The Cape

The Cape TV series was not received well, the truth of the matter being after 9 episodes the show was cancelled as audiences and critics gave it the big thumbs down. The one saving grace that it did posses was the musical score by composer Bear Mc Creary. The composer has worked on a number of popular TV series including BATTLESTAR GALATTICA, A TOWN CALLED EUREKA.THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES and also THE WALKING DEAD, plus he has also scored feature films, shorts and a handful of video games. The composer has a somewhat quirky approach to scoring film and TV but it has to be said it is a style that works and also garners results, he creates music that enhances and supports each and every project well and he also manages to produce music that remains very listenable and highly original away from the films or projects it is intended to enhance. THE CAPE is no omission from that rule and in my ever so humble opinion this is probably the best of Mc Creary thus far in his career. The music from THE CAPE did on my initial listen put me in mind very much of the style of Danny Elfman and also the late Shirley Walker. Then after reading the liner notes it became apparent that I was not wrong to think this way as the composer marks Shirley Walker as a music super hero and dedicates the album to her memory. Every single cue on this splendid double compact disc is an interesting and exhilarating listen, whether it be a full on action cue or a more emotive and intimate interlude there is not one track that I would skip over. I listened to the album through twice (both discs) and each time I was excited and bowled over by its stature, content and presence. It has everything to accompany a superhero, high octane action themes, fanfares, swelling strings, utterly melodic piano, calming and abundant passages plus up tempo and effectively rhythmic cues. The composer includes alongside large orchestra a number of solo players who add their own individual musical fingerprint to events, which I think is why this is such an engaging work, we not only have the grandness of symphonic but the personal and whimsical auras that are supplied by ethnic woods, hurdy gurdy, accordion, dulcimer and additional percussive elements. It is a diverse sounding work but also mainstream if that is at all possible, it conforms to the superhero genre but the composer also thinks outside of this area to create a soundtrack that will become a popular one amongst collectors of fine movie music. The principal theme for THE CAPE is for me very reminiscent of John Williams work on SUPERMAN, but McCreary makes it sound a little darker and thus more in keeping with the shadowy nature of THE CAPE series. I suppose one could say it is the extravagant sound of Williams fused with the dark and unconventional sound of Elfman, an odd combination but one that in the hands of such a gifted composer as McCreary works well. The album is presented extremely well with great art work, there are also informative notes from the series creator Tom Wheeler and executive producer John Wirth with extensive notes from the composer and plenty of photos of the recording sessions, again la la land have produced and released a wonderful score, long may they reign. I recommend this score whole heartedly.