{"id":1612,"date":"2010-11-19T13:28:53","date_gmt":"2010-11-19T18:28:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kqek.com\/mobile\/?p=1612"},"modified":"2010-12-20T22:09:05","modified_gmt":"2010-12-21T03:09:05","slug":"mp3-spore-hero-2009","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kqek.com\/mobile\/?p=1612","title":{"rendered":"MP3: Spore Hero (2009)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Return to<\/strong>:\u00a0Home <\/a>\/\u00a0Soundtrack \u00a0Reviews<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Rating: Excellent<\/p>\n

Label: EA Games Soundtrack\/ Released: October 6, 2009<\/p>\n

Tracks & Album Length: 18 tracks \/ (62:25)<\/p>\n

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Special Notes: Available as a downloadable album via iTunes and Amazon.com<\/p>\n

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Composer: Winifred Philips<\/p>\n

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Review:<\/p>\n

Winifred Phillips\u2019 score for the Nintendo Wii video game begins with a brassy heroic theme\u2019s filled with the brassy swagger of a swashbuckling actioner, and yet there\u2019s a contemporary rock edge that also gives the theme plenty of pliability throughout this lengthy and invigorating album.<\/p>\n

A major plus it the theme\u2019s strong development, which Phillips keeps exciting with some string improv on electrified violin, waves of tones from a wordless choir, and a percussion ensemble that isn\u2019t overbearing or filled with the bombast typical of a Hollywood action score.<\/p>\n

By holding back a bit of edge, bass, and heavier rock sensibilities in some cues, Phillips allows subsequent theme variations to really stand out when there\u2019s a need for pulse-pounding action. The opening track is a fusion of orchestral rock, with classical flourishes, whereas \u201cSpore War\u201d is a great marriage of prog rock and classical. The most important element of the cue is a fat bass, as well as Bondian harmonics that give the cue an unstoppable urgency. Brass figures give the impression of tight turns and fast curving roads, and a brief segment with electric guitar and snare drum provide some contrast to the cue\u2019s dense rock orchestration. \u201cBeast Brawl\u201d is similarly kinetic, but Phillips uses brass, marimbas, and woodwinds, plus a few cartoonish sound stabs.<\/p>\n

Most of the orchestral sounds are samples, and the score would have tremendous punch if it was performed by a large orchestra, but the writing is first-rate, as are the sharp orchestrations which allow for many subtle nuances to shine when the action gets very busy.<\/p>\n

A big surprise are the meaty cue lengths, and some eclectic tracks that are sometimes exotic, classical, or ambient. The lyricism in Phillips\u00a0SimAnimals<\/strong>\u2019 is also evident in tracks like \u201cSporabilities,\u201d with an opening statement on didgeridoo, and percussive sounds on water-filled pots, keyborards, and woodwinds. Flowing woodwinds and an urgent tempo are at the heart of \u201cSporabilities,\u201d and there\u2019s lovely fleeting ornamentation from flutes as well as sudden slides into unsettling harmonies and dissonance reminiscent of Stravinsky\u2019s Rite of Spring.<\/p>\n

The album\u2019s strongest qualities are rich cues written with an infectious energy, and a flair for vivid orchestral colour. The heroic theme isn\u2019t easily identifiable in delicate, mordantly witty cues like \u201cCreepy Things,\u201d nor the chamber arrangement in \u201cSporeward\u201d which morphs into an ambient, pulsing variation that drifts and reflects like an echo in a large, watery cavern. \u201cWanderment\u201d is also unique for a balance of light orchestra, woodwinds, an ongoing sense of mystery, and a sly wit channeled through plastic woodwind samples treated with electronic vibrato.<\/p>\n

Phillip\u2019s punchy writing allows for a really vivid journey through the game\u2019s characters and their adventures, and once again shows off her skill in melding sounds from various genres and idioms into a winning score.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 2010 Mark R. Hasan<\/p>\n

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Related external links (MAIN SITE):<\/p>\n

MP3s: \u00a0Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga\u2019Hoole<\/a><\/strong> (2010)\u00a0— Sim Animals<\/a><\/strong> (2008)<\/p>\n

Interview with composer Winifred Phillips<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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External References:<\/p>\n

IMDB <\/a>— Composer Website<\/a><\/p>\n

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Return to<\/strong>:\u00a0Home <\/a>\/\u00a0Soundtrack Reviews<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Return to:\u00a0Home \/\u00a0Soundtrack \u00a0Reviews . Rating: Excellent Label: EA Games Soundtrack\/ Released: October 6, 2009 Tracks & Album Length: 18 tracks \/ (62:25) . Special Notes: Available as a downloadable album via iTunes and Amazon.com . Composer: Winifred Philips . . Review: Winifred Phillips\u2019 score for the Nintendo Wii video game begins with a brassy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[161,50],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8nuyW-q0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kqek.com\/mobile\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1612"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kqek.com\/mobile\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kqek.com\/mobile\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kqek.com\/mobile\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kqek.com\/mobile\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1612"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/kqek.com\/mobile\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1612\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1937,"href":"https:\/\/kqek.com\/mobile\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1612\/revisions\/1937"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kqek.com\/mobile\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kqek.com\/mobile\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1612"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kqek.com\/mobile\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}