Milan Records release the soundtrack to thriller, Serenity, featuring an original score from composer Benjamin Wallfisch. The movie follows Baker Dill who is a fishing boat captain leading tours off a tranquil, tropical enclave called Plymouth Island. His quiet life is shattered, however, when his ex-wife Karen tracks him down with a desperate plea for help. She begs Dill to save her - and their young son - from her new, violent husband by taking him out to sea on a fishing excursion, only to throw him to the sharks and leave him for dead. Karen's appearance thrusts Dill back into a life he'd tried to forget, and as he struggles between right and wrong, his world is plunged into a new reality that may not be all that it seems...

The soundtrack to Serenity represents a collection of mellow, atmospheric themes. One that, on a first play through I enjoyed, but didn't find overly impressive. It was only on repeat listens that the subtle elements worked their way to the surface.

Composer Benjamin Wallfisch (Annabelle: Creation; Bilby; Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain; Conquest 1453; Desert Dancer; The Escapist; Gamba; Hammer of the Gods; IT; Pressure; The Thirteenth Tale) is a composer whose work I always look forward to hearing. Mainly because he has an ability to get under the listener's skin by crafting emotionally fragile and heartbreakingly beautiful music. The album consists of 19 tracks (1 hr, 02 min, 59 sec) and while on a first listen it sounds a little shallow, stick with it because the rewards are worth it.

Tracks like 'Karen' are instantly accessible, as is 'Deliver Me From Temptation' which, while atmospheric, also throws quite a lot of subtle genre changes at the listener.

If deep, richly rewarding scores are your thing, then you really should grab a copy. Wallfisch surprised me with this one and I nearly overlooked its importance as a wonderful piece of cinematic music that manages to stand on its own two feet outside the film.

8

Darren Rea