Search - Joe Hisaishi :: Le Petit Poucet

Nothing Short of a Revelation

David L. Tayman III | 12/10/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been a fan of Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi since hearing a snippet of his score for Mononoke Hime in the US trailer for that film. Since then, I've tried to get a hold of everything I could find done by this amazingly prolific composer.Hisaishi is to Hayao Miyazaki (famed Animator/Director of Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke) what John Williams is to Steven Spielberg - the perfect compliment that make a masterwork even better.This score is Hisaishi's first non-Japanese film, and it's simply brilliant. The main theme is heartbreaking, and is an instant hook to the rest of the album - the theme is highlighted by a solo French female vocalist whose voice can only be described as enchanting. The album has a pretty wealthy mix of dramatic underscore as well as some of the most heart-pounding, foot-tapping action music ever to accompany a film.So if you're a fan of instramental music (especially the thematic richness of film music from John Williams and James Horner)then you'd be doing yourself a favor to pick up this album as soon as possible. You will NOT regret it."