Tarzan (2013)

David Newman

 
" Me Tarzan, you David Newman-ish "

Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release

It's always exciting news to spot David Newman's name on the poster of a non comedic film. It means you can expect something of that David Newman magic the way it is meant to be heard. I know he does comedy well, but there's so much more than crazy energy in the voice of David, it would be a shame to not hear it once and a while. And the animated Tarzan of 2013 could just be the thing people were waiting for. This computer animation using motion capture tried to wow audiences with a teaser before the film was released, but it didn't help the average criticism one bit. For us music fans, it was more a question whether the poor reception would hurt the score ever getting a CD release, a common problem for David Newman projects.

Luckily it didn't and Tarzan received a CD release courtesy of Königskinder in Europe. On this, we have 73 minutes of music, of which David gets 69 minutes of. And how hard it sounds to tell this, but this might be too much for little old Tarzan. The score's a hoot, but too long to experience it again and again.

The score opens immediately with an exiting minute though in "Prologue", in it we discover David's love for the choir, and a racing rhythm which is supported by a remote control sounding heroism. I admit that I occasionally heard Patrick Doyle's Thor in it (which was then influenced by the RC method of composition), and I admit the score feels at times like it's oomphed for the new generation. But don't deny the fanfares in "Kala and Kershchak" are not vintage David Newman, don't deny the emotion pouring out of the piano and choir is nothing but the good old David Newman in "Tarzan is Alive" and "Tarzan Helps Jane", don't deny the comic playfulness is anything but textbook David Newman energy in "Tarzan Wakes Up". Just realize that somehow, David tried to find a perfect balance between his own voice and the more modern way of composition.

Resulting in wonderful upbeat moments like "Growing Up" and "Tarzan in Camp", epic tracks like "Tarzan Climbs Tree" and "Tarzan Looks Beyond". Furthermore we have fanfares going berserk in "Jane Returns to the Camp", lovely romantic emotion in "Tarzan and Jane in the Lake" and main theme coolness in "Tarzan and Jane".

The thing is, even if all of this sounds incredibly good (which it is), there is indeed a truth to the concern of the remote control sound. It's almost like it's generic. And if one thing never applied to David Newman, it is generic. This is incredibly good music, and yet somehow the magic Newman touch is missing, making me sit through the music and not really experiencing it firsthand. For instance, I almost wandered through tracks 18 to 21 without experiencing the magic of it.

But then all of a sudden, the main theme creates the 'Newman' touch we were waiting for in "Take Me to the Meteor". And even if it lasts for about a minute, that typical no nonsense David Newman magic is still amazingly cool. Continuing in the exciting end of "Finale". Which brings me to the somewhat awkward conclusion. The music is too good and too fun to rate it just as average, but something keeps me distracted during the music. I'm hearing it but I'm not experiencing it firsthand. Don't get me wrong, there is too much magic, sophistication and quality in Tarzan to dismiss it as another RC clone. Yet there's something about the overall feel which makes the criticism rather sad but true. The level of Newman magic is placed behind a smoother (and thereby) less engaging listening experience, no matter the blazing heroism that comes out of it. No matter how hard David Newman is trying to sound like him. Strange considering the rating, but somehow I'm kinda disappointed.

Favorite Moment - Growing Up (0.32 - 2.04)
How it suddenly becomes too magical to explain in mere mortal words

Track Listing

1. Prologue (1.29)
2. Family Fun (3.14)
3. Kala and Kerschak (4.24)
4. Tarzan is Alive (1.55)
5. Tarzan Wakes Up (2.39)
6. Growing Up (2.11) Excellent track
7. Tarzan Climbs Tree (1.59)
8. Tarzan Looks Beyond (1.32)
9. Tarzan Helps Jane (2.41)
10. Jane and Dad (3.52)
11. Tarzan (3.15)
12. Tarzan Fight (1.57)
13. Jane Returns to the Camp (3.36)
14. Tarzan in Camp (1.49)
15. Blackmail (1.44)
16. Tarzan and Jane (5.12)
17. Tarzan and Jane in the Lake (2.37)
18. Entrance to Cave (3.46)
19. Reunion (2.01)
20. Kala is Shot (3.32)
21. Tarzan Mourns for Kala (2.41)
22. Take Me to the Meteor (4.55)
23. Detonation in 8 Minutes (3.04)
24. Finale (2.43) Excellent track
25. Loud Like Love: Placebo (4.51)

Total Length: 71.49
(click to rate this score)  
 
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(total of 9 votes - average 4.39/5)

Released by

Königskinder Music KK047 (regular release 2014)

Orchestrations by

Max Knoth & Florian Tessloff