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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
A superb CD, featuring a wide variety of atmospheric music., 10 Aug 2001
By A Customer
'The Hunt For Red October' contains a pleasingly diverse selection of music, whilst always staying in the same mood. The CD contains ten tracks, brought from several moments throughout the original motion picture, some dark and atmospheric, others action-packed and exciting. The first tune, 'Hymn to Red October', is undoubtedly the best on the disc. It contains the grandeur of an imperious choir, at first mixed with the noticeable, but not overpowering, whine of the violin, then the hurrying low tones of the deep brass. The quality of music is unsurpassed in this slow, but proud, grand piece. One can almost visualise the rows of singing sailors as the tune breaks into the Soviet anthem, the vocals once more at the forefront of the tune. This is well followed by the second track, a seven-minute exploration of sub-aqua themes, the splendour of 'Red October' and finally, the action of underwater combat. The change from the subtle to the dramatic is made with ease and again to the pomp of the choral part of the piece. This tune incorporates part of the previous track, well mixed into the adrenalin-pumping fast music of action. The CD then moves to two shorter pieces, both less than a minute. Though the time is lessened, the quality is not. The dark musings of 'Putin's Demise' lend a more atmospheric tone to the music. 'Course Two-Five-Zero' is, sadly, over as soon as it starts, but contains a fantastic mix of voice and orchestra, followed by a tune that is at the same time both sinister and innocent, yet strangely enjoyable. From this point the disc becomes slightly less good, though still enjoyable. The final six tracks contain the biggest mix of all. In 'Ancestral Aid', there is fantastic choral music once more, joined with the anxious tones of the orchestra, as well as more dark music, to suit the sinister depths of the oceans. There is also lots of quick action in 'Chopper', 'Plane Crash' and 'Kaboom'. 'Two Wives' is a hopeful orchestral piece and 'Red Route One' contains one of the best themes on the disc, again with an orchestra to display it. The disc is well presented, with some excellent music of a very high quality. Though it is more understandable if one has watched the film, it is by no means needed, in order to enjoy the CD. A must for fans of choral music, the album is worth buying by anyone who appreciates good music, especially atmospheric-style tracks. The Hunt For Red October is one of the best film scores of its period, with a diverse array of style, instruments and mood, as well as some first-rate composing and playing.
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(2 customer reviews)
