Andor The Music of Andor

Britell's score reminds me of Klaus Schulze (RIP-- August 4, 1947 to April 26, 2022).
The only Schulze work that I currently own is from the '70s, but Britell's score sounds how I imagine modern Schulze would sound. So much so, that I decided to look up his final album, Deus Arrakis (2022), and it bears a similarity to Britell's work. I'm almost certain that Nicholas was influenced by Klaus over the years.


BTW, there's a neat moiré effect while scrolling the album cover.

 

I'm just so glad that Star Wars has broken free of its self-imposed Williams-esque shackles. Especially after so many fans saying that Star Wars must only have those types of orchestral scores. No, it doesn't. There can be a very wide musical freedom when it comes to scoring these things. And the franchise is better for it.

 

I love The Mandalorian but I think half the reason is because of Ludwig Gorannson

 

The music is soothing, I'd say. It can be dramatic sometimes, but overall, it's more subtle and moving like the 19th century style mixed in with 1990s Philip Glass. Just more on that wavelength of beauty. I like the colors. Lots of blues, blacks, greys, and purples in my synesthesia here. Very empathetic music.

 

I like the way you think.

 

Thanks. You got some good points, too. Btdubs, sorry if I seem grumpy sometimes. I'm actually grieving about something. But the JCF is a good ol' time. Hehehehe.

Synesthesia is great. I can play the violin pretty well, and I can half-posterior the bass guitar somewhat. Yet I don't play music too well. I like to admire other musicians and composers around the globe. I'm more into photography and prose writing per se. And I gotta say that the Star Wars music in the TV shows sounds more global. As much as I loved John Williams' music, I feel bad for him. His music got cut out of the last sequel film. He made some good romantic music in AOTC, and his music in the original six films is top notch talent. But what we got here is more modern stuff from Natalie Holt and Nicholas Britell, and it's something else. I've heard two of Holt's scores, and I can't wait to hear a third. Britell is really subtle, but he's good at setting up the mood. This music goes with the visuals so well. It's comparable to how that one composer handled the music in 2006's The Prestige. Sometimes music matching a story is just as beautiful as music without the story. And I feel bad for many characters in this show, and that's the point. Pathos leads to empathy, and the acting and music sell that.

 

Have you ever listened to the album Selected Ambient Works Volume II by Aphex Twin? It's one of my favorite things to listen to.
Something to note.... Richard D. James (aka Aphex Twin) has synaesthesia.

BTW, if you've never heard the album, do not go the route of listening on YouTube with ads that can interrupt the experience.

 

I ought to. I'll write that down in my phone so I can find it when I have time.

 

I don't know if it's up yet but the end-credit music for episode 11 was amazing. Totally captured the episode.

The music quality is high.
Very high.

 

Since you like the end-credit music for E11, I recommend checking out an album by Ben Chatwin titled The Sleeper Awakes. Coincidentally, the end credit music and the Niamos sunset tune reminded me a bit of the score for The Fountain by Clint Mansell, performed by Kronos Quartet and Mogwai. Ben Chatwin's album shares some similarity with The Fountain, and now that I've heard most of Andor's score, Ben's album is almost like a bridge between The Fountain and Andor. Sound and mood are somewhat similar.
Ben Chatwin -- The Sleeper Awakes

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_llvzGvTZlDLJilVKw4J_gBne6pjsw9HIU

 

Thank you! I shall check them out.

(I am a big Mogwai fan too).

 

Mogwai’s great. And they have the most epic flute action ever.

 

Ian Anderson: "Hold my flute."

EDIT: Wait. Let me try another approach.
Jethro Tull: "Hold our flute player, Ian Anderson."

EDIT EDIT: Flautist? Flutist?

 

So you "Fesr Satan" too? Who'd think a band so loud would have flutes!

 

*"Fear Satan"

 

I came here to say the same thing, except you said it better.

 

The music is great, but it doesn’t stand out in general. That’s true. And that was the right approach, IMO.

 

The music of this show didn't do much for me. The intent was clearly to be jarring and disturbing, but we didn't exactly need that with what we already were treated to on screen with the story. I suppose it did add to the tension at times, but I'm more of a fan of no music in high tension scenes.

 

Britell's approach on this is definitely distinct from all other composers who have worked on Star Wars to this point in that he generally avoids "Mickey Mousing" his cues. That's just a way of saying that the music in the other films and series generally mirrors the action very closely, whereas Andor is a drama series first, and therefore isn't reliant on the score to do as much dramatic heavy lifting. It's a much more subliminal approach, but to me it's no less effective.

In any case, the Niamos Morlana Club Mix is an all timer diegetic in-universe track.

 

Brilliant score. And avoiding "Mickey Mousing" cues is a great description of what Britell did. Fit the style of the story perfectly.

 

I had figured out that there are different layers to the various intro themes played throughout the episodes by episode 3 or 4, and I already loved how by the season finale the intro theme becomes more triumphant and poignant, like the Rebellion itself, but the overlay of all the themes is even more beautiful than that.

Great job Britell. I see what you did there.

The music in Andor stands out by not standing out. It was the perfect choice. And it added a lot of emotion.

 

The music of Andor was similar to Season 7 of TCW. Very science-fictiony, dark, and beautiful. I need to purchase this soundtrack. While the music was mainly useful when backing up the characters, I imagine it would be interesting to listen to it whilst driving along the coast.

 

Everything about this show is top quality, including the music. There is not a false note anywhere.