About the Soundtrack: The music from the Starz Original series "Crash" is composed by Mark Isham and Cindy O'Connor. The neat thing about Isham's involvement is that he had composed the music for the theatrical version, so it's nice to see his involvement carry over. The soundtrack is released by LionsGate Records and features 11 tracks in this first volume. As you look into this release, please note that is not an orchestral score, rather, the music was written for and performed by The Sodden Dog Electronic Arts Ensemble. In the end, don't let the players be a determining factor as to whether you buy this soundtrack or not; judge the end result by the music itself. Hopefully my review can help you make that informed decision.
What You Need to Know: Isham and O'Connor's work on "Crash" (the series) is driven by an electronic backdrop of pure ambience. This is primarily a New Age patterned score that uses soft textures and a unique sound design to tell its story. While this type of an approach can work well within the context of the show, its translation onto disc leaves a lot to be desired. This was a score that failed to connect with me.
On the surface, I did like the rather original blend of electronic instruments that the composers put in place. One can clearly realize the happenings of a big city and the dramas that unfold when listening to these cues. Where the score primarily fell short is that there is an obvious lack of warmth and melody. It felt too icy, and experimental in parts. Had the unique use of synthesizers been accentuated more with the piano or a few live instruments, preferably with relatable melodies, than this could have been quite the unique effort. Instead, I was left on the outside, admiring the technique, but never fully engaged by the material. Again, I have to emphasize that this is perhaps the style that worked best for the show, so any comment I make here is strictly based on my take on the listening experience.
Ultimately, the score for "Crash" is an example of modern composition and the uniqueness that composers are free to deliver with the electronic resources. The end result is that there is enough here to make one curious but not enough to spark enthusiasm. I was really hoping for a score that could provoke a bit of an emotional connection but aside from a few hints at it, the music never really fulfills that direction.
On a final note, if you do listen to this album, be sure your speakers are ready for the experience...there is heavy, rumbling bass on some of these tracks!
Final Score: There is a stylish framework in place with "Crash" where a really interesting score could have emerged, but the self imposed constraints prevented anything compelling from materializing. This one needed a little more of a streamlined, dramatic touch to earn a recommendation.
