Spectre - 10th Anniversary Edition By Thomas Newman
Spectre was the 24th James Bond film released in 2015, following the success of Skyfall, Sam Mendes returned to direct, bringing Thomas Newman back to score his second James Bond film. 10 years on and La-La Land Records have released an anniversary CD of the score which I have been lucky to have shipped over from the States.
The additional and extended tracks really allow the already impressive score to breathe and become a truer representation of the film experience.
The opening sequence of the film or, as Bond fans would describe it, the Pre-Titles Sequence in involved a long unbroken tracking shot through the Day of the Dead festival in Mexico City before an explosion, a chase and a fight on board a helicopter. The OST, featured on some of this music, but this expanded release gives us the full experience. Following Newman’s version of the famous Gun Barrel, we launch into an extended Los Muetos Vivos Estan which captures that epic tracking shot. Newman’s skillful layering of the Bond theme makes it feel fresh and epic, with the extended track really allowing his complex percussion to work to shine. The addition of the following tracks gives a more rounded experience too with Building Down, Sciarra Chase and Helicopter Fight teasing some of the extended pieces of action music that Newman will explore later in the score. Building Down closes with a hint of that ethereal Spectre theme that he will also use later as the organisation is explored further in the film.
While Skyfall didn’t really explore classic Bond romantic themes, Spectre leans into it far more as a film, allowing Newman to produce some really impressive heartfelt pieces of music. Donna Lucia has always been a favourite, but the extended version includes a longer ethereal introduction which represents the mysterious nature of both the character of Lucia Sciarra and her relationship with Bond. The genius of the track is how the first 50 seconds of music capture that mystery and that uncertainty between the characters with classic Newman floats before capturing the eruption of passion and the loss of barriers between the characters to become sweeping and romantic with lush and orchestral strings. While the extended piece isn’t too much longer, that added mystery really contributes real depth to the track.The track Madeleine has also been extended and follows a similar pattern to Donna Lucia, those swirling woodwinds create a sense of mystery which fits the character well before giving way slowly to the emergence of strings with even a subtle recreation of the Bond theme. Once those strings kicks in, it’s a heartfelt and romantic piece of music that captures Bond’s growing feelings and the melting of his heart. There is a sophistication to the piece that really makes it stand out and the extended version allows you to spend more time lost in those strings.The track ends with a thud though - in the film the couple are attacked - and this takes you out of that feeling in the final second or so. Not sure I like this addition at the conclusion of one of the most beautiful pieces on the album. Frames much better is the lengthy Secret Room which continues to explore that relationship with both strings and a beautiful piano motif that represents Bond and Madeleine’s relationship. It’s a brilliantly layered track that captures the sense of place with hints of something more exotic while rooting it all in the strength of that piano motif supported skillfully with strings and woodwind. The track then develops and morphs into something more adventurous as they begin their journey with those strings providing an anchor to that previous romantic vibe.
The Spectre group and the film’s main villain is captured brilliantly via some ethereal and drone led music that captures both the mysterious nature of the organisation and also the cold, dangerous and ruthless nature of their actions. Palazzo Meeting, Kite in a Hurricane, A Reunion and the extended Torture Room are great examples of that extended soundscape Newman does so well, creating tension and unease. While they might not be tracks that get repeated plays at home, they are brilliantly effective in the film.
Newman is not known as an action film regular but his work here builds on the themes from Skyfall. There are two brilliant action tracks worth exploring, both of which are extended on this release. The first being Backfire which follows a car chase through Rome. Newman exploits the famous Bond trumpet to really add a sense of scale while a near constant and propulsive underscore with the guitar and percussion really drives the action. Once the strings join, it’s a masterclass in dramatic orchestral scoring. For the moment the chase enters Vatican City, the use of a choir adds a real sense of grandeur to the track. This is a real step up from the original suite of this track which doesn’t capture the ebbs and flows of the car chase. Snow Plane is another brilliant action track with tense strings used to create real tension throughout, towards the end as the tension build and builds it would have been nice to hear the Bond theme as a crescendo, but perhaps that wasn’t the brief.
The album concludes with Out of Bullets and Spectre which are both beautiful and revisit that wonderful piano motif. There are lots of extra tracks and treasures to find that were not on the original release - this is a truly well put together collection.
Ten years on, this is a wonderful Thomas Newman score worth revisiting. This extended release allows the whole score to breathe and you realise just how often Newman has riffed on that classic Bond theme in surprising ways.
Favourite Tracks: Backfire, Secret Room, Safe House, Out of Bullets