Big Trouble in Little China
John Carpenter and Alan Howarth
" pure nostalgia "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the limited release
John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China has always been one of his quirkiest movies, if only for the insanely Jack Burton routine of Kurt Motherf..cking Snake Russell. The movie's wit, the story's premise, the good vs. evil battle, the magic, the monsters, the fights, the romances, it has it all and makes it one of those 80's flicks that will continue to keep its charm. Now John Carpenter has always been toying around with his scores (except The Thing & Starman) and he has been successful enough to bring forward legendary tunes. Think only of the Halloween tune, how many people will be able to whistle that? Big Trouble in Little China isn't that recognizable, but it is pure nostalgia nonetheless.
Of course more times than not, Alan Howarth has assisted him in the composition. And just like Prince of Darkness, it literally pays off as well!
We open with "Prologue", bringing us the mystery theme, layered under synthesizers and bringing forward that religious Prince of Darkness effect. But the cream of the crop has always been the main themes of the Carpenter movies. Time and time again, these are different from what you would expect and "Pork Chop Express" is no different. Electric guitar, jumpy bouncy tunes and a lot of Burton wit in the rhythm. It is THAT cool!
What will offend some will bring back fond memories of that perfect fitting 80's music for others. And "Abduction at Airport" will one way or another choose it for you. The brief eastern magic in "The Alley (Procession)" is followed by "The Alley (War)" which is a percussion feast featuring electronic gadgets. The mystery theme reappears when the 3 Storms take over the fight in "The Storms". And "Tenement / White Tiger" will be for most the line they'll have to cross to either continue or halt the listening experience of Big Trouble in Little China.
I'm not saying this is bad music, but it is music that is for some timeless, for others 80's electronic dribble. So as said "Tenement / White Tiger" holds a suspenseful rhythm to it which keep it interesting, "Here Comes the Storms" a coolness only 80's music can bring forward and "Lo Pans Domain / Looking for a Girl" the first sign of the mystery theme in an eastern synthesized version. Carpenter will be doing that a lot from now on. After all it really represents Lo Pang well. "Friends of Yours / Escape Iron Base", "Escape from Wing Kong" (a fast rhythmic feast of the mystery theme and the electronic whooshes) and "Hide" add tension, mystery and action to the end of CD 1.
The begin of CD 2 with "Call the Police" starts with eastern and some moody music before "Into the Spirit Path" adds some light ethereal choir to it, making it sound a whole lot more spiritual than first imagined. That spiritual magic returns in the begin of "The Great Arcade" before the fight really begins. The Carpenter thumps, rhythmic coolness and a calm ending are a perfect showdown for the movie's battle. The same counts for "The Final Escape (Lo Pan's Demise / Getaway)", with the percussive battle between the 2 remaining gods and Jack Burton and Wang Chi. By the way, the synthesizers are cool as hell near the end.
The somewhat cold "Goodbye, Jack" is a nice unexpected touch (apart from the freaky ending hehe). It goes into a synthesized cool song "Big Trouble in Little China (End Credits)" which is surprise surprise not the main pork chop theme revisited. The "Stingers Montage" is nothing but an arsenal of effects Carpenter uses in this score to enhance the synthesizer, so expect just basically noise.
The album may become a difficult (read obnoxious listen) for most recent film score fans but for the people who grew up in the 80', it is a return to a time when innocence and outdated music really worked. Big Trouble in Little China is 80's nostalgia that doesn't age in effect when you hear it after all this time. John Carpenter is no mastermind but he surely understood what his movies needed of musical support. And with the support of Alan Howarth it becomes a 80's experience that will bring forth those fond memories you have of the movie. And if you ever get the chance, see the movie. Then you'll realize how good Carpenter's score actually works inside that insanely cool movie starring Jack Burton who quotes:
Jack Burton: You know what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like this?
Thunder: Who?
Jack Burton: Jack Burton. *Me*!
Ah CLASSIC!!!
Tracklisting
CD 1: 50.43
1. Prologue (2.15)
2. Pork Chop Express (Main Title) (4.04) Excellent track
3. Abduction at Airport (4.19)
4. The Alley (Procession) (1.13)
5. The Alley (War) (2.30)
6. The Storms (2.44)
7. Tenement / White Tiger (3.48)
8. Here Comes the Storms (4.15)
9. Wing Kong Exchange (4.41)
10. Lo Pans Domain / Looking for a Girl (3.16)
11. Friends of Yours / Escape Iron Base (7.19)
12. Escape from Wing Kong (5.37)
13. Hide (4.34)
CD 2: 45.44
1. Call the Police (7.31)
2. Dragon Eyes (1.11)
3. Into the Spirit Path (7.05)
4. The Great Arcade (7.53)
5. The Final Escape (Lo Pan's Demise / Getaway) (7.01)
6. Goodbye, Jack (3.13)
7. Big Trouble in Little China (End Credits) (3.22)
8. Stingers Montage (5.23)
9. Big Trouble in Little China (Original Version) (3.01)
Of course more times than not, Alan Howarth has assisted him in the composition. And just like Prince of Darkness, it literally pays off as well!
We open with "Prologue", bringing us the mystery theme, layered under synthesizers and bringing forward that religious Prince of Darkness effect. But the cream of the crop has always been the main themes of the Carpenter movies. Time and time again, these are different from what you would expect and "Pork Chop Express" is no different. Electric guitar, jumpy bouncy tunes and a lot of Burton wit in the rhythm. It is THAT cool!
What will offend some will bring back fond memories of that perfect fitting 80's music for others. And "Abduction at Airport" will one way or another choose it for you. The brief eastern magic in "The Alley (Procession)" is followed by "The Alley (War)" which is a percussion feast featuring electronic gadgets. The mystery theme reappears when the 3 Storms take over the fight in "The Storms". And "Tenement / White Tiger" will be for most the line they'll have to cross to either continue or halt the listening experience of Big Trouble in Little China.
I'm not saying this is bad music, but it is music that is for some timeless, for others 80's electronic dribble. So as said "Tenement / White Tiger" holds a suspenseful rhythm to it which keep it interesting, "Here Comes the Storms" a coolness only 80's music can bring forward and "Lo Pans Domain / Looking for a Girl" the first sign of the mystery theme in an eastern synthesized version. Carpenter will be doing that a lot from now on. After all it really represents Lo Pang well. "Friends of Yours / Escape Iron Base", "Escape from Wing Kong" (a fast rhythmic feast of the mystery theme and the electronic whooshes) and "Hide" add tension, mystery and action to the end of CD 1.
The begin of CD 2 with "Call the Police" starts with eastern and some moody music before "Into the Spirit Path" adds some light ethereal choir to it, making it sound a whole lot more spiritual than first imagined. That spiritual magic returns in the begin of "The Great Arcade" before the fight really begins. The Carpenter thumps, rhythmic coolness and a calm ending are a perfect showdown for the movie's battle. The same counts for "The Final Escape (Lo Pan's Demise / Getaway)", with the percussive battle between the 2 remaining gods and Jack Burton and Wang Chi. By the way, the synthesizers are cool as hell near the end.
The somewhat cold "Goodbye, Jack" is a nice unexpected touch (apart from the freaky ending hehe). It goes into a synthesized cool song "Big Trouble in Little China (End Credits)" which is surprise surprise not the main pork chop theme revisited. The "Stingers Montage" is nothing but an arsenal of effects Carpenter uses in this score to enhance the synthesizer, so expect just basically noise.
The album may become a difficult (read obnoxious listen) for most recent film score fans but for the people who grew up in the 80', it is a return to a time when innocence and outdated music really worked. Big Trouble in Little China is 80's nostalgia that doesn't age in effect when you hear it after all this time. John Carpenter is no mastermind but he surely understood what his movies needed of musical support. And with the support of Alan Howarth it becomes a 80's experience that will bring forth those fond memories you have of the movie. And if you ever get the chance, see the movie. Then you'll realize how good Carpenter's score actually works inside that insanely cool movie starring Jack Burton who quotes:
Jack Burton: You know what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like this?
Thunder: Who?
Jack Burton: Jack Burton. *Me*!
Ah CLASSIC!!!
Tracklisting
CD 1: 50.43
1. Prologue (2.15)
2. Pork Chop Express (Main Title) (4.04) Excellent track
3. Abduction at Airport (4.19)
4. The Alley (Procession) (1.13)
5. The Alley (War) (2.30)
6. The Storms (2.44)
7. Tenement / White Tiger (3.48)
8. Here Comes the Storms (4.15)
9. Wing Kong Exchange (4.41)
10. Lo Pans Domain / Looking for a Girl (3.16)
11. Friends of Yours / Escape Iron Base (7.19)
12. Escape from Wing Kong (5.37)
13. Hide (4.34)
CD 2: 45.44
1. Call the Police (7.31)
2. Dragon Eyes (1.11)
3. Into the Spirit Path (7.05)
4. The Great Arcade (7.53)
5. The Final Escape (Lo Pan's Demise / Getaway) (7.01)
6. Goodbye, Jack (3.13)
7. Big Trouble in Little China (End Credits) (3.22)
8. Stingers Montage (5.23)
9. Big Trouble in Little China (Original Version) (3.01)