A documentary about an attempt to stage a downhill ski race at the foot of the Matterhorn and the various challenges the organisers faced, Aiming High becomes the latest in a string of impressive soundtrack releases from the Baldenweg siblings, credited as usual as being composed by Diego with Nora and Lionel. It’s an interesting piece of work: part power anthem and part 80s-style retro synth work. The former will inevitably recall Hans Zimmer, and there’s perhaps a hint of Vangelis in the latter. The opening cues, “The Race” and “Aiming High”, are both variants on the central anthem theme and are both hugely satisfying – there’s a dynamic energy to the style and execution which recalls Zimmer’s work on motor racing movies Rush and F1. This sound forms a central part of the score as a whole and I think is handled very well. It’s interesting how the theme is used elsewhere too – after the more overt thrills of the first couple of cues, in “Cycles” Baldenweg deconstructs the same theme back to basics and we hear a much more laid-back variant, including a lovely solo cello part (which interestingly also mirrors Zimmer’s approach to Rush, though melodically there’s nothing in common). When the cello is used in the way it is here, there’s a certain ethereal quality to it which is very appealing.
There’s more to the score, too – the pounding keyboards with layered drum loops of “Mountain Run” are what first made me think (a bit) of Vangelis – and the track’s final section has a beautiful Chariots of Fire vibe to it. Aside from the racing elements, there are clear portraits painted both of the human element and both the beauty and the harshness of the terrain – “Intimate Waltz” lives up to its name, and then there is shimmering, icy beauty glistening from “Fairy Tale”. Of course there is a darker side too, and one of the things I like about Aiming High is how well-rounded it is. At 44 minutes, the album gets through a lot without ever outstaying its welcome – I think it’s a really nice one and have already listened to it often. Diego Baldenweg (with his siblings) continues to impress, across an array of different styles – this one gets another strong recommendation from me.
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