When I first threw on the soundtrack for The Life Of Pi I had some preconceived notions. Number one, Ang Lee is a major director whose recent films have left me captivated by their beauty, story, and music. That being said, there was no way this album had wiggle room for being anything other then amazing. Number two, It’s been an interesting month for me with soundtracks and after being disappointed by a few I was going into this one looking for any reason to rip it to shreds.

Fortunately veteran composer Mychael Danna gives me absolutely no reason to fret about his efforts on The Life of Pi soundtrack. Danna, who has composed a wide variety of films from dramas to Sci-Fi’s to even some traditional Celtic albums, really hits you with the kitchen sink on this effort. His combination of both cultural styles and use of singing styles to bring across a very emotionally driven experience doesn’t give you a moment to think about the outside world. This is an album you devote your attention to. Sit back, relax, close your eyes even, and wander inside of your mind’s eye.

What intrigues me most about this particular soundtrack is the way in which Danna begins the album with beautiful singing in what I assume is the native language of Pi’s culture and then slowly slips in an Italian or Parisian influence. It’s subtle enough and opens up the diverse world of the album to what you can expect next.

Piscine Molitor Patel, the title characters full name, is an interesting variety of song. It made me think of Ennio Morricone’s work in films like The Legend of 1900, Cinema Paradiso, and some of his later Spaghetti Westerns. In another strange turn of events we find even a minute length of scat singing flying across the track.

Aside from the album bravely integrating so many cultural styles and sounds into every song without skipping a beat, the album really sets a mood. Some songs are sad, others very upbeat and goofy, but I never came across a track that didn’t translate some sort of emotion to me. I was able to imagine what happens in the film without even seeing the film. That speaks volumes for a soundtrack. Every second portraying an action, an emotion, a change in environment. It truly is a beautiful sounding soundtrack you should hear even if you don’t see the film. I highly suggest.