Customer Reviews

Sorcerer (1977 Film)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album is as fascinating as the underrated William Friedkin film. First, Tangerine Dream never saw a frame when they wrote it. Armed only with a copy of the script, they worked away until Friedkin received 90 minutes of music one day while he was still filming in the jungle. (Sounds like a good value, actually. An hour and a half of music delivered before the movie was done).

The result is a dark and menacing early electronic score that is unique. I wouldn't have the film any other way. The pleasant music that bumps along when the trucks begin their deadly journey is here, as is the energetic, sequencer driven bit when the Israeli forces close in on the terrorists in the prologue. And, of course, the sinister music of the end credits.

A good chunk of the music on this disc is not heard in the film, but the tracks capture the atmosphere and tone of Sorcerer. Note that the organ cue that appears several times (as when the truck explodes toward the end) is not TD but Keith Jarrett (one of his `Sphere' compositions) and does not appear on the disc. Overall, TD's music captures the spirit of the film; indeed the Sorcerer 'Theme' (which plays over the end credits) is entitled 'Betrayal'.

This is TD's first and most likely best soundtrack, featuring arguably the best TD lineup ever (Froese, Baumann, Franke). The tracks are shorter than most TD albums of the time; these are not the long compositions of Ricochet, for instance. Some of it is downright creepy; you may want to avoid listening alone in the dark. The atmosphere is mysterious, chaotic, and driving. Friedkin is very good at getting the right music for his films without using the standard Hollywood fallbacks. Even though much of the music here is not heard in the film, the sense of the characters' desperation and their setting is.

Highly recommended for TD fans, Friedkin fans, and fans of electronic scores.

Interesting trivia - A theatrical trailer for The Warriors (on that DVD) features the track Betrayal. (Trailers often reuse music from other movies). The Warriors is about another kind of deadly journey, and the music is a good fit.

Of all the albums Tangerine Dream released in the 1970s, this 1977 score for the film Sorcerer is undoubtedly the scariest. In fact, even the photo of the three band members (Peter Baumann, Edgar Froese, and Chris Franke) depicted in the liner notes is somewhat disturbing and menacing. Interestingly enough, William Friedkin's liner notes indicate that the music was written without any of the band members actually having viewed any footage. This is an even more impressive achievement when you consider that Freidkin felt that the film and the soundtrack were virtually "inseparable". The CD is approximately 45 minutes in length and the music is spread across twelve, uncharacteristically short tracks. Each track is dominated by loads of analog synthesizers including instruments by Moog, ARP, and Oberheim. Mellotron use (including the large Mark V) is also very heavy and should please most mellotron fans. Although I really enjoy this album, the only minor complaint that I have is that the tracks are just too short - just when I start being drawn into a piece it rather abruptly ends. However, the compositions all convey the same brooding and menacing mood, so the momentum is only slowed a tiny bit during the pause between individual tracks. All in all, I would have to highly recommend this album to all general electronica fans and Tangerine Dream fans. Excellent stuff.

Recorded before the end of 1976, and mixed in the spring of 1977, "Sorcerer" is the first soundtrack by Tangerine Dream. While William Friedkin directed the movie in the jungle, the tape was played for the actors to get the mood he intended. What's interesting is that Tangerine Dream recorded the music without seeing any of the footage. Indeed, since then it's been at times fashionable to cut the film according to the prerecorded sound track. Some of the tracks fit quite well, while others have no emotional connection with the corresponding scenes in the film. Still, they are compatible enough for the whole adventure to be successful, and one cannot say that about future soundtracks by this famous band that devoted most of their time in the 80s to cinematography.

Instrumentarium used to record this album is slightly restricted compared to "Stratosfear", but still remarkable, and deliciously analogue. The main instrument, the one that is dominant in this album is the mellotron; a difficult keyboard instrument that allowed playing prerecorded tunes similar to the electronic choir or symphonic orchestral glissandi. The trouble was, no tune could be played longer than 17 seconds, and perhaps that very limitation contributed to the variability of the musical landscape Tangerine Dream painted on this moody album. Moody, for it's quite difficult to listen to, and certainly would be astonishment for an everyday musical listener.

Since this is the first soundtrack album of Tangerine Dream, it should be noted that they freely used pieces and fragments of compositions previously recorded, and created completely new musical worlds with the help of these elements. These worlds were new indeed, but always those who know their studio or concert albums will recognize an album that instantaneously preceded the work on the soundtrack. In the case of "Sorcerer", it was "Stratosfear" that is a sibling sister. Since the latter is the masterpiece of electronic roots, it actually says a lot about the quality of the former. "Sorcerer" is an excellent work of excellent artists, and sad as it is to say, it's also the last one to bear the artistic stigma of Peter Baumann, the wild soul of Tangerine Dream.

I'm probably in the minority, but I'm a huge fan of the film "Sorcerer". No "Citizen Kane", but there's plenty to acknowledge: a harrowing story, great performances (Roy Scheider is outstanding), and Tangerine Dream's fine soundtrack. This music is right up there with Tangerine Dream's best work (before they were churning out new age music), directly following the brilliant triumverate of "Rubycon", "Phaedra" and "Stratosphere".

Intense, chilling, and often flat-out scary tones and ambient textures punctuate the score throughout, reflecting the tension of the film's grim plot. As a previous reviewer noted, 'Betrayal (Sorcerer Theme)' is a great - though relatively unknown - piece of electronica. Give this a listen, and hear where most of today's techno gurus got their inspiration.

Tangerine Dream's legacy of film soundtracks is littered with mediocre music (nothing like a quick buck, one assumes). But on a few occassions they did hit the mark. Like FIRESTARTER, this soundtrack to William Fredkin's little known remake of THE WAGES OF FEAR is one of the few Tangerine Dream soundtracks that is consistantly good from start to finish. The sound is classic mid-period TD - eerie melodies, somewhat stiff electro rhythms, and wonderfully vintage analog synth sounds. In a few years their sound would develop again into a slicker pop/rock/trance hybrid, but SORCERER remains a perfect snapshot of Tangerine Dream in the mid 70's and comes highly reccomended.

Earlier T Dream releases were filled with long spacey compositions not unlike early Pink Floyd (not a bad thing, by any means), while later releases quickly degenerated into New Age piffle (ignore anything beyond the mid-80s). With shorter tracks and a more cohesive sound, I guess you could say this is more commercial than their earlier stuff, but that would be to ignore the relentless pounding energy and menace that fills this soundtrack, a perfect compliment to the movie. I have listened to this album for 25 years and am still not tired of it.

In many ways, this album represents Tangerine Dream at about their most interesting: there remain touches reminiscent of their earliest works but these are seamlessly integrated with the newer styles that were emerging on their studio albums of the time. In some ways, the music sounds a little dated now (although nothing like as dated as the film looks) and in parts is a little muddy. There are times too when the album feels just a touch too much like a series of snap-shots-caused by there being no musical transition of any kind between each of the various scenes. I suspect that all of these criticisms arise from this recording having been mastered by MCA, not the band themselves, thereby missing out on the usual Tangerine Dream quality control (and bridging overdub) treatment! For all that, this remains interesting music, well worth a listen.

(For a fuller version of this review, check out this disc's entry on the amazon.co.uk site.)

This disc contains some of the best soundtrack music ever. Creation is positively creepy. Other standout tracks are Grind, Search and The Call. This is not stuff you're going to put on the stereo while entertaining guests, but most of the really good TD music isn't. Turn off the lights and put this disc on in the evening as a storm approaches...and the wind picks up...and the sky darkens...and the rain starts to fall...

Although some of the tracks on this album lack substance and fall into the category of sound effects, it's still an exceptional disc. The movie was O.K. too. It's unfortunate that TD never composed for a really good movie (although Risky Business and Thief were pretty good and contains some excellent TD music), I'd like to see them get some more recognition.

This movie is excellent but what a treasure for your sense of hearing as you ears open to the treasure chest of this magnificent soundtrack. Every image on the film seems to connect with the action on film to till its conclusion. truely a work of musical art. Just close your eys and let the haunting music take you away.. Reminded me of the music from the movie Midnight Express another music masterpiece...

I don't know how I came to see this film on HBO late one night in 1978 or '79, but I did and was hooked. Besides the story, what I was struck by was the music. At the time, there really wasn't alot of music like it. Other artists such as Jarre, Vangelis, and Eddie Jobson were still unknown for their own styles. Anyways, it has taken me nearly 20 years to finally buy this disc. I'm glad to have it as the music is still as unique as it was then.