Prometheus: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (a J!-ENT World Groove Album Review)

June 16, 2012 by Dennis Amith 

“Prometheus: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” is fascinating, experimental sci-fi music by Marc Streitenfeld, but there is nothing about the soundtrack that stands out, nor are there any standalone music that just will grab you, captivate you like on other major sci-fi films.  But as  a collective, all tracks work rather well for the film or for listening for long duration for its mood and emotional transition.

Image is courtesy of © 2012 TWentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.

TITLE: Prometheus: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

LABEL: Sony Classics

DURATION: 56:55

RELEASE DATE: June 12, 2012

1. A Planet    1 of 25    2:38
2. Going In    2 of 25    2:04
3. Engineers    3 of 25    2:29
4. Life    4 of 25    2:31
5. Weyland    5 of 25    2:04
6. Discovery    6 of 25    2:33
7. Not Human    7 of 25    1:50
8. Too Close    8 of 25    3:21
9. Try Harder    9 of 25    2:04
10. David    10 of 25    3:01
11. Hammerpede    11 of 25    2:43
12. We Were Right    12 of 25    2:43
13. Earth    13 of 25    2:35
14. Infected    14 of 25    1:56
15. Hyper Sleep    15 of 25    2:01
16. Small Beginnings    16 of 25    2:11
17. Hello Mommy    17 of 25    2:04
18. Friend From The Past    18 of 25    1:15
19. Dazed    19 of 25    4:29
20. Space Jockey    20 of 25    1:30
21. Collision    21 of 25    3:05
22. Debris    22 of 25    0:44
23. Planting The Seed    23 of 25    1:35
24. Invitation    24 of 25    2:17
25. Birth    25 of 25    1:25

Composer Marc Streitenfeld may not be a well-known name, but the young composer is making a name for himself.

With the music he composed in 2011 for “The Grey” and in previous films such as “Robin Hood”, “Body of Lies” and “American Gangster”, Streitenfeld is now taking on his first sci-fi film, “Prometheus”.

Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassender, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Logan Marshall-Green and Charlize Theron.

The context of the film is about discovery. Discovery of a star map which would lead to the crew of the scientific vessel Prometheus and coming in contact with alien life on an artificial structure.

So for the film, Streitenfeld’s music had to encompass the feeling of journey, adventure, hope but also the unknown.

The soundtrack’s music starts off with a sense of eerie ambiance and discovery, experimental noises are on loop on tracks such as “Going In” and “Engineers”.

But by the time you reach the eighth track “Too Close”, those looping digital noises become more stronger and the sound of hope and discovery transforms to pending doom.  Listening to a track such as “Hammerpede” and “Hello Mommy” gives us the idea of machinery and dread with chaotic synth brass and percussion intensifying towards the end of the track.

And while the tracks are generated by synth strings with experimental noises, the transition from calm to distressed music is how I felt about the music soundtrack by “Prometheus”.  A calm and slow build-up to the unknown leading to sheer terror.

“Prometheus” may not have a a track that I can even call memorable, the music in “Prometheus” is a soundtrack that is best listening to as a whole.  The soundtrack echoes the buildup of the film’s storyline, setting the mood but not necessarily wanting to compete with the visuals onscreen.

Whereas comparing to other sci-fi films, John Williams employs a soundtrack that identifies with good vs. evil, you will always know when by the sound of the music when you are watching the Empire or the Rebels.  Or even sci-fi soundtracks such as “Star Trek” or its many TV series employ songs that you can identify with that series or film.  For “Prometheus”, it’s a soundtrack that has tracks that don’t stand out on its own.  While “Life” is a track that probably sets the theme for the film, it didn’t captivate my attention for all that long.

The soundtrack is more or less a combination of music that focuses on the crew’s journey and discovery of the unknown and of course, leading up to the more tragic moments of the film and the horrors and surprise that lie ahead.

Overall, “Prometheus: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” is fascinating, experimental sci-fi music by Marc Streitenfeld, but there is nothing about the soundtrack that stands out, nor are there standalone music that just grabs you like other sci-fi films.  But as  a collective, all tracks work rather well for the film or for listening for long duration for its mood and emotional transition.