The Phantom

Originally released in 1996, David Newman’s excellent but somewhat neglected music for THE PHANTOM has been given a new lease of life on the ever industrious LA LA LAND records. This edition includes the score that was released back in 1996 plus a number of extra cues which are either stand alone tracks or extra music which is integrated into cues that were previously issued. Newman’s score is a varied and powerful one, it entertains wonderfully as a work that one just puts into the compact disc player and plays, but his musical textures and melodic passages also enhance and support the movie perfectly. It is a shame that the film itself did not attract more attention or garner any critical acclaim or support when it was released, as if it had done I am sure Newman’s score would have been more fully appreciated by the non film music aficionados at the time. I remember someone saying of the score when it was originally released that there were no big heroic themes within the score, well I disagreed at the time and I uphold that today because on revisiting Newman’s colourful and bold score I can state that themes are in plentiful supply, they are action led in places, great big heroic sounding pieces, percussive and thundering in places and also the work is brimming with a luxurious and sumptuous sound that for me conjures up mystery, mayhem and of course romance. All of these elements combine easily to make up a score that is not only original in numerous ways but also it is a score that harkens back to the days of blockbuster soundtracks from the mid 1950,s thru to the 1970,s, when films actually contained solid themes that were the foundation to an entertaining score. The composer utilizes to great effect brass, strings and also percussion to great effect and laces these with electronic support which although is obvious in places is not overpowering. The theme that the composer created for THE PHANTOM some might say is rather a contrived and clichéd piece, as we hear the choir saying PHANTOM, PHANTOM over and over at the outset, but personally I am of the opinion this adds a mysterious level to the composition, as this is short lived and only acts as an introduction to a grand scale cue that is performed by brass and swirling proud sounding strings that are underlined by percussion, Pipes, rams horn and also further enhancement by a scattering of choir. The cue is also given support by the composers inclusion of some electronics and various noises and urgent stabs from the brass section that punctuate proceedings, until it builds to a shimmering and exciting crescendo. Newman puts to effective use pan pipes or pan pipe effects within the score and these are embellished by inventive utilization of percussion throughout that create an atmosphere that is perfect for the locations in which the story is set. I do realize that the score has been issued before, but La La Land Records just seem to bring so much more to a production, and I say this of the the label even if there is no extra music.In this case of course there are a number of extra cues.

The label certainly do a great job on presentation and the booklets for all of their releases are excellent. THE PHANTOM is a wonderful score, and has been presented marvellously by La La Land, even if you have the original I urge you to consider buying this edition. Well worth it.