John Powell is the only music composer, I think, who ever makes me hold my breath for a specific part in a track or put tears in my eyes because the music alone (!), without visuals to assist it, is so painstakingly beautiful. It's the way he writes a strong melody and makes it go hard and powerful and triumphant as one would expect, which is already awesome-, only to then go soft on it, all of a sudden, without warning. The softness tugs at your heartstrings, breaks your defenses, melts your resistance. It's about the yearning it evokes, and the absolute tenderness. It goes very deep into the soul. Ahhh. <3
Or, uh... alternatively.,...I'm just realizing that it works the other way round, too. The raw violence in Ready The Ships and With Love Comes A Great Waterfall slaps hard, too.
Powell is even great at writing fun.
He just translates the feelings of a moment into musical terms really, really well. It's a feast to get to listen to it.
