THRILLING OR DISAPPOINTING?

There is a new release on its way that has caused a stir with Morricone fans all over the world. The soundtrack to Thrilling, by the Maestro is due for release on May 15^th, but wait before you reach for your credit card and put in your order, its not the original score, nope it’s a cover version, umm sorry no a re-recording.

A RE-RECORDING.!

But at no time did the label or the people responsible for this recording make it clear or go to any length whatsoever to tell collectors it was not the ORIGINAL. The film which was released in 1965 is an anthology, all sections being scored by Morricone and the music conducted by Bruno Nicolai, I suppose that was for me the giveaway, Nicolai was not credited anywhere on the release.

If you look very carefully you will see there are credits in the small print, for the arranger and the performers, I am told by reliable sources that the performance of the music is realised mainly by synthetics, and not live players, although there are some live performances, by the look of it. It is I think quite sneaky to advertise this in the way it has been, the cover boasts scenes from the movie, and it also says World Premiere, which it is theoretically.

But it is still not the original score is it. It is Morricone so its a score that we all want, but we want Il Maestro not a version of the music he created. I have always found that any cover version of Ennio Morricone is lacking, he was a genius and one cannot imitate this innovative and highly talented composer in any way or form, Many collectors have already pre ordered the cd, which I would think is going to be disappointing for them when they realise its not Morricone after all but a cover version. I suppose a re recording is ok if you are desperate to hear the music from the movie, or at least a rendition of it. But I still think this is a rather underhanded way of selling an album to fans. Yes it maybe a good cover, but they should have stressed it was a re-recording. It was advertised on a number of good sites, and that too was disappointing, because maybe they should have been more vigilant and be more protective of their subscribers.

The people responsible for the re-recording, commented that I must have been fooled by the sound achieved because I had to enquire if it was the original or a cover, well no not really, I doubted its legitimacy from the off, all I was doing was saying if its not the original tell us…. But they chose not too. Says it all really. Lets hope that someone will find the original score and restore it and release it at some point.

THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE.

I know that I do sometimes go on about the influence of the Italian western score, and how it is now a style that has become synonymous with more than just westerns, but it is true that this quirky and innovative style and the sounds encompassed within it have been far reaching.

Once again, the Spaghetti style has reared its head in a recent film score. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is the latest film to contain the sounds of this unforgettable and impacting genres music. Composer Chris Benstead has fashioned a score that although contains noticeable nods to the likes of Morricone, Nicolai, De Masi, Baclov, and their like, has to it as well a musical voice of its own. 

Directed by Guy Ritchie the movie is I think a homage to films of the past that include, The Five Man Army, The Professionals, Devils Brigade, Inglorious Basterds, and The Dirty Dozen. Billed as a true story about a secret British World War II organization; the Special Operations Executive. Founded by Winston Churchill, who’s irregular warfare against the Germans helped to change the course of the war, and gave birth to modern black operations.

The score is a fusion of styles with the predominant style being that of a spaghetti western, there are striking resemblances to such scores as Death Rides a Horse, and A Professional Gun, with an Alessandroni like whistle opening the proceedings on the initial cue, A Team of Misfits. Plus, we are treated to pacey strumming guitars, and male choir, on cue four Fernado Po.

The style shifts a little on track number five Apple Rescue and although there are still spaghetti influences, it is a more dramatic sound that is realised here with dark sounding brass, strident bass guitar, strings, and upbeat percussion. The composer creates original compositions as in they are fresh and inventive, but they are performed at times in the established style of the Italian western score. The soundtrack also contains some nice percussive only moments, these being dramatic and rhythmic and are highly evocative of the style of both Morricone and Nicolai. Its a release I whole-heartily recommend because it is just so entertaining. Available now on digital platforms, take a listen.