Nine Inch Nails’ ‘Tron: Ares‘ Soundtrack Explores Desperation and Digital Yearning
Los Angeles, CA – Nine Inch Nails has released Tron: ares, the original motion picture soundtrack, nearly a month before the film’s debut. The album showcases Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s signature atmospheric sound, characterized by a blend of electronic textures and emotional weight. The music operates with a distinct,recognizable quality,likened to a pervasive and evocative perfume.
The album features tracks built on detuned synths, such as “100% Expendable,” which evokes the menacing tone of wendy Carlos’ A Clockwork Orange score, but with a “damp resignation” reminiscent of Radiohead’s “Exit Music (For a Film).” This sonic theme reappears in “Building Better Worlds,” described as a “cyber-hymn” that disintegrates as it develops. Subtle sound design elements, like the “live-wire buzz” in “Daemonize,” are utilized to carry significant emotional impact.
A standout track, “Who Wants to Live Forever?,” is a vocal duet with Spanish singer Judeline. The song, described as “Oscar bait,” features a melody that strains Reznor’s vocal range and explores themes of despair with lyrics like “I don’t want to be here anymore.” While acknowledged as somewhat “hammy,” drawing comparisons to “Defying Gravity,” it’s praised as an effective piece of musical theater. The melody is revisited in a more somber form in “Building Better Worlds,” suggesting the fleeting nature of even profound yearning.
Reznor’s evolving artistic approach is noted,with the review suggesting a shift from purely abrasive soundscapes to a more nuanced exploration of affect and aesthetics. The album raises questions about the narrative context within the Tron: Ares film, but the reviewer suggests it might potentially be best to experience the music independently, free from preconceived interpretations.
