Music Composed and Produced by: Bear McCreary
Release Date: May 28, 2013
Format: Digital Download
Number of Discs: n/a (approx 12 minutes)
Label: Sparks & Shadows
Overview:
Sparks & Shadows, the boutique record label founded by composer Bear McCreary, announces the release of THE WORLD OF STEAM: THE CLOCKWORK HEART a digital EP on November 20th, featuring 12 plus minutes of music composed by McCreary for the pilot episode of the series, “The Clockwork Heart.” THE WORLD OF STEAM is a set of Twilight Zone-like episodes set in a Steampunk universe.
“With my intense workload this year, I never thought I’d have the time to take on a new web-series. However, after one look at Matt Yang King‘s short “The Clockwork Heart,” I knew immediately I had to be involved,” said McCreary. “The elegant story and innovative steampunk visual aesthetic alone would have hooked me. It was the film’s reliance on musical storytelling that made it especially appealing. Here was a rare opportunity for lyrical scoring where the music would be at the forefront. I was hooked.”
Recent Emmy Award® winner for Da Vinci’s Demons, McCreary’s current workload includes the new series Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – which was the #1 debut of the 2013 fall season with 11.9 million viewers. Together with the fourth season debut of The Walking Dead, shattering records with 16.1 million viewers for its season debut, that means that McCreary had the #1 new show and the #1 returning show in 2013. McCreary’s current projects also include the second season of Da Vinci’s Demons, the Syfy series Defiance, and the 2014 debut of Black Sails on STARZ, which will team McCreary once again with Jonathan Steinberg, whom he previously worked with on Human Target.
Composer Bear McCreary was on the panel for Europa Report at Comic-Con 2013 when he said that he thought his theme for that movie was probably his prettiest so far. That must have been before he wrote this. I loved the Europa Report soundtrack, but this little 12 minute EP is just about the sweetest thing ever.
I’m a big steampunk fan, and have a special place in my heart for clockwork, so when this piece starts out with clockwork sounds, I’m already in. But what McCreary does with the music that follows, is as warm and gentle as a summer breeze. But not as insubstantial. It has a presence, it’s never saccharine or twee. Quiet, but not empty. It has heart. Just like the title of the episode, and the EP.
I listened to this music – it’s only 12 minutes long – before watching the episode for which it was written. While it doesn’t overwhelm the episode, it is as integral a part of the presentation as the main characters. McCreary has perfectly captured, enhanced, surrounded and supported the story impeccably.
The instrumentation feels a bit like a chamber orchestra, at least for the first portion, but with McCreary’s not-unusual inclusion of unusual instruments. It builds to what may be a fuller orchestra, gaining momentum, but although the mood and tempo vary, it is never heavy. And just when it gets slightly out of control, it is contained, and resolved.
But then there’s a slightly odd moment. This wonderful EP is basically one uninterrupted piece of music, which comes to a beautiful conclusion, stops, but then somewhat surprisingly returns to the clockwork theme. It was curious. Until I realized that last coda was the music for the end credits; then it made perfect sense. Because what we’re apparently given in the EP is the entire soundtrack for the episode. Ah, excellent. I can now return to loving this music completely. And I do.
This EP somehow captures just what I love and how I feel about steampunk. Old and new, quirky and classic, vintage and fresh, and simply, exquisitely beautiful. Thank you, once again, Bear McCreary.
I give The World of Steam: The Clockwork Heart Five Out of Five Stars.
The World of Steam: The Clockwork Heart is available for download now from iTunes, and from Amazon; here’s that link:
[AMAZONPRODUCT=B00GSJGG8C]
