Worth the wait - Batman Begins OST Soundtrack

As some of you will know, I have a HUGE thing for soundtrack albums...

This week, after literally years of trying, I finally got hold of a copy of the OST to Batman Begins (Hans Zimmer / James Newton Howard), and it was worth the wait...

3 reasons I love OSTs:
• they swell the heart
• they are terrific to walk along to, listening on the iPod
• the tracks can produce any kind of emotional response (hey, I cried within 2 minutes of the beginning of Saving Private Ryan - listen again, and you'll see why...)

Here's Batman Begins track by track (second half tomorrow?):

1. Vespertilio
Sets the scene, dark, mechanical. Short, but so sweet.

2. Eptesicus
More hopeful, but yet this track has it's undertones too. We begin to hear the themes that rise within the music so hugely towards the end - the sweeping notes at the end of this track are those of a 'hero'.

A wonderful mixture of orchestra (some oboe at the beginning, maybe) and piano. Absolutely brilliant music to walk along to...

3. Myotis
We're brooding again. The almost mystical chimes make you think of Asia as they echo at the start of the track.

The sound of confusion builds, but this is very quickly followed by action - sharp, recurring notes...punches being thrown, explosions!

The track concludes with peaceful tones, as though our hero is emerging - music to make you wonder, breath in deep and smile...

4. Barbastella
(OK, how did they come up with these names??!)
Choral beginning, with orchestra flowing through, followed by piano... There is something of track 2 about this one, but it does build and has a sort of metallic, structured feel to it at the end.

Then the drums begin to bang... With wind instruments and a lot of passion...great finish!

5. Artibeus
Mysterious, spikey in tone and course - definitely a track to personify our bag guy... Nothing particularly moving about this song, but can be terrific to listen to depending upon where you are (imagine listening to this one walking around a city in the early evening...).

A little show at the end...

6. Tadarida
Softer, brought back to a more comfy place with this track, but for how long...

There is a sense in the music that something is wrong - spikiness returns!

This track is long (just over 5 mins), and is worth it - the last two minutes are pure OST gold dust! Orchestra, choral, a real sense of something happening -it is listening to pieces like this which make OSTs soooo much fun!

7. Macrotus
Even longer now (7+ mins), and starts beautifully with flowing violins and delicious piano. This is the main theme of this album - one of hope, heroism, passion, yet pain. You feel, at moments, like your head is swirling in the clouds...

But, like all great OST composers, you're brought back down to Earth soon enough...

The chimes begin again, but no sharp spikes yet. Enough to feel eerie...

Big, strong, powerful orchestral tones follow in the middle third - our hero is being called upon. The young choral that follows feels like a weakness has been shown, and help has been sought.

Tracks 8-13 tomorrow...

Thanks - hope you found this interesting!

Have a great evening!

Menace2Music

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