Carlo Siliotto's "Nomad: The Warrior " marks the second movie to come from Kazakhstan in the past year. First, the undeniable "Borat" had placed Kazakhstan on the map with his farcical hi-jinx that set the world on fire during 2006. For better or for worse, that's what the country has been represented as in the film industry. Until now.
"Nomad" is a serious effort with epic overtones. Siliotto's score, which was nominated for a 2006 Golden globe, is artistically constructed with the sounds of an old-world Kazakhstan that plays itself beautifully within the context of the soundtrack. The focus on creating music that suits this culture is quite evident throughout the span of the score. It's quite nice to hear music that is taken this seriously. I don't need to remind you of how the modern sound has a tendency to creep into movies that are set in a time and place far from our own. It doesn't in this film, and I can only imagine that the movie itself is even better because of it.
When talking themes, Siliotto is certainly capable of using melodies in his work. There is a main theme that is somewhat sweeping in its reach and flirts with epic status. It's stated throughout the score in strategic moments so the music is certainly anchored with this motif. You'll also be treated to some interesting choral work along with native instruments that are equally captivating in its use. The best way to describe it is that it comes across as tribal music. There are a lot of elements at work in this score yet Siliotto is able to bring them all in cohesively enough to make for a standout experience.
The secondary theme is more playful than that of the main theme and first appears in Track 8 on the promotional disc. It's possible that it comes across as a more enjoyable statement because the differing melodies offer such a stark contrast in mood to one another, allowing the more gentle of the two to benefit from it. In either case, having the depth of multiple thematic elements makes for a soundtrack with longevity potential. Indeed, you might find yourself listening to this one on multiple occasions since there is so much to take in.
Another reason you may be listening to "Nomad" on a regular basis is that there are 33 tracks on the soundtrack, all of which offer a reasonable running time. It's possible, and quite probable, that you might miss some of the highlights of the score in your first pass. I know there are excerpts that I appreciated more so during the second listen. One more interesting tidbit about this score is how strongly Siliotto is able to open and close various individual tracks. I didn't feel that the music bled from one track into another and that there was distinct, and at times forceful, closure with many cues.
Overall, "Nomad" is a score that is very much apart from the Hollywood production line. It's nostalgic, too, with a romantic call to adventure and unity captured within the music. The score is certainly worthy of its award nomination(s) and deserves any attention that soundtrack fans can provide.
Final Score: The culture of Kazakhstan is brought to life through the music of Carlo Siliotto. "Nomad" has a high entertainment value, especially for those of you who enjoy unique, thematic scores in your soundtrack listening experiences.
