Matrix Revolutions, The [ECD] - Don Davis > Reviews > The best of the trilogy.

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	SUPERB use of an orchestra .  Highly innovative .  The final track Navras  -  is worth the price alone .
Disadvantages:	If you don't like dissonance  -  this is not for you .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I am not a fan of the final movie. But I am a HUGE fan of the score for the final movie.

It is absolutely superb. From the opening unmistakable Matrix triads on the trumpets at the beginning to the pounding of the final track Navras - this is a superb score.

It will not appeal to everyone however.

This track takes influences from Mahler, Wagner, and to an extent Shostakovich. It is in no way a score that will appeal commercially.

Don Davis (the composer) is a contemporary of John Williams and has worked with Williams for many years as an orchestrator. Often it is the orchestrators who have really good ideas - and The Matrix series is without doubt the set of films that will propel Davis into the mainstream.

Goodness knows what the budget is - but I know that Davis had an orchestra of about 90 players and definitely 99 choral singers. Add to that all the electronic programming, and you have a vast sounding score.

The score sort of passes you by during the film because there is so much happening visually (even if it is lifeless and dull). However - when listening to the soundtrack on it's own - it is particularly exhilarating. In particular the final tracks, Neodammerung, Why Mr Anderson? and Spirit of the Universe - are really great uses of the full orchestral force. These tracks take place during the final 20 minutes of Revolutions. They are absolutely superb and should be listened to anyone with even the slightest interest in classical music or film music.

Then it goes into the final track that is used for the credits 'Navras'. I guess maybe they had some money left over because they really went all guns blazing on this track. Juno Reactor, plus Indian musicians, plus the full orchestral forces and voices as well. Navras is the culmination of a series of work, and Davis is given 9 minutes to work his magic. It is a hybrid of techno and classical music - and this is the only time when I've really heard it work well. Cynics and purists might say otherwise - but this track really is superb fun to listen to.

The rest of the album really just builds up to the final tracks. 'Trinity Definitely' - the death scene where Trinity finally dies, is a nice lyrical contrast to what has gone before. Other standout tracks include 'Tetsukin' and 'The Trainman Cometh' - both Juno Reactor + Don Davis collaborations. The use of percussion in Tetsujin is particularly excellent.

This album never lets up and is the best of Don Davis's work His orchestrators Erik Lundberg and Conrad Pope should be given enormous credit for the enormous amount of work that the would have had to do.

This is an absolutely superb soundtrack, and becuase of its length and variety - it eclipses the soundtrack for both the first and the second Matrix films.

A must have for any film soundtrack fan.

Should definitely be considered if you have any interest in music whatsoever!