MovieScore Media’s latest release takes listeners on an unexpected journey to outer space with a thematically rich, symphonic score by composer David Stone Hamilton. Written and directed by Carl Strathie, Solis is a suspenseful space bound story contemplating the dangers mankind is willing to take in the name of exploration. Although its genre is technically a thriller, it also has a very human story to it, as Troy Holloway (Steven Ogg), through the help of his rescuer Commander Roberts (Alice Lowe), comes to terms with a loss in his past – the death of a loved one – and the subsequent isolation from his family that it caused...

David Stone Hamilton delivers a soundtrack that totally caught me off guard. This is not your typical space based score. Hamilton delivers theme after theme that reflect the characters at the heart of the movie as well as the building urgency of the narrative.

The album contains 12 tracks (1 hr, 06 min, 17 sec) and I have to confess that on first glance I thought it was the score for Solaris (2002), starring George Clooney. The soundtrack cover is very similar to one of the promotional posters for Solaris, not to mention that Steven Ogg is almost unrecognisable and could easily be mistaken for Clooney...

“Solis is a survival space thriller, with the main character in a race against time to meet his rescuer," explains composer David Stone Hamilton about the score. "We wanted to create a score that would reflect the increasing tension and impending doom with a musical 'ticking time bomb' employed in different ways. Sometimes it's literally a ticking clock, and other times we use modernist percussion effects or col legno strings to give this effect. Our Solar theme represents the grandeur and almost hypnotic allure of the Sun as well as the existential threat it poses to our protagonist. Another prominent theme was the rising half step or minor second interval, which is a nod to John Williams' brilliant Jaws score to create the inherent tension with this dissonant interval. We also reserved some moments for a Korean instrument named the Haegeum, which has a truly otherworldly sound to it."

Tracks like 'A Solis Triptych- 3. Finale' have an unexpected note, here and a beautiful chord change, there to really grab your attention. The album slowly builds until we reach the crescendo that is 'End Credits'. A wonderful way to round off a flawless score.

If you love scores that are packed with multi-layered themes, that draw out an emotional response in you, then Solis is well worth adding to your collection.

10

Darren Rea