Orchestrated by Trevor Jones, Geoff Alexander, and Julian Kershew

Conducted by Geoff Alexander

Produced by Trevor Jones

Release Date: February 24th, 1998

               TVT Soundtrax

     Alex Proyas’ Dark City is a film that is a precursor of sorts to The Matrix. Both films feature a selection of humanity living a lie while powerful non-human entities macro-manage every aspect behind the scenes. One individual however has the power to stop them. There is even a fight hovering over the city much like the final battle between Neo and Agent Smith in Matrix Revolutions. Though where the Matrix trilogy attempted to associate itself with heady philosophical topics (for the first film anyway), Dark City is a lean and compact tale that doesn’t meander through two more films before the viewer can reach the conclusion. The similarities between Trevor Jones' score for Dark City and Don Davis’ work on the Matrix films extends to the overall bombastic nature of the major set pieces. Beyond that, however, Jones is in prime territory for one of his best action scores…sort of. Dark City has the distinction of being so powerfully over-the-top in its main theme that one cannot help but enjoy it. However, at the same time, aside from the booming refrains of that theme, the music tends to drag.

     Much of Jones’ work on this score typifies the hero’s interaction with the antagonists of the film. The approach calls for harsh percussion with blaring brass segments that raise the tension level while encroaching into the main theme at different intervals. These subdue into an ominous, synthesized male choir chant. The music is always tempered with darkness even in the reflective moments (much like the film itself), and there is really no let up from this at all, even in the climactic battle cue. But when not following the more exciting moments, the score tends to fade to the background, causing a yearning for the heavier brass sections and the reprisals of the main theme.

     The score finally comes together in the last track, You Have The Power. Coming to fame through it association with the original X-Men theatrical trailer, this cue finally hits the main theme in full, with heavy percussion, booming brass, and strong metallic hit effects. Anyone who is a fan of Trevor Jones’ work will probably see this as one of the most intense cues he has ever composed, and it provides an exciting end to an otherwise tepid score. Really, the main selling point for anyone interested in Dark City is this cue, though thankfully it is a good one (and at just a hair over twelve minutes in length, a long one too). It is the power of this single track that makes this otherwise tepid album a good buy from a used CD shop.

     A competent suspense score, the real claim to fame is Jones’ balls-to-the-wall main theme. Fans of the film will undoubtedly score on this one, as well as those who are familiar enough with that special track that makes it worth the price.

*not in the film

Total Running Time: 60:18