Scoring for over 100 films Hans Zimmer is one of the film world’s most prolific A-list contemporary composers. This double album features a variety of Zimmer’s classic scores with the addition of his more recent successes, 'Mutiny' (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Strangers Tides), 'Discombobulate' (Sherlock Holmes), 'Aggressive Expansion' (The Dark Knight), as well as classic tracks from box office hits such as 'This Land' (The Lion King), 'Red Sea' (The Prince of Egypt) and 'Davy Jones' (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest)...

This comprehensive 2 CD is a follow up to Silva Screen’s 2007 release The Essential Hans Zimmer Film Music Collection. The album runs for 1 hr, 42 min and includes 23 tracks. The movies covered include Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (two tracks); Inception (two tracks); The Pacific; Sherlock Holmes; Angels & Demons; The Dark Knight (two tracks); Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (two tracks); Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (two tracks); Batman Begins; Madagascar; King Arthur; The Ring; Spirit; Black Hawk Down; Mission Impossible II; The Prince of Egypt; The Peacemaker; and The Lion King.

These compilations can either be totally appalling or incredibly well produced. In this instance I'm happy to report that it's the later. In fact I compared a couple of the tracks to the originals ('Discombobulate' from Sherlock Holmes and 'I60 BPM' from Angels & Demons) and was surprised to discover that not only was the attention to detail of the, for want of a better word, "copy" almost identical to the original, but that the running times are almost the same (both being a mere two seconds different). In fact even those who know the originals inside out (and I have to admit I know them pretty well myself) would find it next to impossible to spot which is which.

As I've mentioned in previous reviews, (most notably in The Indiana Jones Trilogy soundtrack) no two recordings will ever be alike. So, even if the composers for this collection were working to the same arrangement as that used on the original soundtracks, the way the final tracks are mixed will always sound different - where the mix concentrates on a different part of the orchestra at different parts of the recording. Because of this, even if you already own these scores, this compilation offers up something a little different for those who are familiar with the original recordings.

This is a perfect taster for soundtrack buffs to experience some of Zimmer's work they don't already own. Personally I'll be hunting down his full scores for The Pacific and Spirit and The Prince of Egypt.

9

Darren Rea