Soundtrack Thoughts (POSSIBLE SPOILER)

nuthugger

MemberOvomorphMay 16, 2012817 Views11 Replies

Just downloaded and listened to the soundtrack. Elegant and scary stuff. Just listening to it you can tell that Prometheus was destined to be rated R. This is not the music of a PG13 film. It's the music of the mature variety. Very detailed and original. Way more interesting than I thought it would be. Definitely not your thematic Hans Zimmer type stuff, which I also love but would maybe not be totally appropriate for this project. Also, I've seen some posts about the soundtrack not having a "theme" and I have to say that there are definitely some melodies and movements that seem to come back around. It's just that it's subtle and a little underplayed as soundtracks go, which is great. This is not the kind of movie that you I think you want to much heavy-handed musical theme building in. It's not a full-on love story or a Star Wars type saga. It's a sci-fi horror movie. The music should serve to creep you out, maybe give you a few cues, and ultimately just compliment and enrich what is undoubtedly going to be a very complex film. SPOILERISH PART BELOW Also, you definitely get the sense of isolation in one thematic bits that is reminiscent of Alien. In fact, if you listen closely, I think you can hear a direct musical reference to it. The track I think is called "An Old Friend" - possibly referring to one of the creatures or maybe the ship. I don't know but I could see them having a laugh referring to one of the frightening things from the first film as An Old Friend. Can't wait to see this movie....

Axl_F
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May 16, 2012

Having listened to the soundtrack a couple of times now it really comes across as a very, very dark and brooding affair. Some very aggressive sections that come across as truly terrifying... That said, on initial listening only, it does't have quite the thematic or melodic elements that we've grown used to in the previous scores (e.g. ALIEN 3). This isn't a bad thing though and there are thematic moments in the score. The two Harry Gregson-Williams tracks are thematic and the themes explored in these tracks are referenced in parts throughout the rest of the score. Some tracks sound very isolated; some of the early tracks sound like child like hope and awe, mixed with a sense of in-trepidation and fear of the unknown. This then leads to the bulk of the really harsh and aggressive tracks - these are not for the faint hearted and fit expectations of a sci-fi horror movie. @Nuthugger - you're right, the track you mention opens with a direct reworking from Jerry Goldsmiths score. Track 5 (trying not to be spoilerish here!) also features cues from the ALIEN and ALIENS soundtracks - some of the delivery of the more horror type themes reminds me a lot of ALIEN 3. There's definitely a lot of ALIEN dna in the soundtrack too! I'm looking forward to hearing it all in context when watching the movie!

ZetaReticuli
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May 16, 2012

Very, very encouraging, thanks for that nuthugger. I haven't listened to samples yet, I'm holding back for the film itself which comes out in two and a half weeks here in the UK - I'll experience it in that context and then buy the OST later - just like I did in '79......

EGR101
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May 16, 2012

Two tracks referencing the humanoids/space jockeys, ENGINEERS & SPACE JOCKEYS, have Terminator-like mechanical drone in the background, very creepy & haunting. This may imply the perfunctory nature of their jobs. They are serving a higher order perhaps? One of the most nerve jangling music in the soundtrack is the track near the end. This is really a disturbing powerful score in opposition to the more benign implication of the title, PLANTING THE SEED, which usually infers nurture, growth, fertility. This is the dark side of that idea. The final score BIRTH is also full of dissonant strings which may hint at the dark non-conclusive ending of the movie. NOT a date movie, folks

nuthugger
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May 16, 2012

Also, I love the track entitled DAVID. Mechanical and foreboding. You can just see him doing some deviant robot stuff to it!

Justin Gliddon
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May 16, 2012

The piece of music at the end of 'Hello Mommy' is taken directly from Alien and also appears in Alien Ressurection when the newborn is born.

Justin Gliddon
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May 16, 2012

The piece is called 'Friend from the past'.

Gehirn
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May 16, 2012

Just can't bring myself to listen to it...I agree with ZetaReticuli. Will just read the descriptions instead :-)

nuthugger
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May 16, 2012

That's right. Friend from the Past...

Gem]n[
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May 16, 2012

Oh and don't forget to add this to your Prometheus Soundtrack audio folder ... The original Trailer Soundtrack by Audiomachine ... I've called it Track 00 ... ;) ... [b]Judge and Jury - Trailer Soundtrack [Audiomachine]:[/b] [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rjdrtjTJmhE]YouTube Video[/url]

Juxtapose
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May 16, 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TMfPxVf8tw Above is the not remixed version....that trailer lovers might feel more familiar with.......i loved the little remixed version tho Gem]n[....have'nt heard that version before...very cool...thanks!

RickK
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May 18, 2012

I am very curious about the track "Friend from the Past". It's a theme that played heavily in the original Alien soundtrack so whatever scene in Prometheus it is that this piece of music accompanies must be heavily reminiscent of something that was seen in Alien - which in relation to Prometheus, would actually be in the future.. So my conclusion is, the only thing seen in Alien that you might also see in the past would be the mummified space jockey? I could be way off but what else could it be? Any thoughts?