Miracle in the Andes by Adam Young - Score Review

"The stories we love best do live in us forever," -JK Rowling

Every time I hear one of Adam Young's scores for the first time, I want to scream and shout. Because all these scores are are telling amazing stories through sound. And as a lover of great stories, I drink up every single second of these albums.

Not only do these perfectly reflect the time period, the emotions, and the event surrounding it, Adam always keeps it fresh and new. Like with the RMS Titanic, this is similar, and could be very similar, but Adam takes new and dark twists that always keep you entertained.

Blending the throbbing synths of The Ascent of Everest and the dangerous anxiety of Omaha Beach, the master has done it again.

This score is about the Andes flight disaster in 1972. With 45 passengers but only 16 survivors, this tells their story of how they survived in the Andes mountains for 2 months.

Listen to Miracle in the Andes here.

This time around, I must comment on the cover art. Not like it hasn't been spectacular, because it has, but as I was listening to this score for the first time, I just kept staring at the artwork.  I was just pulled in by the colors and the movement and lines. Everything about it perfectly embodies the score, and enriched the experience for me. Kudos, James R. Eads

On with the review!

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1. The Fairchild

Impending yet beautiful, the violins in this track portray the doomed plane perfectly.  

2. Impact

Anxiety-producing and hauntingly striking, this score denotes the terrifying crash of Flight 517 in alternative groans and synths.

3. Making Water

The elusive keyboard in this track makes the listener feel the curiosity and desperation as the survivors melted snow.

4. The Dead

This track swells and breaks down with heavy violins, creating a chaotic image of death and flooding emotions.  

5. Avalanche

Crushing synths create the terrifying impact and ringing aftermath of thousands of tons of falling snow.

6. The Tail

An inventive and throbbing track with quirky electronic synths, this song rings with the creativity and desperation of the survivors traveling to civilization.  

7. Camera

Unique with sounds of the sun and wind, this track portrays the almost childlike wonder as the survivors found solace in the surreal experience.

8. Parrado and Canessa

Mournful with acoustic guitar, this track boasts with horns that create the image of two brave men who had to make hard decisions.  

9. The Rider

Triumphant with pulsing violins and horns, this score paints a beautiful picture of being rescued.

10. Rescue

Awestruck and traumatized, the kindred strings bring the survivors and the story to a close.

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Since this is a lesser-known disaster, some background information is required. For example, tracks 6 and 7 might not make much sense to someone not familiar with this event. Parado and Canessa found the tail section on their journey to civilization, and used this as warmth for the few nights. The survivors also found a camera in the plane, of which they used to take photographs of themselves if anyone ever found them.  

Overall, this is an awesome score. Another solid addition to his discography.

~The WordShaker