With an increasing build of the drums, Horner flies with Jake out into the field, a native twist to the music ensues then a roll of piano as he runs and runs, enjoying the moment, meeting Dr. Grace Augustine at the end.

3: Pure Spirits of the Forest is a lovely track as Jack is introduced to the natural elements for the first time. Horner plays low-key synth, embodying that with the 5-note Avatar theme. Percussion starts up as Jack explores even more of the beauty of Pandora. However, with beauty there is terror and the music soon shifts gear when bigger animals loom, Horner throwing in synthesised animal backing as Jake questions whether he should run.

4: The Bioluminescence of the Night runs the Avatar theme again with a lyrical quality where Horner supplies some angelic synth effects as the tree's creatures are attracted to Jake. In 5: Becoming One of `The People' - Becoming One with Netiri, a solo voice coupled with the 5-note theme is a beautiful piece. Horner swells out horns over the top of this and percussion as Jake learns how to be a Na'vi. Horner ends this music with a lovely statement on string and synth, building the tension ever higher, then delicate synth effects and a restatement of the Avatar theme as Jake ponders what he might do to these people and why he's falling in love with Netiri.

Moving on, 6: Climbing up Iknimaaya - The Path to Heaven leads in with voices, then the main theme, as we head upwards to where the winged creatures of Avatar live. Percussion backs this music and Horner builds to a lovely crescendo as they reach their destination.

7: Jake's First Flight covers his attachment to his first creature and the grapple as it struggles with him. Powerful drums and wistful flutes with dancing strings alternate as he fights to get the creature's trust. Frantic passages come in 8: Scorched Earth, when Jake realises the workers are on their way, cutting down the forest. Bombastic passages follow as he fights to smash the cameras off the trucks. 9: Quaritch has low passages, then a fast-paced sequence as Grace, Jake, Dr. Spellman, their three avatars and the pilot escape from home-base in a 'copter, with Col. Quaritch in hot pursuit!

10: The Destruction of Hometree has descending synth and strings that cover the flurry of panic in the tribe at what has occurred and Horner gives this the feel of hopelessness at the situation. Fast-voiced, brassy, percussive passages cover the tribe turning on Jake and this rapidly turns into dissonance. Heavy passages on strings play with brass in counterpoint at resignation to the situation. This is further exacerbated by chanting voices in 11: Shutting Down Grace's Lab, as Horner gives the feeling of safety, then a low voice heralds trouble for the doctor as Quaritch decides to pull Grace from her avatar.

12: Gathering All the Na'vi Clans for Battle features percussion building as Horner builds into a fast chanting sequence ending on horn as Jake mounts a defence against the human plans.13: War is a complex bombastic piece with many passages, involving a repeating 6-note human attack theme on brass. Quiet low passages ensue as Jake and his Na'vi look down from above, ready to strike. Fierce battle choral segments cover the tribal attack with a step up a gear Avatar theme backing for Jake's heroic moments. Horner employs a powerful string section covering the warring factions. A repeating 4-note theme over the lush strings gives us the 50-50 as to whether Jake is going to make it.

14: I See You (Theme from Avatar) is the song from the film, embodying the 5-note motif with the dulcet voice of Leona Lewis and is quite beautiful, closing off the disc in style.

The film itself is astounding, the score, whilst not quite to the same high level, stands up to repeated listening and is indeed catchy. Of course, with a 3-hour film, there is bound to be an expanded version at some point; however in this case, I'm not sure I would want one. This CD distils the best bits of the score quite nicely and is a worthy addition to my Horner collection.