Lakeshore Records release Paul Hepker's electronic score for Kite. Based on the groundbreaking, cult classic anime, the movie tells the story of Sawa, a young woman living in a corrupt society where crime and gangs terrorize the streets. When Sawa's mother and policeman father are found victims of a grisly double homicide, she begins a ruthless pursuit for the man who murdered them. With the help of her father's ex-partner, Karl Aker, and a mysterious friend from her past, she becomes a merciless teen assassin, blasting her way through the dark world of human trafficking only to uncover a devastating truth...

Paul Hepker's score for Kite isn't your usual electronic soundtrack offering. Throughout this album's 39 tracks (1 hr, 13 min, 20 sec) you really get a feel for the world that the movie immerses you into. To me, the score sounded very much like a modern take on Vangelis's soundtrack for Blade Runner.

The album kicks off on a promising note, with 'Kratsov’s Comeuppance', which reminded me of Jeff Danna's music for Continuum. There are no recognisable or memorable themes to speak of, and yes, I suppose this is mainly an atmospheric score, but it has a certain charm that's difficult not to enjoy. The one exception to this, is the beautifully haunting 'Kite Flashback'.

The album's final track 'Suite from Kite' (9 min, 30 sec) actually houses the majority of the highlights and so it's probably a good idea to start here. If you don't like this, then you won't like the rest of the album.

This is an electronic score that will be enjoyed by fans of the genre as well as those that usually shy away from them.

8

Darren Rea