TRANCE - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2013)

After working with Academy Award winning composer A. R. Rahman for his last two films, English filmmaker Danny Boyle turns to another composer to tell a story of how the hypnotism and reality can screw up one’s mind. The 73 minute album is a colourful mix of English composer Rick Smith’s engaging score and a couple of tunes heard in the highly recommended movie.

The 16 track album kicks off with Art & Dotty Todd’s “Chanson D’ Amour”, an old school vintage tune which is easy on the ears. Following that is Smith’s “Bullet Cut”, which carries a main theme which will be later heard in other cues. The choice of electronica and synthesizer arrangements for this movie is apt, considering how the characters in the story are kinda messed up mentally. The somewhat melancholic “Solomon” is next, and there is an ominous feel to this seven minute track, It is, however, a treat for score fans who like their cues developed.

Smith and Emeli Sande come together for the irresistibly catchy “Here It Comes”, which plays during a key scene in the movie. Another seductive tune on the soundtrack is Kirsty McGee’s “Sandman”, which can be heard with another arrangement performed by the movie’s female lead Rosario Dawson in the album’s closing track. Fans of English pop would be pleased to hear Moby’s “The Day”, while Unkle enchants with “Hold My Hand”.

Smith, having worked with Boyle for the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony: Isles of Wonder, does a decent job scoring this movie, providing the appropriately emotional moments. One highlight to listen out for is “The Heist”, where you’d be brought on an adrenaline pumping musical journey that is, for the lack of a better description, pure trance.

ALBUM RATING:

Recommended Track: (15) The Heist

Review by John Li