Philip Glass: Mishima

Do not expect scary music for a scary film. Philip Glass' 1999 soundtrack for the 1931 film Dracula is a well-executed piece of work, notably for many of its stylistic choices. There is nothing particularly scary or frightening about the music — the horror and thrill of the project is left to the imagery and drama of the film itself. The music in absolutely beautiful, augmented by the raw, woody sounds of the Kronos Quartet. No refined or reverbed string sounds here; you hear the naked, scratchy sound of a bow on a string all the way through, playing in the interwoven arpeggiated style that is unmistakably Glass. Complex chord structures and dense rhythms permeate the record, making it musically satisfying for both the pedestrian and the sophisticate ear. This will certainly stand out as one of the premiere works in Glass' soundtrack portfolio. ~ Mark W. B. Allender, Rovi