Review Summary: Murphy creates the perfect atmosphere; suspense, creeping energy, and dramatic pieces.
Before I start this review I need to give where credit is deserved. Murphy was not the only to contribute to this fantastic soundtrack; Underworld has contributed a lot to this as well. This has become a dispute within the past year, which is why this is still being delayed. This soundtrack has been available on the internet and it doesn't disappoint, whoever deserves this credit it doesn't really matter because this is an excellent soundtrack.
I still remember watching Sunshine a couple of weeks ago, I've heard of it and decided to get it finally and I wasn't disappointed at all. The casting was perfect, atmosphere enthralling, and story held up well (even if it was weak at the end), but most of all the music. Music in a film sets the mood and atmosphere to another level and heightens suspense in many ways. Sunshine's soundtrack is not an exception.
The mood is setup immediately with “Capa’s Jump”, an eerie piece that doesn’t quite send chills down your spine, but instead takes the listener into the giant scale of the universe it is meant to be portrayed in. Not all tracks are given such an eerie or distressed mood, but these are mostly the short tracks. “Major Theme” tries to mix both eerie and uplifting, but it feels a bit bunched together and ends too quickly to notice. Simple drum beats bring in the heightened force for you to keep listening; “Kaneda’s Death pt. 2” isn't as nearly as dramatic as some other pieces, but it uses the same method while seemingly adding texture with violins.
This soundtrack isn’t all about intensity, “Mercury” seemingly lures you into believing it will began as the previous track, instead it grabs the listener and sends them in a euphoric state; it gives you a sense of absolution and freedom – which is quite uplifting. The title track is inspiring as it gradually gains momentum. The piano introduces the heightened sense of dramatic atmosphere and splashes of electronic buzzes go in and out. “Sunshine” lures you into its atmosphere then halts for the piano to take over….again it the mood raises with a mesmerizing and simple drum beat and once more the display of electronic buzzing lifts it even further. “Freezing Outside” gives a calming effect and isn’t carried by continuous beats, but by simple atmosphere of violin and gasps.
“Capa Suits Up” is a jarring affair with industrial texture and electronic beats. It is fantastic and the changing of the guard every 20 seconds makes you feel like you’re transfixing on something. Murphy tends to change it up very little in the soundtrack, but what is truly great is the “Elegy” piece it is solely carried by the piano. “Elegy” doesn’t contain the previous elements within its track and offers the listener a hopeful or serene end. It doesn’t last long with “Cassie Searches – Dead Corazon” bringing the true heightened suspense out of nowhere. The track begins the same as many others, but sends a schizophrenic wave of noise in your way; at the time it seems good, but the song stretches out with other odd tangled noises within it to be concise. What really brings the intensity to its highest point is “Pinbacker Slashes Capa”, the music is heightened to an immense state then gradually hums as if you were in disbelief. Like “Elegy”, “Corazon Finds The Seedling” gives you a sense of peace and hopefulness, that is immediately dimmed down by the next track. “Floating Free” raises the suspense again with the same type of texture as “Pinbacker Slashes Capa”. “Escaping The Icarus 2” draws from the title track, but expands it by adding a small cymbal beat low enough to appreciate its simplicity. The theme of the title track is entwined with this and pauses are taking alternately between each. Within all the eeriness and despair in much of the album “Escaping The Icarus 2” brings you hope of the future.
Sunshine doesn’t hold the same theme, but a mixture of them. Hope, disparity, intensity, eeriness, and claustrophobic touches with every track hold the soundtrack together as it fits perfectly with the film. The electronic grittiness and eerie feel of many of these tracks keeps you weaved within its atmosphere.
Recommended Tracks:
“Sunshine”
“Mercury”
“Capa Suits Up”
“Pinbacker Slashes Capa”
“Escaping The Icarus 2”
i need to update my fav ost list soon lol
