It took me longer to get into this ‘volume’ of the trilogy’s score than the other two – and I think I could say the same for the film. The Two Towers (movie) changed a bit from elves and high fantasy, to humans and grimy peasant life. The music totally reflects that, and is thus a bit… grim? Certainly dark.

However, the atmosphere really is there, and it’s well worth sticking with it. The full darkness of mood/movie is brought to bear in the closing track, Gollum’s Song by the Bjork-soundalike Emiliana Torrini, which completely sums up the pitiful/horrible character of Smeagul’s alterego. Listen to the lyrics carefully – see how the tone shifts from melancholy to evil, from “we are lost” to “you are lost”!

Also, this contains my favourite piece from the whole set of scores: the stiring The Hornburg, as the elves finally show up to join the fight alongside man.