Human nature begins where truth ends. Welcome to the murder without a body. Plaza Mayor Company Ltd release Ding Ke's score for Port of Call. A grisly murder in April 2008 provides the background for Philip Yung Tsz-kwong’s ambitiously humanistic third feature...

Ding Ke really does pull out all the stops on his score for Port of Call. However, whether you'll get the most out of it will depend very much on whether you're a fan of brooding, suspenseful scores or not.

The atmosphere the music builds is masterfully handled to the point that I couldn't help but conjure up imaginary scenarios and scenes as I was listening. It works wonderfully as atmospheric background music when playing games too.

The composer mainly leans on piano and strings to carry the weight of the themes and it's a combination that works well to deliver a mysterious, selection of hauntingly beautiful set pieces.

The score contains 23 tracks (1 hr, 24 sec) and incorporates the song 'Beautiful Life', 'Whose Embrace Is This Possession?', 'The Dark Sea' and 'Away'. Most of these are lilting, dreamy songs that wash over the listener in a rather hypnotic way.

8

Darren Rea