This is one fantastic package.
Jarre is not among the composers I collect specifically, even though he created a dozen or so which I adore -- and despite my loving both LAWRENCE OF ARABIA and DOCTOR ZHIVAGO since childhood. But so soon after having revisited the grand THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING, I let Roger's enthusiasm for LION OF THE DESERT persuade me to give the new Tadlow release a try.
When LION and THE MESSAGE played theatrically I skipped both films, expecting each was likely to be a weak LAWRENCE imitation; happily, that's not true of either Jarre score. Not only would I have purchased the MESSAGE album on its own, had I ever heard this music before, but I couldn't even hear it for a couple of days after it arrived. The next three times I picked up the jewel case intending to try THE MESSAGE, I first had to replay the LION disc instead! LION is authentic magnificence, reminiscent of another of his greatest works without being a LAWRENCE retread.
Then while I was pleased to be pleased by THE MESSAGE (even though it's less great), GIUBILEO is an arresting bonus. GoblinScore is not alone in having been brought to tears by this material -- for me it's that gorgeous second movement. Had I ever heard this during Jarre's lifetime I might not have responded as strongly; I'm sure I would have admired it, at least. However, the piece has a beauty which now creates for me such a sense of loss, since one particular brief passage manages to evoke the essence of what really "spoke" to me about that man's music. This release is a treasure.
And now I'm already stoked about the upcoming complete release of one of my most favorite desert scores ever: Jarre's MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME.
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