10 Cloverfield Lane - Bear McCreary

3/16/16

Any hidden cloud messages on this one?

Dies irae sighting?

What You Will Hear:  Full orchestra and a few smaller string ensembles, a Yayli tanbur, and a little bit of the Blaster Beam.  The bells/celeste are particularly effective, as well.

Standout Tracks:  Michelle, Two Stories, The Burn, Up Above, Valencia, The New Michelle, 10 Cloverfield Lane

Will You Be Humming Along?  The simple theme is utilized well in a variety of moods.

The album this makes me want to dust off:  Star Trek: The Motion Picture – Jerry Goldsmith (...listen to the quieter moments)
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Will I come back to it?  This is a great mix of quiet suspense and action.  I expected this score would encourage me to keep the lights on… but I wasn’t prepared for the action and tender moments.  McCreary has developed quite the signature sound when it comes to his string voicings and brass impacts.  Because he is usually so versatile, I was surprised (but definitely not disappointed!) to hear some Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. creep into 10 Cloverfield Lane’s action cues.  (See: The Burn)  Again, this is not a complaint!
   Through expected and unexpected parts of this score, the main melody ties it all together.  No matter what is happening, the theme is always the focus.  It easily shifts between every atmosphere that McCreary needs.  On the creepy side of things, the tanbur was an excellent instrumentation choice.  It wonderfully slides from one note to the next.  In other moments, the strings lovingly work their way through the motif.  (And don’t forget a big brass version: towards the end of the final track!)
   I’ve long considered myself an outsider when it comes to Bear McCreary fandom, but 10 Cloverfield Lane might be the score that finally convinces me to call myself one of the clan.  I personally enjoy when a composer sticks with their usual tricks, and McCreary surprised me with his willingness to do this while also creating something new.  I’ll be returning to this effort when I feel the need for a quiet/loud/soothing/scary experience.

10 Cloverfield Lane was provided courtesy of The Krakower Group and Sparks & Shadows.  Thank you!

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