Finally, an electronic score that is both, original in its scope and refreshing to boot...Today sees the digital U.S. release of Attack the Block (Amazon.com). A soundtrack/score that is a combination of Steven Price's score work mixed with Basement Jaxx's (Felix Burton & Simon Ratcliffe) electronic work.
The film won't be released until Friday, but already, this is turning into one of my favorite scores for this year.
Obviously, it doesn't follow the mainstream (haha) orchestral score sound, but is in the score genre that seems to be burgeoning in the industry.
Recently, there have been quite a few popular films with similar type scores, Tron: Legacy (Daft Punk), The Social Network (Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross), Hanna (The Chemical Brothers), etc...
To me, this score is the one that features elements from both traditional orchestra and the techno sound worlds, but blends them better than the others that came before. There are times that it seems the orchestra has been sampled that even lends itself to the techno sound and making the blend seem more authentic.
Immediately with the opening track "The Block" you can't help but bob the head to the fat beat that's laid out. All the elements that are contained in the cue make for a very interesting conglomeration, not least of which is something I've already mentioned... the sampled (or at least that's the way it sounds) orchestra.
One of the things that I love about this score is the amount of different instruments that the composers have at their fingertips, and actually use. In the track "Round Two Bruv" it begins right away with some awesome sounding synth stuff including a Theramin emulation. But the piece goes through transformations and eventually, the main melody is played by the orchestra with bits of the electronic thrown in.
The album does a great job of mixing the different elements while keeping it fresh and listenable. But it wasn't until "Rooftops" that my blood really got pumping. The thumping and arpeggiator race along in what I imagine is a rooftop race across some random part of South London.
This soundtrack is very exciting, and doesn't disappoint. From the bit crushing to the full orchestral barrage, it has a little something for everyone. And the vintage electronic sounds combined with kitsch sic-fi music cliches, I LOVE listening to this (and have many times already).
To round out the album, Basement Jaxx has included a song by them that I imagine will bring the house down at the film's conclusion in "The Ends". From what I've read elsewhere Basement Jaxx's style is house... or dub step... or some other sub-genre of techno that I am not quite familiar with. Either way this track really makes my head bob! So please, if you like electronics and orchestral fare in your ears, don't hesitate to pick this up!
I can't wait until one of my friends asks me to score one of their projects in this style!
And now I leave you at the Ends...
