A review by JAMES SOUTHALL

There are many great pities with the modern world of film music, but the greatest of all is the large number of A-grade composers who work on major projects very rarely, projects which are instead scored by composers of far less ability.  It could make one dizzy considering the number of massive films which have lousy scores, which could instead have been scored by Bruce Broughton or Cliff Eidelman or Basil Poledouris.  The latter has scored more big projects than the others, but seems to have disappeared into doing not much of anything these days (if reports are to be believed, this is a self-enforced absence, so we can only hope that he returns before too long).

The lack of new Poledouris scores makes releases of older ones all the more welcome, especially when they're as good as Amerika.  It was a tv miniseries, quite popular apparently, in a fictional 1997 America which has been ruled by the nasty Soviets for a decade, centering around the way the American spirit has survived even under an oppressive occupying regime.  Poledouris went on to achieve widespread plaudits for his work on another miniseries, Lonesome Dove, which is arguably his finest work, but Amerika cannot live far behind.  Just like the story itself, the music focuses on the American spirit, with Poledouris clearly drawing some inspiration from the music of Aaron Copland, as seems natural, but injecting it with his own unmistakable flair and some beautiful original melodies.

There is some powerhouse emotional music here, truly beautiful stuff.  "Ancestors' Strength" is one of the strongest cues, a harrowing emotional journey but one filled with hope and an indomitable sense of great spirit.  "Dieter's View" showcases a gorgeous cello theme which sticks long in the memory and shows not only what a gifted melodist Poledouris is, but also what a good musical dramatist.  While these stirring - if slightly restrained - pieces form the backbone of the score, it is no surprise that there are a few moments of more upfront material, none moreso than in the opening title, a powerful, anthemic piece, the closest the composer got to matching the machismo of his earlier music for Red Dawn, a movie with a remarkably similar premise (though entirely different in its execution).  "The Homeless's March" is another stirring piece, ending with one of those unmistakable brass flourishes Poledouris does so marvelously.  There are also slightly lighter moments, such as the lovely (despite what the track title may imply) "Ride to Brothel" and almost Michael Nyman-like "Ceremony Montage".  For all this quality, nothing quite contends with the pure anguish of "Burial", a poignant and moving piece of music.

Amerika has been released by the Prometheus CD Club and is one of its best releases so far.  This is a fine package with not only a fine piece of music but interesting liner notes (by Chris Landry, with a note from writer/director Donald Wrye as well) and fine sound.  Poledouris fans can't go wrong, and neither can fans of fine orchestral music.  Treat yourself.

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Tracks

1. Amerika (2:18)
2. Alethea (1:08)
3. Supper (5:42)
4. UNSSU (1:38)
5. Red Tide Pimple (1:01)
6. Ghost / Indoctrination (1:47)
7. Humiliation of Alethea (1:56)
8. Ride to Brothel / Helmut and Alethea (2:12)
9. Devin's Return (5:09)
10. All Prisoners (2:27)
11. Squatters (1:51)
12. Milford Morning (2:04)
13. Ancestors' Strength (4:20)
14. Omaha Morning / Helmut Intervenes (2:39)
15. The Dance Begins (2:34)
16. Dieter's View (3:26)
17. I'm an American (3:27)
18. The Homeless's March (4:38)
19. Burial (3:47)
20. Ceremony Montage (2:53)
21. Train to Vladivostock (4:23)
22. Terrorists Arrive / Capitol Means (1:53)
23. Andrei's View (3:57)
24. We're All Prisoners Now (2:38)
25. The Meaning (5:16)