MARK ISHAM — Film Music (review)

MARK ISHAM — Film Music album cover Album · 1985 · Jazz Related Soundtracks Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
Matti P
I remember borrowing this CD from a library, most likely in the early nineties, when I had run across the name of the American musician and composer MARK ISHAM (b. 1951). The connection wasn't jazz or even film music in which Isham has been productive, instead I was charmed by a romantically peaceful track 'My Wife With Champagne Shoulders' on some instrumental, mainly electronic music compilation on the Innovative Communication label, I think. Isham's calm, sensitive and introspective music -- he plays mainly trumpet and keyboards -- is indeed recommendable to the listeners of Ambient and alike.

For the most part, this unusual set of film music makes no exception. I don't remember if the CD leaflet had any further information on the three movies that still are unfamiliar to me. Instead of containing short tracks typical for soundtrack albums, this CD contains three extended pieces, one for each film.

"Mrs. Soffel" (1984) is a drama starring Diane Keaton and Mel Gibson. The roughly 14-minute track here is very melancholic and serene for the most part as it progresses through various sections -- that actually sound like they were separate pieces. One could ask the necessity of programming it as a single track. Nevertheless, the music calls for dedicated listening free of distractions and rewards it the way the so called New Age Music does at its best. Other involved musicians include Pat Metheny's sideman Lyle Mays on piano and Peter Maunu on violin. Isham plays plenty of penny whistle on this track.

"The Times of Harvey Milk" (1984) is an Oscar-winning documentary of the gay politician. Again, the 8½ minute track has various sections, some of them bright-toned, some moodier. The synths are central making the music at times comparable to the likes of Vangelis and Roger Eno, but one clearly senses this is film music aimed to underline emotions.

"Never Cry Wolf" (1983) is a drama about a government biologist sent into the wilderness to study the caribou population whose decline is believed to be caused by wolves. The music has a wide, epic approach depicting the grandiosity and chillingness of the wildlife nature. The arrangement is bigger, featuring e.g. bassoon, bamboo flutes, harp, percussion and human voices. Very likely a soundtrack album with separate tracks instead of the nearly 25-minute piece would function better for the listener.

The melancholically oriented Soffel piece is my favourite here. I don't know if this album is among the most recommendable in Isham's large catalogue. At least if you wish for a trumpet oriented album, this may not be what you're looking for. Often it's very atmospheric, but it's also a bit patchy (and occasionally difficult to get hold on) within its heavily extended tracks.
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