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Dead Ringers: Music From The Films Of David Cronenberg

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Dead Ringers: Music From The Films Of David Cronenberg

Dead Ringers: Music From The Films Of David Cronenberg (1992)

Composer(s):
Howard Shore

Released in:
1992

Reviews

The Upbringing Of A Diverse Composer
by a soundtrack collector (June 6, 2003)
Howard Shore, whose name has been planted and grown into the minds of millions with his masterpiece score to The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring, has become one of Hollywood's more versatile composers, standing alongside Elliot Goldenthal and Thomas Newman. With FOTR now a classic, it still remains, however, that he writes his best music for David Cronenberg. In fact, it is Cronenberg who is responsible in allowing Shore to expand his gifts as a composer, due to the constant experimentalism that his films present. This CD is a compilation of three of their now ten collaborations (most recent being Spider).
The disc starts out with Scanners, a movie about a race of telepathic people who must stop a renegade scanner from trying to take over the "normals." The mild sci-fi elements of the story inspired Shore to base his score on electronics as well as orchestral elements. The "Main Title" track has synth undertones beneath the high descending strings. A good example in the emphasizing of the electronics is "Vale Captured." Shore improvises sounds on a tape deck and loops thems to create the actions going on in the main character's mind. The sounds build upon on each other as the track progresses. The theme introduced in the "Main Title" is the basis of the score, and the high strings and electronics are sampled as the score moves along.
Next is The Brood, a movie about a psychiatrist who teaches patients at a hospital to externalize the rage of their inner child through boils and lesions. One woman externalizes it so much that she asexually produces a brood of mutant children who begin to kill those that have angered her. The 12-minute suite is performed by a 21-piece string ensemble in the manner of Hermann's score to 'Psycho.' The piece mainly depicts the emotions of the characters as well as a few of the onscreen actions, hence the name of the track "The Shape Of Rage."
The rest of the disc performs tracks from Dead Ringers, the story of twin gynecologists whose tightly knit bond is interfered by a drug-addicted actress. The weaker of the two twins falls in love with her and, in trying to separate from his brother for the first time, begins a descent into madness that destroys both of them. Out of all the collaborations between Shore and Cronenberg, this must be the most emotional and intimate product they've ever produced. The "Main Title" captures the sense of tragedy that is emphasized throughout the score in a major key. The tracks themselves utilize strings, several woodwinds, and a harp, underscoring the actions onscreen. The music is very depressing. The "Birthday Party" and "Suicide" tracks are two of Shores best compositions to date, depicting the sadness of separating from loved ones. The Dead Ringers tracks are worth the CD alone, and is probably the only other Shore score that could equal the amount of quality that The Lord Of The Rings possesses.
Overall, this is a good presentation of how Howard Shore grew into the composer that he is today. This is recommended for those who are interested in learning his roots, Cronenberg fans, and those who want to continue learning just how good a composer Shore really is.

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