Customer Reviews

Captive (Edge)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Many nights I play this soundtrack on my stereo and allow its relaxing atmosphere to carry me off to sleep. This, however, should not be taken as a criticism; this is not boring music. While it cannot really be described as electrifying or mind-blowing, it is a nicely mellow slice of music, performed by gifted and thoughtful musicians.

This album definitely won't be confused for anything other than a movie soundtrack. The majority of the songs are instrumentals, designed more for creating atmosphere and mood than for having catchy rock'n'roll riffs. This is not a collection of music "inspired" by a film. That said, there is a single pop-sounding song here: "Heroine (Theme From 'Captive')", featuring vocals by well-known Pope-picture-ripper, Sinead O'Connor. The rest of the songs are dreamy and relaxing. Acoustical guitars mixed gently with electronic sound effects make for a great combination when you have talented musicians at the helm like U2's The Edge and Michael Brook.

This is a short disc, clocking in at thirty-five minutes, fifty-eight seconds (I presume that the film reused some musical cues, or that the powers that be declined to copy all of the soundtrack onto the album release). It makes for a nice bridge between Edge's work on the U2 albums of that era (this soundtrack was released in 1986, post-UNFORGETTABLE FIRE, and pre-JOSHUA TREE). U2 producer and experimentalist Brian Eno isn't credited as having worked on this album, but his influence can definitely be felt upon the music composed by The Edge.

As I indicated, I find this to be a terribly enjoyable and relaxing disc. It's not something to be played to pump oneself up before a night out on the town, but it works well as a calming influence when the evening is winding down. There are lots of great little musical cues, and despite coming from the heart of the 80's, this music hasn't dated at all. A must-have for fans of U2's more experimental material, and just a good, solid collection of music for anyone.

(WETA, the PBS station serving the Washington, DC area, will occasionally use snippets of this album late at night in their bumpers running between programs. I award myself major geek points for having spotted the source almost immediately.)

The Edge has always been the most important creative voice in U2. This offering from 1986, before U2 recorded The Joshua Tree or Achtung Baby!, is a stunningly original film score, that ultimately is far more rewarding than the film itself.

This was the LP that introduced Sinead O'Connor to the world, but this really is of minor importance. It also introduced the sound that The Edge introduced to the world on "With or Without You" - the sound of "infinite guitar", pioneered by Edge and Michael Brooks. Edge's guitar playing has always staggered me with its brilliance, but this pointed to the genius that was later to surface upon Achtung Baby! and Zooropa. Do listen to this excellent album!

I never did see the movie, but I had a cassette of this soundtrack when I was in college (I now have the cd). I'd put it in my Walkman and go walking about campus by myself, through the grass and trees and down to the lake. Listening to it now makes me very melancholy, in a good way. Brings to mind memories of things that seemed to have happened to someone else in an age long ago.
That said, the music is beautiful. The only thing I can compare it to is the soundtrack to Legend by Tangerine Dream, another cd that's very excellent at setting a certain mood.

This is the soundtrack for a movie The Edge (U2's guitarist) scored back in the '80s. I bought it because I'm a huge U2 fan, and I was not disappointed. Several tracks -- Rowena's Theme, The Strange Party, Hiro's Theme 1, Drift -- are thoroughly excellent, although you shouldn't expect rock music; this is ethereal mood music. It's quite lovely; I'd like to see the movie, to see how the music works in it. The only track of the ten that is a song is "Heroine," which is sung by Sinead O'Connor; it's good, sounds a little bit like something I could imagine Bono singing on "October."

Good CD, especially if you're a U2 nut, like me.

Firstly, I am in awe of the technique of the Edge, his musicianship and the way he can craft music.

You wouldn't think that playing arpeggios and simple chords could sound so good, but that's his forte. He is a genius of the modern age of music.

You could try to play like the Edge, but you never will achieve that mantra of musicianship and sound. The Edge is very gifted that way.

Not only can he play the guitar well, he is great on the keyboard as well, an inspiration for me to learn the keyboard. And he has inspired countless thousands of others as well (my brother is one of them).

I can't believe it took me this long to buy this CD. You cannot go wrong with this CD, for it's atmospheric melodies and artful guitar technique. Somehow it never seems out of place. It is a driving disc that gives me shivers of joy when I listen to it.

Sinead lends her voice to the theme ('Heroine') and it is not out-of-place. She adds a graceful voice and is not out of place. I enjoy her music ('The Lion and the Cobra' is a great CD!) and voice, but here it is just right. I don't know how best to describe it.

If you like U2, or the Edge in particular, you cannot go wrong adding this disc to your collection. Aspiring musicians can learn how to mix melody and technique. You don't need to tear up the fretboard to make music. The Edge proves it is so.

Beautiful soundtrack!

Not surprising to find that this soundtrack by The Edge (U2's guitar genius) and Michael Brook achieves the degree of masterpiece. Combining influences that range from the two musician's own work, to Daniel Lanois, with a bit Ambient sound at times, and doubling with the beautiful vocals of Sinead O'Connor, in "Heroine," the album is beautifully crafted. Incredibly beautiful result this song, along with the opening track and "Drift" (where The Edge reminds most of Lanois, in the soundtrack of 'Sling Blade') and "Hiro's Theme" (where Brook's presence is made obvious).

I do like this album...you can feel Edge's soul inside!!His Guitar is amazing!!!..MR. THE EDGE YOU ARE ALWAYS THE BEST!!!

This is the kind of disc where all the songs fit perfectly. The first song "Rowena's theme", particulary, reach with the perfection... this must be one of the beautiest soundtracks ever..ethereal noises, soft guitarrs, the beautiful voice of Sinead O'Connor in one of the songs. What else can you expect? Just buy it. This is a "must".

Just like some of the other viewers, I bought this in 1988 because listening to it changed the way I listened to music. I was a U2 fan and had high expectations for The Edge. He's a genius. This is NOT U2. It's more like what we might call "Trance" today. Buy it and you will NOT regret it.

Reminiscent of the Passengers soundtrack project, Captive also has two contrasting musical styles. The upbeat beginning, epitomised by 'Strange Party' (excellent vocals by Sinead O'Connor), is very positive and uplifting. It is followed by slow, moody tracks which are perfect fall falling asleep to (I mean that in the nicest possible way!) I would have preferred if it were a little longer, and with more vocals - all tracks are instrumental other than the Sinead O'Connor one.