THIS IS FROM A PREVIOUS BLOG. THE REVIEW WAS PUBLISHED ORIGINALLY IN 2014
I have popped this on Filmic Tracks as it is mentioned in my pervious review for Dark Waves by the same composer. And besides Red Krokodil deserves to be listened to if you have not previously.
RED KROKODIL
Alexander Cimini
Konos Records
Krokodil is a morphine based drug. It’s also called the flesh-eating drug as it literally eats flesh away exposing bone. In order to review Germam composer Michael Cimini’s score I watched some disturbing videos on You Tube of Krokodil addicts, I will say it was not easy watching.
This 80 minute video, directed by Domiziano Cristopharo is the story of a Krokodil addict in a post nuclear city. It’s the journey of not just the physical deterioration but also the breakdown of the mind and hallucinatory journeys it brings.
C-Age is chilling with it’s taut strings and a distant drum pounding like a time keeper in the background. It wreaks of desperation and fear. If a cue can have colour this is truly black. In complete contrast the following track, the Main Theme, is beautiful with a cello led track of overwhelming sadness. Towards the end of the track a piano, perhaps signifying hope, soars towards a dramatic end.
Alone has a fragility about it which intensifies with a violin which rips your heart out. Strings dominate My Wounded Body, and whilst the title is telling, the arrangement has great beauty.
My Mind, short and tense to start with, is like a ghost track. As if the body has gone already but the mind is hanging on. This detached feeling continues in Reflection In The Water which reaches a peak of outstanding symphonic elegance.
Prologue brings the return of the cello and a choir and it creates a sense of profound loss. Half way through it goes deep into the horror of a distorted mind, you can almost hear a remote voice reaching out to identify who it is.
The Window I played 4 times in a row, it’s full of hope and again I can only write the word beautiful.
If you watch the trailer to Red Krokodil or take a look at the films’ poster, I am sure subconsciously you will imagine it’s a horror score. Accepting the few cues which have a sense of horror [not necessarily horror music] this score has sublime beauty and it affected me deeply. I was a little out of depth trying to get a handle on this short film but I am delighted that I persevered. In short, it is astonishing!
1. C_age
2. Red Krokodil Main Theme
3. Alone
4. My Wounded Body
5. My Little Green Crocodile
6. Endless Roads
7. My Mind
8. Reflection In The Water
9. Prologue
10. W(t)omb
11. Capuccetto6 – Music by G. Verdinelli
12. The Window
13. Passion And Love?
Filmic Tracks 