United 93 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
As fans of his work for theBournemovies know, John Powell's strength lies in the way he integrates electronics into efficient, relatively straightforward scores.United 93may be his most subdued effort yet. Powell could just have written easily identifiable themes for the main characters, or at least themes distinguishing the passengers and the hijackers: instead, he's come up with a general mood rather than distinctive cues. It's pretty amazing, though, to hear the subtle details that have been worked into tracks that, on the surface, are fairly uniform. On "Pull the Tapes," for instance, clattering drums suddenly surge out of oppressive low frequencies before retreating back; later, the electronic heartbeat-like pulse quickens, suggesting mounting anxiety while the drums can be still heard in the distance. It's simple and very effective. On "The Pilots," strings hesitate, as if on the verge of an abyss, while a dull beat pounds relentlessly; the lengthy suite "Phone Calls" relies on ominous low frequencies to evoke dread, until brass starts wailing around the six-minute mark, confirming the impending horror. Note that Powell's own young son, Oliver, contributes the eerie vocals on "Prayers" and "Dedication."--Elisabeth Vincentelli