1 |
Long,
Long Time Ago |
2 |
The
Labyrinth |
3 |
Rose,
Dragon |
4 |
The
Fairy and the Labyrinth |
5 |
Three
Trials |
6 |
The Moribund Tree and the Toad |
| 7 |
Guerrilleros
|
8 |
A
Book of Blood |
9 |
Mercedes
Lullaby |
10 |
The
Refuge |
11 |
Not
Human |
12 |
The
River |
13 |
A
Tale |
14 |
Deep
Forest |
15 |
Vals
of the Mandrake |
16 |
The
Funeral |
17 |
Mercedes |
18 |
Pan
and the Full Moon |
19 |
Ofelia |
20 |
A
Princess |
21 |
Pan's
Labyrinth Lullaby |
REVIEW
This
may just be Spanish composer Javier Navarrete’s big
break. Just look what winning a Best Oscar score for Brokeback
Mountain (2005) did for Argentinean musician Gustavo Santaolalla
– he is now well-recognized, and is back with another
Academy Award-nominated score for Babel (2006). Also
in this yer’s Oscar race is Navarrete for his composition
on the critically acclaimed fantasy drama set in fascist Spain.
But unlike the overrated film, this soundtrack album is definitely
a class on its own.
Like a
lullaby, the 74-minute disc kicks off with a hypnotic “Long,
Long Time Ago” where the main theme is introduced with
wondrous effect. The waltz rhythm on the lonely tinkling piano
is accompanied by a seven-note motif before it gradually builds
up to its luscious best. The melody provided by the humming
girl also works well in a fantasy score like this.
The rest
of the tracks are aptly named, like the chapters of a storybook
where readers follow to uncover more about the mysterious
tale.
The signature
feel of the soundtrack is characterized by its orchestral
voice, where strings flow freely amidst Navarrete’s
mellow compositions. The piano is an obligatory instrument
here. There are also occasional wisps of the flute, the clarinet
and other brasses in tracks like “The Refuge”
and “Mercedes”.
Action
cues are aplenty in this soundtrack too, given the dramatic
elements of the film. “Guerrilleros”, “Not
Human” and “Deep Forest” provide the pacing
needed in a score album like this. An exceptional track is
“The Moribund Tree and the Toad” where an exotic
percussion sound is introduced two-third into its seven-minute
duration - a gem indeed.
This disc
is recommended for its consistency in thematic style and its
approach in scoring for the visual medium. The music is composed
with richness that warrants for repeated listening. Each time
will stand as an experience on its own, and that’s a
good enough reason for soundtrack fans to include this album
in their collection.
As
for Navarette, we sure hope he gets the recognition he deserves
with this composition.
SOUNDTRACK
RATING:
Review
by John Li
|
