Varèse Sarabande release The Commuter original motion picture soundtrack. The album features original music composed by Roque Baños. Insurance salesman Michael is on his daily commute home, which quickly becomes anything but routine. After being contacted by a mysterious stranger, Michael is forced to uncover the identity of a hidden passenger on the train before the last stop. As he works against the clock to solve the puzzle, he realizes a deadly plan is unfolding, and he is unwittingly caught up in a criminal conspiracy that carries life and death stakes for everyone on the train...

Roque Baños uses a traditional line-up of instruments including piano, strings, brass, and percussion for his score for The Commuter, but to give it a unique identity he incorporates an unusual instrument - the train horn. Its inclusion gives a consistent presence and a strong personality to the score. Just like the train in the film, this instrument is ever present sometime subtly in the background, other times front and centre. It's a gamble that pays off well, as it not only makes the score stand out, but it really does give make the train one of the characters in the film.

Of the score's 16 tracks (1 hr, 12 min, 03 sec) 'A Beautiful Family' and 'The Seek Starts' were the standout highlights.

As suspense scores go, they don't come more polished than this. It's unusual, engaging and works as an album of tense themes in its own right.

9

Darren Rea