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Music Reviews:

District 9 - Music by Clinton Shorter

Yesh Music – 2008

Composer Clinton Shorter establishes an epic mood with a wave of emotional cinematic sound, highlighted by a solo African sounding male voice.  The first cut "District 9" then moves into a darker percussive science fiction action realm.  All orchestral elements combine to bring the feel of war.  Using the male voice is almost a cry against the violence that certain to happen.

"I Want That Arm" starts small with little parts working subtly before percussion hits.

A sullen mood is captured in "She Calls."

Drums hit hard from the first second of "Exosuit."  The exotic male voice is brought back and seems to chant for peace.  But the percussion and drums say a battle must be fought.

Drums and percussion are pushed to a new level of intensity in "Harvesting Material."  The pounding is powerful and yet still harmonious.

Though there is something brewing under the surface of "Heading Home," the overall feel is something good is going to come from it.

Somberness pulsates in "A Lot Of Secrets."  Drums are such an important part of this track and honestly this whole score.  I like the way the drums kind of shuffle as the male voice sings out.

The low tapping keyboard (or bass) part in "Back to D9" was cool.  The composition is written with a natural curve towards a big event.

You might call "Wakes Is Still Running" a drum fest.  All sorts of percussive instruments pound away as the orchestra churns underneath.  What's so impressive about the percussion is how it carries the cue with melody.  Nice work.

The metallic sound clanging in "Get Him Talking" brings a real edge to the score.  Shorter punctuates the end of this cue beautifully.

"Prawnkus" has a sense of serenity and resolution.  I haven't seen the film as of writing this review, but it seems like we take a journey through some tumultuous terrain to reach a better place then when the movie began.  Clinton Shorter helps achieve this with his emotionally rich, textured score that speaks the power of DISTRICT 9.

www.clintonshorter.com