Soundtrack Review: Home (2009)
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This is a review of the documentary score Home by Armand Amar.
“Armand Amar has composed a great documentary score that hopefully will be getting some awards”
Armand Amar might be unknown to most of you, but I hope this review will be an introduction to this great French composer. Home is a breathtaking documentary by Yann Arthus-Bertrand that shows us earth in its current state. It’s filmed with satellites believe it or not (well not all, but at least plenty of air shots), but it’s very revealing and incredibly beautiful to watch. This is not Armand Amar’s first documentary, but whenever he does one, it seems to turn out great. First time I was introduced to Armand Amar was a documentary score to The First Cry or Le Premier Cri which is the original title. Really great stuff which I hope you look for after reading this review.
Track List
- Home Part I (*****)
- Home Part II (*****)
- Home Part III (****)
- Home Part IV (*****)
- Life I (****)
- Black Gold (****)
- Whales (*****)
- Murderous Catch (****)
- Rake The Forest (*****)
- Cum Dederit (****)
Short
Don’t be put off by the relatively short length of this score. It clocks in at just 29 minutes, but it’s all worth it. There’s some great stuff on here. The opening cue ‘Home Part I’ is proof of that with a very ethnic kind of style. Reminds me a little of the Mongolian cries in the Tuomas Kantelinen score Mongol. Very captivating and incredibly beautiful. ‘Home Part II’ is more traditional, but nothing less beautiful than Part 1. It is a sweeping track with a slight touch of choir, but used as a background to violins and flute.
The third part ‘Home Part III’ is another good one, but not as good as the first two parts despite the male choir. I do love choirs, but it lacks serenity and calmness which was present in the first two cues. It changes pace and I’m not sure I am comfortable with that. ‘Home Part IV’ almost starts out like John Williams Superman theme (you’ll know what I mean when you hear it). It’s back to being more serene and calming, almost like a reprise or remix rather of Part 2.
No Place Like Home
We’re leaving home now, and it’s true what they say. There’s no place like home, home is where the heart is etc. It’s nice traveling to though and there are no weak cues in this compilation. The cue that separates from the tried and tested is ‘Black Gold’ which is a really interesting composition. Sounds a bit like parts of Knowing by Marco Beltrami if you’ve heard that. A little crazy rhythm and heavy percussion is the name of the game. It’s pacy and features a violin halfway through. Not the best cue, but definitely the most interesting cue on the score. The cue ‘Rake the Forest’ is almost as interesting since it feature Didgeridoo, the instruments of the Australian aborigines. This one ranks highly with me. The pacing is great and the underscoring is beautiful.
Do you like ‘whales‘? I do, and it’s a gorgeous cue with a beautiful voice. It’s far too short however. I wonder who the voice is. It sounds like the voice on those Jocelyn Pook scores. Quite beautiful and a tie with ‘Home Part 1′ for the best cue of the soundtrack. The last cue on the Home soundtrack is ‘Cum Dederit‘ which is Latin for “When He shall give sleep…” Quite an interesting title for a not so interesting cue. It’s nice and features the female voice from the cue ‘Whales‘. The composition isn’t as exciting however, but quite a dramatic end to the documentary and score.
Conclusion
Home is a great introduction to Armand Amar. In fact, get this and Le Premier Cri and I’m sure you are sold on this underrated French composer. Armand Amar has composed a great documentary score that hopefully will be getting some awards. There’s ethnitism, sweeping soundscapes, hefty rhythms and didgeridoo! What’s not to like?
Listen to Home by Armand Amar below:
Other articles of interest:
(11 votes, average: 9.09 out of 10)
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Comments
A very good score. I downloaded this while browsing some forums, not knowing what the score and the movie where and I was pleasantly suprised. One of the the better score offerings so far in 2009 albeit a short one.
For the people wanting to see the movie, it can be watched freely in HD on youtube legally.
Jorn Tillnes Reply:
June 24th, 2009 at 5:19 am
If you like this, you should check out Le Premier Cri by the same composer. Great stuff.
Are the songs by separate artists.that amar used to compile the score?
Parakseno Reply:
November 29th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Well, actually “Cum dederit” is by Vivaldi. 4th movement of Nisi Dominus, RV608.
Well, I’m glad I stumbled across your site as your Top 10 appeared. I’ve never even heard of this composer or the documentary. But, this is amazing stuff. It’s like part Gladiator, part Fifth Element but with some serious heart and soul behind it. Black Gold is just incredible.
Thanks for the review!
Jorn Tillnes Reply:
July 3rd, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Glad you enjoyed it! If you liked this, I’m sure you will enjoy Le Premier Cri from Armand Amar.
Nice to see a ‘deluxe edition’ being released, with 24 tracks. Some of the extra tracks seem nice. Might be worthy of a purchase now!
Can some please help me? I have the DVD and the part where the narator talks about “these forests provide the remedies that cure us. The substances secreted by these plants…..” There is man singing in Persian. I have listened to the samples on iTunes and I can’t find it, it’s not track 9. Does anyone know the name of this song???? Thanks
Have watched the film twice. Loved both the spectacular film and the beautiful, complementing soundtrack. Everyone should see it in theatres. All the breathtaking images will blow your mind away, and the shocking message opens your eyes and hits hard in your head.
Thanks for the great review, too. I just come across this by chance and love it a lot. Here seems like a place I could enjoy tremendously as I’m also a big film score fan.
Cheers.
Jorn Tillnes Reply:
July 6th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Glad you enjoyed the movie and the score. Wish I could see it in theaters, but where I am from that won’t happen. A shame really, but at least I can enjoy the score whenever I want 
Can some please help me? I have the DVD and the part where the narator talks about “these forests provide the remedies that cure us. The substances secreted by these plants…..” There is man singing in Persian. I have listened to the samples on iTunes and I can’t find it, it’s not track 9. Does anyone know the name of this song???? Thanks
Can some please help? where the narator says “these forests provide the remedies that cure us. The substances secreted by these plants…..” There is man singing in Persian. I have Tried listened to the samples on iTunes and I cannotseem to find it, it’s not track 9. Does anyone know the name of this song????
Hi Matthew, John’s comment above mentioned a deluxe edition, with 24 full tracks, being released. Maybe that could help. I look forward to this edition, too.
BTW, for those of you who already watched the film, have you noticed that the narrator’s got a very clear and beautiful voice? Quite remarkably nice and pleasing to the ear. And guess what? It’s Glen Close’s. I myself get thrilled to learn of this.
With DVD watching, the end title caption could be small and hard to read, but on the big screen, you can see it clearly.
Does anyone know who the (soprano?!) is in the Cum Dederit song?
Also – can’t find the soundtrack on iTunes anywhere! bah.
Parakseno Reply:
November 29th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Taking into account that Naive label was involved, I guess that Vivaldi’s “Cum dederit” would be the one from the “Vespri per l’Assunzione di Maria Vergine” CDs. In which case, it’s (according to the covers) Sara Mingardo (contralto), Concerto Italiano (ensemble) and Rinaldo Alessandrini (conductor).
[...] 09. Home by Armand Amar A beautiful documentary with an even better score. It has all the hallmarks of a great score. The themes are beautifully presented with the breathtaking images. Its also a very versatile soundtrack with music from all over the world. Armand Amar is no stranger to me, but he might be to you. I suggest you check him out now and one of my favorite scores; Le Premier Cri which he also composed the music for. Read my review here. [...]
Soundtrack Seek
Very good score. It’s £3.16 on iTunes and certainly worth it. I have not come to a conclusion on what my favourite is but at the moment it could be Black Gold. I’m a sucker for percussion.
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Jorn Tillnes Reply:
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:25 am
Hehe Black Gold was certainly interesting. How about the opener? Love that. I’m a sucker for ethnic stuff. £3.16! It’s a steal!
Reply