Sony Classical release Michael Giacchino's score for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Directed by Matt Reeves, the film is the sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) and is the second time that Reeves and Giacchino have collaborated following the romantic horror film Let Me In (2010)...

Michael Giacchino's score for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a little more formulaic than I was hoping for. There are way too many atmospheric tracks that are designed to heighten the tension of the movie, but just sound boisterous and in your face when listened to in isolation.

I've been a fan of Giacchino's work since way back when I discovered that he was the main composer for the Medal of Honor games. I remember being totally blown away with his John Williams-esque score that really brought forth a lot of powerful emotions.

Fans of Giacchino's work will spot the odd nod here and there to previous scores. 'The Great Ape Processional', for example is similar to his work on Super 8.

One of the most notable things about this album isn't the music, but the play on words that represent each of the track titles - some are genuinely funny, others worthy of a cheap Christmas cracker joke.

Of this album's 19 tracks (1 hr, 17 min, 23 sec) Personal highlights include the beautiful 'The Lost City of Chimpanzee'; the powerful 'Enough Monkeying Around'; the rousing 'Primates for Life'; and the epic scope of the closing couple of minutes of 'Planet of the End Credits'.

It's a powerful and enjoyable soundtrack, just not one of Giacchino's more memorable pieces of work.

Just so you can appreciate the track titles in full:

01 - Level Plaguing Field
02 - Look Who's Stalking
03 - The Great Ape Processional
04 - Past Their Primates
05 - Close Encounters of the Furred Kind
06 - Monkey to the City
07 - The Lost City of Chimpanzee
08 - Along Simian Lines
09 - Caesar No Evil, Hear No Evil
10 - Monkey See, Monkey Coup
11 - Gorilla Warfare
12 - The Apes of Wrath
13 - Gibbon Take
14 - Aped Crusaders
15 - How Bonobo Can You Go
16 - Enough Monkeying Around
17 - Primates for Life
18 - Planet of the End Credits
19 - Ain't That a Stinger

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Darren Rea