AUTOMATA - Zacarias M. de la Riva
Zacarias M. de la Riva has created something magical and simply visceral. With this elegiac and traditionally classical score we are taken deep into the heart of the film’s plot, characters, landscape and it all resonates with us on a number of levels. This is a meandering and touchingly powerful score that puts the composers name firmly up on the billboard where it rightly deserves to be. If you have not listened to the other works of this Spanish composer I guarantee that you will be now.
Synopsis
Antonio Banderas plays the role of Jacq Vaucan, a disillusioned insurance agent of ROC robotics corporation whose job involves the investigation of manipulated robots. Although it seems like another routine case at first, Vaucan soon realizes that his latest mission will have more profound effects on the future of humanity… Directed and co-written by Spanish filmmaker Gabe Ibáñez (Hierro), the dystopian film also features the talents of Dylan McDermott, Melanie Griffith and Javier Bardem in a cameo appearance as a voice of a robot.
Zacarias M. de la Riva has proved his worth already with projects as diverse as Hierro, Imago Mortis, Tadeo Jones and Dictado and it is no surprise the level of craftmanship that he brings to this latest venture. From reading other reviews, blogs and online commentaries it is wonderful to see the mainstream recognition being lauded onto this fine composer:
“Part beautiful choral work, part orchestrated classical music, Zacarías M. de la Riva’s score for Automata should definitely be at the top of every soundtrack collector’s essential purchase list. This is more than a score for a sci-fi movie; this is a beautiful piece of modern classical music in its own right.” (Sci-Fi Online)
“The music by Zacarías M. De la Riva is classy and sophisticated, giving this an almost art-house style vibe…” (JoBlo.com)
“De la Riva’s score evokes pristine cleanliness while at the same time, unsanitary primitivism. It conjures up heaven along with hell and is as equally defeatist as it is inspirational.” (Badass Digest)
“The film also boasts of a heart wrenching background score which is potent in its reach. How I wished it to continue for all the way to eternity every-time it started playing.” (Ambar’s Reviews)
A fusion of deep cello phrases, sweet whistful string melodies, fanfare brass all accompanied by the beautifully enigmatic and equally haunting choral work of the Johannebergs Vokalensemble. Zacarias de la Riva delicately weaves into this fully symphonic experience a wisely selected array of electronic sounds to represent this dystopian panorama. It is almost as if early science fiction scores have laid a pathway for bigger, bolder and more intricate hybrid evolutions. We can clearly hear brief recognisable motifs that pay homage to Alien (Goldsmith), Blade Runner (Vangelis), Krull (Horner) The Fifth Element (Serra) and even locutions of Barry and Bernstein space themed scores. What Marco Beltrami's musical reinvention of genre scores did with films such as Mimic, Blade II and iRobot has been taken to a higher level, yet stripped back to the essentials and this is what makes this score work so well (to picture and as a stand alone listening experience).
The composer has sculpted some divine and wonderful sounds and processes through his instrument choices and he perfectly reflects the key phases of the story and character assimilations in a number of ways. We have the heroic trumpets and brass that can be easily identified with the humanity aspect of the film; Banderas is a warrior on a mission albeit a very different and humbled one. The lush strings outline the landscape and fragility we are witness to wasting away before our eyes, whilst the sliding tremolos and high open legatos create the uneasy and hostile elements. This score also features some of the most heartfelt cello playing; it is divine and melts the listener into the soul of the story. To hear this at its finest be sure to listen to the track ‘A Night Out Dancing’.
The wise choice to add a choral element into this score was very shrewd. The choir adds a beautifully diametric to the mix as they not only drop us into moments of suspense and awkwardness but they can also raise our levels of conciousness and leave the listener feeling euphoric.. Similarly with the cello it has been far too long since we were treated to the perfect use of a choir in a film score; Automata has changed that. With this score we are literally in musical heaven and hell with Zacarias M. de la Riva’s timely blending of instrument, pace, modal layering and general musical ambience... just listen to the 'Automata Requiem' if you don’t believe these words.
Alexandre Desplat’s Ghost Writer, Philip Glass and the Kronos Quartet with Dracula and even Zimmer’s scores to Thin Red Line and The Last Samurai can all be referenced whilst listening to Automata and this shows the high calibre of the composer. He can produce music that is undeniably unique yet with an improved focus and development of existing material. Listening to Automata is far less augmented and artificial; it feels real, raw and passionate and I hope you go and seek out the past work of Zacarias M. de la Riva to hear more of this European maestro.
Purchase the album: CLICK HERE
