What You Need to Know: It takes a bit of luck, sometimes. I discovered
Exclesius when I was researching the latest developments in Larry Groupé's career, as he is a composer who I find to be quite skillful in his craft, and was fortunate to find this release. As it turned out, it was a bountiful search as it led me to this breathtaking and impressive musical experience.
The first thing you need to do when approaching this album is to accept the fact that there is no film behind it. Indeed, the visuals are all your own as you trek through each of the wonderful tracks from this release...that there is no cinematic restrictions turns out to be a plus for me as the music and my imagination were able to roam in unison. In fact, this is the type of album I long wished could be produced by composers more often! What makes it even better for the score fan is that there are themes that are woven throughout the album, adding a "film music" type of feel to the work.
The music is bold and epic, which are attributes you'll pick up on immediately. There is a sense of might behind many of the tracks as the rich orchestral sound plays to great scope and the choir fills the speakers with startling beauty. That said, there are also emotional undercurrents that can be enjoyed as well; a balancing act, as it were, that Groupé delivers in thoughtful fashion. For me, if it's wall-to-wall bombast, then there would have been very little substance to the experience. Thankfully, Excelsius is far from being one dimensional; it offers a wealth of riches that will appeal to anyone who enjoyes a great film score. Kudos to everyone involved with this release.
