Star Trek - Nemesis [SOUNDTRACK]

People who are not fans of Star Trek but ARE fans of Jerry Goldsmith will probably enjoy this CD greatly. Star Trek fans will no doubt need some time to get used to the EXTREMELY dark overtones of the music, much like we had to do with the Star Trek VI soundtrack by Cliff Eidelman. That soundtrack grew on me and became my favorite overall Original Series film score.

One thing Star Trek fans will especially notice on this recording is a slight absence of recurring themes. We Trekkies are somewhat spoiled; we're used to gallant marching scores and sweeping themes that reflect our futuristic heroes. This film score takes a different approach.

This music is lush, overlayed with eerie sythesizer sounds trying to create the dark and haunting feel the movie likely represents. The expected "recurring themes" are there in the score; but the themes are short, appearing in fragments here and there and maybe for twenty seconds, unfortunately with not much time to develop themselves. But we must keep in mind that Goldsmith is creating an accompaniment, not merely a stand-alone project. If the film itself is dark and fragmented, the film score is likely to mirror that.

The themes in Nemesis are more percussive in nature than melodic, which might make some listeners miss them. The score tries more to create an atmosphere than a "single-worthy" orchestral theme. And on those grounds, Goldsmith succeeds without a doubt.

As a treat to a careful listener, he also slips in homages to Trek scores past. In listening to the CD I heard echoes of a three-note measure pulled from Insurrection, the lush strings and solo horn style of First Contact, and the "Busy Man" theme from ST V, one of the most beautiful themes Goldsmith has ever composed.

As the musical accompaniment to possibly the final Trek film, this soundtrack deserves a place in every Trek library. And any listener will find they can pull this CD off the shelf any into the stereo when they want something rhythmic, atmospheric and eerie all at the same time.

This is the best Trek soundtrack I've heard in a long time, it's sweeping and melodic, and has so many little winks at the audience from Star Trek: The Motion Picture (the little "Enterprise theme" moments that everyone recognises from Trek) right up to First Contact (listen to "My Right Arm") that are just awesome. The Main Title is surprisingly short and very unexpected. Normally, the film opens straight out with the little Trek fanfare, but Goldsmith plays with our expectations, cutting it right down to only a few seconds before delving back into the mysterious "Remus" track. The End Title is much as expectations, but that little snippet of "Blue Skies" leading us in is nothing short of genius. This is my second favourite track on the album (my favourite being "My Right Arm"), and it perfectly mixes the traditional Trek themes with the new, more mature and disturbing Nemesis themes.

After the slight disappointment that was the "Enterprise" score release, the Trek soundtracks have a new hero. I would place this joint second in my favourites, next to First Contact, and right behind Wrath of Khan.

Right from the start, we are greeted with the traditional Star Trek fanfare but the music then evolves into a militeristic tone to reflect the dark Reman homeworld and Romulus. Once the very short theme is over the soundtrack just keeps on evolving, first we get "The Box" which uses some unique melody's, then My Right Arm plays the well known "Picard Theme" which was first heard in First Contact.
The next few tracks are generally quiet, except for Odds and Ends, which treats us to a truly unique peice - a mixture of Dr Who style synthesized effects, and Insurrection Action theme.

Once we reach track 8, this is where the fun begins. Goldsmith incorporates everything that made, The Motion Picture, The Final Frontier and First Contact great scores and makes them even better by inserting the very dark and heavy "Reman" theme. This continues right up until Final Flight (The grand action finale so to speak).. but before this grand finale, Goldsmith shows more of his unique abilities by mixing action music with an almost "Asian/Indian" musical sound.

The End credits have the usual TNG fanfare, but we are then greeted with a new peice of music which is very emotional! (Be Warned).

This is worth every penny!, and I highly reccomend it. As this is the best Trek score since Star Trek V.