Tuesday 27 September 2011

Zack Hemsey - A brief insight into the way he works

One of the reasons why Inception was such a big hit was partly because of the music used during one of the trailers.  Many thought the music had been created by Hans Zimmer, but in actual fact, it was done completely by one man, Zack Hemsey.  Titled "Mind Heist", its an epic track, used to great effect. Even today, people think Hans Zimmer created it, but its all done by Zack Hemsey.

His music is so good, it has even been plagiarised by Steve Jablonsky during a key scene in Transformers Dark of The Moon, something which Hemsey addressed on his blog here.


SoundWorks Collection: Composer Zack Hemsey from Michael Coleman on Vimeo.


Zack Hemsey is actually a Hip Hop MC and composer extraordinaire.  He started off composing for hip hop group called Nine Leaves where he is also an MC.  His unique blend of electronic and orchestral gave Nine Leaves a very distinct sound.

http://nineleaves.org/album/peace-in-death


 
Hemsey's first album contains Mind Heist and many other tracks which have been used in several more movie trailers.  He doesn't actually compose for film, its actually Hollywood that has actively persued his music to be used.

Young Guns II - Silvestri Classic in Expanded Format Released


If you are an Alan Silvestri fan, then you can grab his Young Guns II score in its complete format from Intrada and Screen Archives.

A classic western featuring an all star cast, the soundtrack is quite appropriately composed, with plenty of boombastic themes.  This score makes use of orchestra, guitar and rivetting percussion throughout.  This one is up there alongside his other classics. The sound quality has been remastered, and should satisfy any true Young Guns fan.


You can grab a copy from Screen Archives here:
http://www.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm/ID/16373/YOUNG-GUNS-II/

Or from Intrada themselves:
http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.7272/.f

Saturday 3 September 2011

The Golden Child Limited Edition Soundtrack Score - Michael Colombier

Recently released, this is a 3 CD limited edition set of the complete and rejected scores for The Golden Child. Eddie Murphy's classic supernatural action comedy features a great synth/orchestral mix with some great themes in there.

The sound quality is superb, mastered brilliantly and crystal clear. Its a definite upgrade from the existing soundtrack releases.


You even get the entire rejected score by John Barry, which itself is quite brilliant.

http://lalalandrecords.com/GoldenChild.html

On the 3rd CD you also get the various songs that were used in the film. All in all, a complete score and soundtrack edition nicely put together. Now if they would only do the same for numerous other films out there.

Friday 2 September 2011

Commando Score - Tropical Wild Jungle Fever Returns Again

If you were waiting for a reissue of James Horner's wild tropical beast of a score for Commando, then you just missed out. The reissue for Commando sold out in less than 24 hours, showing there still are human beings with good taste in music!



The legendary 1985 score by Horner carries on from his wild "48 Hours" score, introducing heavy percussion, tropical drums and just wild action cues which haven't been heard since. Actually, they did reappear when Horner scored Red Heat a few years later, but this score is his definitive masterpiece alongside his Star Trek 2 The Wrath of Kahn soundtrack score.

This new release is on La La Land Records who have done a public service by releasing this beast of a score once more. Now if only James Horner pulled his finger out of his backside and did another score like this, we could have some more enjoyable one liners and wild action scenes.

To top it off, they have included the long trenchcoat Power Station anthem with this score to satisfy the cravings of everyone, somewhere, somehow, indeed..

Enjoy the score and remember these great one liners.

"I eat green beret's for breakfast and right now i'm very hungry".

"You're a funny guy Sully, I like you. That's why I'm going to kill you last."

"Don't disturb my friend, he's dead tired."


Even Sully went "oooh la laaaaa" when Matrix dropped him like a piece of meat.