"Basic Instinct" - Jerry Goldsmith

Basic Instinct
Composer: Jerry Goldsmith

1992 Album
Amazon page.
(Rating: 4/5 stars)
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2004 Expanded Album
Amazon page.
(Rating: 5/5 stars)
No download link available.


All About Soundtracks Review: Second collaboration between Jerry Goldsmith and director Paul Verhoeven, Basic Instinct is a 1992 erotic thriller about a fascinating, sexy and dangerous blond writer. Her books, all about sex, violence and death, tend to have connections with real-life events. That's why she gets to be the main suspect of an ice-pick, in-bed, cold-blooded murder. She is the unforgettable Catherine Tramell.
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There are two albums for the score, the first one running for 45 minutes, the expanded one for 75 minutes.
Let me start with a few considerations about the score, as heard in the 1992. Despite being a classic, Basic Instinct lies on a plot so unlikely that it could have been a mediocre film. No doubt that it was Goldsmith's score that defined it, creating a powerful, dark, sensual athmosphere that made the movie rise from other average erotic thrillers.
Catherine Tramell is the soul of movie, and Jerry Goldsmith literally transformed her personality into music. The main theme (Main Title) of the score is something that transcends excellence. It's dark yet sensual. You can feel the danger in it but can't resist being attracted to its distorted, dark beauty. Then, intensifying the mistery of the movie, the theme is performed, in minor key, by woodwinds.
Catherine's theme dominates the score, heard in as many variations as many moods she can appear to have. It's Goldsmith at his best, with an orchestral power so seducing that could make you lay down on a bed full of snakes.
The sexyness of Main Titles, is present in Crossed Legs with a hipnothic touch of fascination, as Catherine literally reveals a lot to the male characters of the movie.
As an erotic thriller, Basic Instinct obviously has sex scenes, which are highlighted by cues that defined the expression "orchestral orgasm". Just hear Pillow Talk: the way Goldsmith slowly seduces the listener with the string section and woodwinds, and progresses to more and more intense passages, in a crescendo that reaches a satisfying, amazing climax. It's a wonderful track to listen to and one of the best film music tracks ever.
In the action cues, Roxy Loses and Night Life, Goldsmith injects a pulsating masculinity, with great work of the brass section and percurssion. Goldsmith has his very own style of action, where the whole orchestra seems to be battling, the diferent sections fighting with each other to be heard.
The only murder cue present in the 1992 album is The Games Are Over, which is actually excellent in building tension that suddenly disappears, but then returns with more intensity, creating a seducing crescendo that brings a delightful musical bloodshed.
As for the expanded 2004, it brings back some unforgivable omissions, but also some underscore, that may seem not-so interesting when compared to the rest of the score.
First Victim is an highlight. It's the cue that plays on the opening scene, that, if not obvious, is also the first sadistic murder. Opens very softly, but, like The Games Are Over, ends with musical bloodshed.
Catherine & Roxy, presents the two blondies of the movie, and it's mistifying as those two. Variations of the main theme are heard, and this is, perhaps, the most grave omission of the first album.
Your Wife Knew may seem a bit of underscore, but it's actually quite interesting to listen to. Another seductive cue, thanks to the power of strings and woodwinds.
Another powerful track, Nick & Beth, is a disturbing piece of music. It's intense and dark, and is played during a sex scene that it's not romantic or seductive; it's a rape scene, and the track as a creepy feeling of sexuality. Scary.
Finally, another highlight is It Won't Sell, a wonderful piano rendition of the main theme that misleads the listener to believe that there is a possible happy ending.
The Basic Instinct score is a great work, likely the best of Jerry Goldsmith. Memorable, seductive, tense, melancholic, dark, sexy. Defines the word "amazing". The 1992 it's a fine compilation of high points of the score, but if it catches your ears (or if you're a fan of Jerry Goldsmith work) the 2004 expanded version is a must-have.
More than recommended.

Noteworthy tracks: all of them in the 1992 album. Avoid some underscore and source music in the expanded album if you want a more straight-forward listening experience.

Score note: 10/10.



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