Pirate's Passage
Andrew Lockington
" Pirate's Passage is a pleasant thematic experience "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
All roads of Andrew Lockington lead to Brad Peyton, because that partnership is doing good things for Mr. Lockington. After his amazing work on Journey 2, Lockington went on to score one of the summer blockbusters of the year (San Andreas), but through Peyton he was attached to Pirate's Passage as well. An animated tale written, performed and produced by Donald Sutherland about a family that receives help from a captain, a captain that turns out to be a pirate who is allegedly been dead for 2 centuries. The score (released by MovieScore Media) is one I'm enjoying because of one simple reason. Themes. They aren't of the same quality of Journey 2, but it's still nice to have themes in this day and age. Making it a sober but pleasant listening experience.
Why I'm saying sober is because don't expect this score to be an epic pirate score like we received countless years ago from the likes of John Debney or Hans Zimmer. Not necessary at all, but apart from the few moments that deliver some suspenseful action material, we seem to receive a somewhat lighter sound than we're used to of Epic Andrew Lockington. There's an interesting suspense melody ("Vikings" and "Surprizal, Mr. Moehner!") that could have unleashed something amazing when developed, but all in all the action is rather good but restricted in its strength. Then I'm enjoying the multiple themes of Lockington more. And one that stands out in particular.
Sure we have pleasant Irish jig's ("Morning, 1952", "Is That your Girlfriend", "Boat Comes Loose"), and several returning themes. But the one theme that occasionally returns is also the most enjoyable and developed emotional one. Reminding me a lot of Journey 2 (especially when it's combined with various other themes), the theme is especially brilliant in "Aim to Sink Her", unleashing the kind of mystery that a tale like this surely demanded. it returns wonderfully in "Vikings", "Show me to your Room" and "Surprizal, Mr. Moehner!". Plus, the amazing fact that Emilie-Claire Barlow returns with her solo vocal performances (of Journey 2 fame) is another testament to the occasional quality of this score. Her vocals enlighten the mystery in cues such as "Skull and Cross Swords", "Our Secret", "Searching the Basement" and "Closing Theme", a wonderful soothing send off that sadly lacks the theme I'm so fond off.
All in all, Pirate's Passage has one amazing quality. And that's the multiple usage of themes that keep this score developing rather nicely. Even more, when the ideas and themes mix into one another, it's easy to get goosebumps, simply because it's getting kinda rare to hear such thematic development in this day and age. The score on the whole is nice too, so you damn better give it a chance. So while Pirate's Passage is hardly an epic score, it's soothing melodies, pleasant jig's and several strong themes make this an adventure I rather fondly experienced. A bit too long perhaps for repeated listens, but pleasant nonetheless.
Favorite Moment - Aim to Sink Her (1.11 -4.45)
The moment that second theme joins the party, it becomes thoroughly enjoyable
Track Listing
1. Seven Chests (3.52)
2. Morning, 1952 (2.16)
3. Skull and Cross Swords (6.21)
4. Aim to Sink Her (4.52) Excellent track
5. Is That Your Girlfriend? (1.51)
6. A Ship in the Storm (2.17)
7. Captain Johnson (2.23)
8. Vikings (4.16)
9. Magic Fire (2.20)
10. Show Me To Your Room (1.38)
11. Boat Comes Loose (2.37)
12. Fast Friends (3.49)
13. Hiding the Chest (3.28)
14. We Need to Prepare! (1.52)
15. Our Secret (1.39)
16. Surprizal, Mr. Moehner! (6.27) Excellent track
17. Are You Going to Die? (2.49)
18. Searching the Basement (1.55)
19. Closing Theme (3.21) Excellent track
20. Meg's Song (1.28)
Total Length: 61.31
Why I'm saying sober is because don't expect this score to be an epic pirate score like we received countless years ago from the likes of John Debney or Hans Zimmer. Not necessary at all, but apart from the few moments that deliver some suspenseful action material, we seem to receive a somewhat lighter sound than we're used to of Epic Andrew Lockington. There's an interesting suspense melody ("Vikings" and "Surprizal, Mr. Moehner!") that could have unleashed something amazing when developed, but all in all the action is rather good but restricted in its strength. Then I'm enjoying the multiple themes of Lockington more. And one that stands out in particular.
Sure we have pleasant Irish jig's ("Morning, 1952", "Is That your Girlfriend", "Boat Comes Loose"), and several returning themes. But the one theme that occasionally returns is also the most enjoyable and developed emotional one. Reminding me a lot of Journey 2 (especially when it's combined with various other themes), the theme is especially brilliant in "Aim to Sink Her", unleashing the kind of mystery that a tale like this surely demanded. it returns wonderfully in "Vikings", "Show me to your Room" and "Surprizal, Mr. Moehner!". Plus, the amazing fact that Emilie-Claire Barlow returns with her solo vocal performances (of Journey 2 fame) is another testament to the occasional quality of this score. Her vocals enlighten the mystery in cues such as "Skull and Cross Swords", "Our Secret", "Searching the Basement" and "Closing Theme", a wonderful soothing send off that sadly lacks the theme I'm so fond off.
All in all, Pirate's Passage has one amazing quality. And that's the multiple usage of themes that keep this score developing rather nicely. Even more, when the ideas and themes mix into one another, it's easy to get goosebumps, simply because it's getting kinda rare to hear such thematic development in this day and age. The score on the whole is nice too, so you damn better give it a chance. So while Pirate's Passage is hardly an epic score, it's soothing melodies, pleasant jig's and several strong themes make this an adventure I rather fondly experienced. A bit too long perhaps for repeated listens, but pleasant nonetheless.
Favorite Moment - Aim to Sink Her (1.11 -4.45)
The moment that second theme joins the party, it becomes thoroughly enjoyable
Track Listing
1. Seven Chests (3.52)
2. Morning, 1952 (2.16)
3. Skull and Cross Swords (6.21)
4. Aim to Sink Her (4.52) Excellent track
5. Is That Your Girlfriend? (1.51)
6. A Ship in the Storm (2.17)
7. Captain Johnson (2.23)
8. Vikings (4.16)
9. Magic Fire (2.20)
10. Show Me To Your Room (1.38)
11. Boat Comes Loose (2.37)
12. Fast Friends (3.49)
13. Hiding the Chest (3.28)
14. We Need to Prepare! (1.52)
15. Our Secret (1.39)
16. Surprizal, Mr. Moehner! (6.27) Excellent track
17. Are You Going to Die? (2.49)
18. Searching the Basement (1.55)
19. Closing Theme (3.21) Excellent track
20. Meg's Song (1.28)
Total Length: 61.31