Many years ago, while pondering his place in the world, a man once asked a very timeless question: “Why, oh why didn’t I take the blue pill?” Yes, the character of Cypher (played by the incomparable Joe Pantoliano) is very much like all of us. Life threw him a choice, and after choosing a path he’s not sure it’s the right one. Buyer’s remorse if ever there was a cinematic equivalent. And I’m sure we all feel that when a film just doesn’t move the mercury for us.
Similarly, we probably wish we could take steps to remake our choice. Last year, we got to plug back into The Matrix and let’s just say Resurrections was not what we hoped for – forget blue and red pills, what we got called for an antacid. That said, one element of film that seemingly never fails is an expertly crafted score (which, many times, can make up for a disappointing film) or a rocking soundtrack. Lana Wachowski usually prefers both and because of it, thankfully, the universe of The Matrix has excelled on both fronts; this new trip down the rabbit hole is no exception.
Now film fans are a fervent bunch, and will defend a great many things. But outside of those circles, you know you’ve hit acoustic pay dirt when the Mondo team wants to release your work. So, points to Johnny Klimek & Tom Tykwer who came out swinging for this 4th at bat in the Wachowski franchise. Gone are the mimimlaist and post modern hallmarks in Don Davis’ landmark scores, and while this duo use very, very little of Davis’ material, it still feels right at home throwing punches and triple kicks along with Neo and Trinity.
There are some truly remarkable pieces of music in the 25 track release, namely Neo and Trinity’s theme and the variations of it dropped throughout several tracks on this album.
The score has a real weight to it, and the anguish to the instruments can be felt in a way that works even better away from picture. And it’s in these moments (I recommend huge headphones and a dark room for maximum results) where the flurry of strings gives way to the complex layering of choral work and other energetic motifs.
We prefer Davis’ work any day of the week, but you can appreciate it even more after hearing how Klimek & Tykver went all out for Resurrections. There is a lovely counterpoint to each of the scores that give this universe the full-bodied oomph that keep people coming back to it decades later.
Now if the score was exceptional (and it is – check out Two and the Same, I Fly Or I Fall, Exit the Pod, The Dojo, I Can’t Be Her, and Simulate Brawl) that would be more than enough…but Wachowski has a 5th ace up her sleeve. There are an additional 11 tracks released – remixes to select themes – and it is so good that Mondo did a separate release just for it. Both the score and soundtrack are cut across 2X LP, and the remixes are a tasteful selection of bangers. Feels like we’re back in 1999 all over again…just sans Rob Zombie.
Lana Wachowski has chosen various electronic artists to remix nearly a dozen cues from the film, and they are well appointed and curated. When the digital album dropped last December, it played non-stop here at GST HQ. It‘s a driving collection of tracks and seven are outstanding, but the rest you could take or leave. The best is the lead off track (Neo and Trinity Theme) which is a pretty stylistic take on a very, very important theme in the film.
There needs to be a true heartbeat to the score, and that one theme captures the essence of the story, but it’s remixed with electronic beats, and drones, and it’s turned into a dance track that elevates the emotion incrementally. Imagine the opposite of the digital rain instead of an emotional track descending on you, it’s actually quite uplifting and gets you out of your chair.
My absolute favorite however is probably Nosce followed by Flowing which is just as mysterious as it is cool. Bullet Time is equally memorable and Back to the Matrix has a real pulse-quickening, head-nodding beat that almost puts you in a trance. There’s not a low point on any side of this release.
A little more on the remixes, this album has fun with the red and blue theme of the film, and calls back to a previous title in their catalog: Ludwig Göransson‘s masterful score to Creed. It’s quite simple, and a very nice contrast to the variant of the score to the film. I picked up the black vinyl which just felt better suited to the film.
While we hate to live in a world where Don Davis’ score doesn’t accompany further adventures in The Matrix (check out our amazing hour-long chat with him), you really have to give a hat tip to Klimek and Tykwer for making incredible contributions to the series in this sequel.
Gone are the familiar elements that David used so well, but this is a welcomed change, and quite glorious at times. As they say in Newfoundland, this music comes out “all hands, throwing hands.” While I was not a fan of the film, this soundtrack is worth having – as are the remixes!! – and being a film score fan who owns plenty of great soundtracks to terrible or at worst middling movies, this deserves a spot on your shelf.
Tracklist – SCORE
Side A
1. Opening – The Matrix Resurrections
2. Two and the Same
3. Meeting Trinity
4. It’s in My Mind
5. I Fly or I Fall
Side B
1. Set and Setting
2. Into the Train
3. Exit the Pod
4. The Dojo
5. Enter IO
6. Inside IO
Side C
1. Escape
2. Broadcast Depth
3. Exiles
4. Factory Fight
5. Bullet Time
6. Recruiting
Side D
1. Infiltration
2. I Like Tests
3. I Can’t Be Her
4. Simulatte Brawl
5. Swarm
6. Sky Scrape
7. My Dream Ended Here
Tracklist – REMIXES
Side A
1. Neo and Trinity Theme (Johnny Klimek & Tom Tykwer Exomorph Remix)
2. Opening – The Matrix Resurrections (Alessandro Adriani Remix)
3. My Dream Ended Here (Marcel Dettmann Remix)
4. Nosce (Almost Falling Remix)
Side B
1. Bullet Time (Moderna Remix)
2. Back to the Matrix (Eclectic Youth Remix)
3. Welcome to the Crib (System 01 Remix)
Side C
1. Flowing (Thomas Fehlmann Remix)
2. Temet (Esther Silex & Kotelett Remix)
Side D
1. Choice (Psychic Health Remix)
2. Monumental (Gudrun Gut Remix)
At the time this review posted, the Remixes are sold out, but you can still get the score. Click this link to pick up either the black or the Digital Rain colorway from Mondo’s website.
