• NEWS - PRESS

    “Rocks in my Pockets” Film Score Monthly Review

    October 19, 2014

    A “Four Stars” Review od “Rocks in my Pockets” Soundtrack on http://filmscoremonthly.com/ October Issue

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    Rocks in My Pockets ****

    KRISTIAN SENSINI
    MovieScore Media MMS-14019
    24 tracks – 57:48

    Signe Baumane wrote, directed and provided voices for this unique animated film that addresses the battles with depression that she and four other women in her family have fought. The movie, which has played at several festivals, includes a mini-history of Latvia as part of its narrative, and will be this year’s Latvian entry for AMPAS consideration in the Foreign Language category. Composer Kristian Sensini created distinct musical connections to each character in the film; these themes are provided as separate tracks in the album presentation of the score.

    The opening “How Not to Commit” starts off with xylophone, low brass and a cabaret-like piano rhythm, before a collection of similar ideas take us through different dance styles and variations. The lovely “Anna’s Theme” follows, a gentle waltz with moments that suggest the darker corners of the character; it’s a beautiful idea that calls out for a fuller orchestral setting. A warm low-string motif begins the starker “Divorce Latvian Style” with a lyrical line (recurring in “Forest”) before kicking off a string version of the jaunty music that was set up earlier. “New Wife, New Life” delivers another welcome shift in sound, with the addition of accordion and woodblock, while a more obvious ethnic flavor occurs in “Russians, Germans, Partisans.” All in all, the playlist offers a diverse set of tracks.

    Sensini is relatively new to featuring scoring, though he has around a dozen to his credit, plus some television projects. This score may gain some more attention for the composer. The interesting orchestrational choices lend the music a unique sound that falls closer to European animation than standard Hollywood fare. The result is an often delightful work provided ample space to breathe in this MovieScore Media release. —Steven A. Kennedy

     

    FSM Online, Vol. 19, No. 10- Rocks in My Pockets

  • NEWS - PRESS

    “Hyde’s Secret Nightmare” review on Filmscore Monthly

    January 18, 2013

    Avalaible on the January 2013 number of

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    Album Review: Hyde’s Secret Nightmare

    Review by Steven A. Kennedy

    KRISTIAN SENSINI   Kronos 011 23 tracks – 59:30

    Domiziano Cristopharo’s new film Hyde’s Secret Nightmare (2011) is a more erotic take on the classic Robert Louis Stevenson Jekyll and Hyde story. The Italian film features both porn and “normal” actors in its cast, and was released on DVD earlier this year in Italy. The score is by Kristian Sensini, who has collaborated with Cristopharo on each of his prior films, including House of Flesh Mannequins (2009).

    Sensini’s effective use of samples gives a fairly accurate representation of an acoustic ensemble. He leans on a short motivic idea that floats through textures in what is often a gothic horror style (“Hyde’s Nightmare”), but also touches on rock, in a mix reminiscent of the work of Goblin.

    “Bed of Horrors” delivers electronic textures and other unusual sounds, with electric guitar thrown in for good measure. In some respects, this score comes across like a blend of the old AIP horror genre with Italian giallo films. There’s even a little techno in “Elektro Dark,” and female vocalise in “Love You Madly.”

    The final two tracks are “bonuses” from the film P.O.E. Poetry of Eerie. Fans of similar fare may enjoy Sensini’s work here. —Steven A. Kennedy

     

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    http://filmscoremonthly.com/fsmonline/story.cfm?maID=3979