Mortal Kombat (1995 score) explained

Mortal Kombat:
Original Motion Picture Score
Type:Film score
Artist:George S. Clinton
Cover:MKmotionPicScore.jpg
Released:October 11, 1995
Genre:Electronica
Length:42:01
Label:Rykodisc

Mortal Kombat: Original Motion Picture Score is the instrumental score album released to accompany the Mortal Kombat (1995) film. The music was composed by George S. Clinton with additional guitar work provided by Buckethead and drums by Brain.

Clinton based his main themes on Japanese taiko drums, emphasizing the film's mystical atmosphere and Asian-influenced style. He used Shakuhachi flute, didgeridoos and a Tuvan throat singer to give the film a more exotic musical landscape than following traditional orchestral scores.

In a 2015 interview, Clinton said,

Clinton created the sound effect that suggests the presence of Shang Tsung in the film with a Tuvan throat singer which along with other segments of this score were used extensively in other film teasers and trailers,[1] most notable in Roland Emmerich's Godzilla and the Final Destination franchise.

The album contains two tracks not used in the film named "Farewell" and "Kids". The latter can be heard at the end of the sequel Mortal Kombat Annihilation.

Reception

Los Angeles Times critic Kevin Thomas characterized it as a "driving, hard-edged" score.[2]

Track listing

  1. "A Taste of Things to Come"
  2. "Liu Vs. Sub-Zero" featuring Buckethead
  3. "It Has Begun"
  4. "The Garden" featuring Buckethead
  5. "Goro Vs. Art" featuring Buckethead
  6. "Banquet" featuring Buckethead
  7. "Liu Vs. Kitana"
  8. "Liu's Dream" featuring Buckethead
  9. "Liu Vs. Reptile" featuring Buckethead
  10. "Stairway"
  11. "Goro Goro" featuring Buckethead
  12. "Kidnapped"
  13. "Zooom"
  14. "Johnny Vs. Scorpion" featuring Buckethead
  15. "Hand and Shadow" featuring Buckethead
  16. "Scorpion and Sub-Zero" featuring Buckethead
  17. "Soul Snatchin'"
  18. "On the Beach"
  19. "Johnny Cage" featuring Buckethead
  20. "Goro Chase" featuring Buckethead
  21. "Evening Bells"
  22. "Monks"
  23. "Friends"
  24. "Flawless Victory" featuring Buckethead
  25. "Farewell"
  26. "Kids"

Notes and References

  1. Web site: "Mortal Kombat Score" review. SoundtrackNet. 2015-05-12.
  2. News: "Mortal Kombat Score" review. LA Times. 2015-05-12.