Lakeshore Records release Javier Navarrete's score for Zhon Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal. The movie follows legendary Chinese anti-hero Zhong Kui, a young man endowed with mysterious powers. He is forced into battle among the realms of Heaven, Earth and Hell in a dire attempt to save his countrymen and rescue the woman he loves...

Javier Navarrete's soundtrack for Zhon Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal contains 20 tracks 1 hr, 11 min, 47 sec of high quality, Hollywood blockbuster-esque fair. Given the movie's country of origin, and subject matter, it's not surprising to learn that quite a few of the tracks lean a little towards mystical eastern cliches. Thankfully it's subtle enough to not be overly noticeable.

Navarrete (who composed the impressive Pan's Labyrinth and Inkheart scores), delivers another memorable, busy soundtrack with plenty of heart and an almost endless supply of themes.

However, be warned, as it's one of those scores that you really need to invest a little time in to get the most out of. It's unlikely you'll come away with much of an impression after the first play through. But give it time and tracks like 'Lost Soul' and 'Snow Girl Vanishes' will shine through.

The album closes with the beautiful power ballad 'To the Flame Like a Moth (Fen Bu Gu Shen)' performed by Liu Huan and Jike Junyi.

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Darren Rea