Solaris soundtrack

The score completed the film Solaris. I distinctly remember being impressed during the film when I heard these exciting waves of sound passing over the film with such subtelty. Cliff Martinez embalmed us with this orchestral-ambient-electronic suite, and in the process, he has quite possibly signalled a shift/evolution in how we look at film scores. Example 1. 2. 3.

The instrumental beauty speaks to us in a very mature manner. Its message (delivered with gentle calm) is that in principle, soundtracks don't always have to rely on the 'classical' method of arranging instruments. All too often in soundtracks, the strings are taken for granted, mainly because we have grown so used to those mandatory overtures at those expected moments in predictable films. Here Martinez makes the strings a focus, they are the center, they are a meaningful and simple force, a soothing wave. They will move, softly travel, like pencils in zero gravity, drifting us into submissive moments, in and out of our emotions, moving us. Then moving on. The overall feel could be described as cold, the music evokes images of snow and feelings of isolation, however the warmth and emotion is present in every song, always bringing you out of the jouney feeling positive.

The electric bells and synthy basslines are out of place, but they don't sound it for a second. Martinez truly shows himself to be a master of the aesthetic art that is ambience, and he's clearly in full command of the exciting sounds he uses. Musically, he is like the gifted artist. S/he is capable of creating a painting that provokes amazement out of critics for it's technical beauty, but the very same painting would also please the less imaginative people, those who want a "nice-painting" to tie-together their Ikea-inspired master bedroom. This may be great music for the background, but that doesn't make it 'background music'.

On the basis of this album, Cliff Martinez is Steven Soderbergh, his musical counterpart you could say, so it's no wonder the stylish director chose this stylish music to accompany his slick and emotional film. A beautifully subtle album that flows like a perfect story. In it's calm, demure, sedated tones, it still manages to scream out loud, grabbing your face with it's cold clammy hands, only to warm itself to you within seconds.

Y.Misdaq aka Yoshi 22 Nov 2003