In the Mood for Love (花様年華)(Jet Tone 30th Anniversary)

ウォン・カーウァイ監督の2000年作品『花様年華』のサウンドトラック。トニー・レオン演じるチャウ・モーワンが、マギー・チャン演じるスー・リー・チェンと出会い、魅惑的な恋愛を始めた60年代の黄金期を『花様年華』で追体験しよう。京劇のタイトル、北京語のクラシック、ナット・キング・コールのジャズ、そして登場人物たちが生で録音した台本が、ウォン・カーウァイのこれまでの最高傑作のひとつとされるこの映画で、愛と欲望の絵を音で構築している。日本人作曲家、梅林茂による心にしみる「夢二のテーマ」と、マイケル・ガラッソによる「アンコールワットのテーマ」は、この映画を完璧なものにしている。

ウォン・カーウァイ監督の2000年作品『花様年華』のサウンドトラック。トニー・レオン演じるチャウ・モーワンが、マギー・チャン演じるスー・リー・チェンと出会い、魅惑的な恋愛を始めた60年代の黄金期を『花様年華』で追体験しよう。京劇のタイトル、北京語のクラシック、ナット・キング・コールのジャズ、そして登場人物たちが生で録音した台本が、ウォン・カーウァイのこれまでの最高傑作のひとつとされるこの映画で、愛と欲望の絵を音で構築している。日本人作曲家、梅林茂による心にしみる「夢二のテーマ」と、マイケル・ガラッソによる「アンコールワットのテーマ」は、この映画を完璧なものにしている。

Higher Octave Music keeps expanding its scope beyond its original new age intentions, and that includes the Omtown imprint, featuring such unique projects as this eclectic soundtrack to the Wong Kar-wai film. The director sought to convey the sounds of the Hong Kong of his youth with this soundtrack, which included Western and Latin music, including songs by Nat King Cole. Cole fanatics will appreciate this collection for his renditions of "Aquellos Ojos Verdes" and "Te Quiero Dijiste," but there are other highlights which evoke the film's moody, mystery-laden atmosphere. Umebayashi Shigeru's "Yumeji's Theme" has a classical Schindler's List-type ring to it, while Michael Galasso's "Angkor Wat Theme I" and "ITMFL I" are lyrical and haunting. His exotic, atmospheric "Casanova's Flute" comes later in the disc, reflecting some of the film's creepier elements. Fans of Asian language films may also enjoy the bits of dialogue, even if the English speakers among us are largely in the dark. Many films have accompanying soundtracks just to spawn hits, but, in this case, the tracks are all true reflections of the unique flavors of the movie.

Higher Octave Music keeps expanding its scope beyond its original new age intentions, and that includes the Omtown imprint, featuring such unique projects as this eclectic soundtrack to the Wong Kar-wai film. The director sought to convey the sounds of the Hong Kong of his youth with this soundtrack, which included Western and Latin music, including songs by Nat King Cole. Cole fanatics will appreciate this collection for his renditions of "Aquellos Ojos Verdes" and "Te Quiero Dijiste," but there are other highlights which evoke the film's moody, mystery-laden atmosphere. Umebayashi Shigeru's "Yumeji's Theme" has a classical Schindler's List-type ring to it, while Michael Galasso's "Angkor Wat Theme I" and "ITMFL I" are lyrical and haunting. His exotic, atmospheric "Casanova's Flute" comes later in the disc, reflecting some of the film's creepier elements. Fans of Asian language films may also enjoy the bits of dialogue, even if the English speakers among us are largely in the dark. Many films have accompanying soundtracks just to spawn hits, but, in this case, the tracks are all true reflections of the unique flavors of the movie. ~ Jonathan Widran