The entire album is a transcendent journey. Starting from the very first song to the last, the music pulls the listener along an emotional epic. You can hear the story of hope and triumph unfolding as the songs play out one by one. The very sound of Bell Curve is the stuff soundtracks are made of. Not too surprising, given that Brook has composed songs for various movies over the course of his 25-year career.

The vocals were brilliantly removed when the tracks were remixed. The vocals on the original tracks took away from the beautiful composition. The listener can now better hear the string instruments and the guitar which are played masterfully, and the melodies that, while unique, blend well from one track to the next. Remixed, the tracks portray a much better example of the musical creativity and talent that Michael Brook possesses. Credit should be given, however, as well to James Hood, who oversaw the project. He comprehended that a tweak here and there would add to the overall album and not detract from the original. You could almost say that this was a revision more than a remix.

Of course, this is not to say that Bell Curve is for everyone. In fact, when I pressed play on my CD player, my boyfriend called from the other room "Are we watching some ‘Into the Wild' animal show on PBS?" It does have a "sounds from the wild" bent to it, mostly because the songs themselves portray rivers flowing or wind blowing through the trees. Each melody played on the album seeks to tantalize your senses. You can almost feel the wind on your face and smell the grass beneath your feet. If you enjoy listening to soundtracks and being taken along for a ride musically and emotionally, then this remix is a good fit. Just skip the original and pick up this one; Bell Curve is that rare sequel bird that is better than the first.

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