Fernando Valzaquez – Filmic Tracks

CONTRATIEMPO [The Invisable Guest] by Fernando Velazquez

From one of the busiest composers around and one of the most diverse. I am now a confirmed fan of this Spanish scorist and accomplished cello payer. This soundtrack colours a dark, intense thriller involving murder and manipulation and and you have no doubt of this as you listen to track upon track of full throttle darkness.

The first track Goodman starts with a low note cello intent on driving you mad as it just keeps going onward in the background as the orchestra dances around it, it’s quite a pull. I try not to compare too often but this is a good comparison – El Inivitado Invisible has those long violin notes which rise and then just hang there just like the classic scores of Bernard Herrmann. In La Pesadillla there is what I can only describe as a continuous string vibration in the background akin to the sound of swarming bees, it’s very effective and really niggles at your senses. It appears on a more buzzy level in Tu No Quieres Perderlo Todo Verdad is a winding track with wonderful chord changes, there is so much going on in this cue, subtle and compelling. The last track has such gravitas starting with a sombre funereal drone, violins slowly come in and build until the strings can not reach any higher. There is no escaping this track it is really taking you somewhere … and then it doesn’t. It stops and you are left with a drum beat and then it’s back to how it sounded in the first track, jaunty and as if all was ok after all!

There is no motif as such but there is a pattern which journeys you along and there are many long, unswerving notes which just hang there giving a chilling sense of terror. This is a score which definitely gets under your skin!

The score is performed by the Euskadi Symphony Orchestra who do such a brilliant job under the baton of the Velazquez. The album also includes the original song “Nadie va a venir a buscarte,” composed by Velázquez and performed by Zahara.

TRACK LISTING

1. Goodman 2:27
2. El invitado invisible 2:12
3. La pesadilla 5:37
4. Giro a la izquierda 1:28
5. Tú no quieres perderlo todo ¿verdad? 3:19
6. El testigo 2:44
7. El hundimiento 0:51
8. Reencuentro 1:07
9. Un buen hombre 2:03
10. Atrapada 3:19
11. El último error 2:44
12. No me amenaces 5:08
13. Yo sé lo que vi 6:51
14. Chantaje 1:22
15. Tres preguntas 4:16
16. Pensamiento lateral 7:15
17. La sombra de la sombra 11:22
18. El invitado invisible II 7:45
19. Nadie va a venir a buscarte (Zahara)

QUARTET RECORDS

Pride_and_Prejudice_and_Zombies_Cover

Doesn’t it sound so tantalising …. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Sounds so 2016 but in fact Seth Grahame Smith’s novel of the same name [and with one of the best book covers ever] was published in 2009. Natalie Portman was originally cast as Elizabeth Bennet and also as a producer but schedules conflicted and whilst she still is one of the producers the female lead went to Downton Abbey’s rising star Lily James. It’s a parody of the 1813 Jane Austen novel and it does makes you wonder if it’s going to spawn a whole host of classic book zombie versions – could be fun!

Spanish composer and acclaimed cello player Fernando Velázquez who composed the much underrated 2015 score Crimson Peak, has delivered a terrific score full of dark strings with an undercurrent of gothic with some traditional tracks thrown in. The opening track Darcy has such a strong Hammer horror sound to it with it’s deliciously twisting notes and trembling violins. The Regency age is fully explored in Dressing For The Dance, a breezy track which is all too short.

The traditional tracks, The Man from Uribe and Dance of the Ponderous Distaff fit well with the whole musical presentation of the score. In fact parts of the soundtrack sound like a classical period score. Flirt Lovers Fight is a playful, comedic cue and tragedy can be felt in the beautifully orchestrated The Letter/Siege of London. There is also romance in the soaring strings of Happy Ending?

What a relief that this score was so carefully thought about and offers musical highlights keeping in company of the period it’s set rather than an all out horror, action score. Nicely done Mr Velázquez!

1. Darcy (4:00)
2. An Illustrated History Of England 1700-1800 (2:20)
3. Dressing For The Dance (0:36)
4. The Man From Uribe (2:11)
5. Dance Of The Ponderous Distaff (1:29)
6. We Are Under Attack!! (2:27)
7. Carriage Ride (1:05)
8. Orphans (1:47)
9. The Soldiers Of Meryton (1:10)
10. Menuet Des Mortes Vivants (1:35)
11. Orphan Attack (3:34)
12. Don’t Go Into The Woods Alone (1:29)
13. St Lazarus (2:43)
14. Rosings Park (1:15)
15. Midnight Walk (1:08)
16. Flirt Lovers Fight (2:45)
17. The Letter / Siege Of London (4:09)
18. The In-Between (5:36)
19. Darcy Is Saved (1:59)
20. Back To St Lazarus (2:13)
21. Zombies Are Fed / Attack / Showdown (5:13)
22. After The Explosion (2:40)
23. Happy Ending? (4:42)

Label: Varese Sarabande

Tag: Fernando Valzaquez

CONTRATIEMPO BY FERNANDO VELAZQUEZ -Soundtrack Review

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES – Soundtrack Review