Audio CD review:
Mike Batt, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - A Merry War: Original Motion Picture Score and Orchestral Suite

Mike Batt, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - A Merry War: Original Motion Picture Score and Orchestral Suite

Band: Mike Batt, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Title: A Merry War: Original Motion Picture Score and Orchestral Suite Rating: Release Date: 22 September, 1998 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: The Aspidistra Suite: First Movement- Poetry And Torment 2: The Aspidistra Suite: Second Movement-Love And Passion 3: The Aspidistra Suite: Third Movement-A Bright Future 4: Main Title 5: Bugger The Blasted Daffodils 6: Walking To Ravelston's House 7: It Tolls For Thee, Gordon 8: The Poet At Work 9: The Cancelled Party 10: Find The Editor And Kill Him 11: A Kiss Down An Alleyway 12: Off To The Countryside 13: A Bower Made For Us 14: Trudge Home After Day Out 15: Booking At Modigliani's 16: The Aspidistra Quickstep 17: The Aspidistra Waltz 18: The Aspidistra Foxtrot 19: Sad Bit After Gordon Is Sacked 20: I Never Want To See You Again 21: Tea With The Undertaker 22: At Last Gordan Gives Rosemary A Really Good Seeing To 23: The First Day Of Spring 24: Rosemary Announces That She Is Pregnant 25: Gordon Returns To Work 26: Walking Home 27: Tiger In The Night

Editoral Review It opens with Mike Batt's three-movement orchestral "Aspidistra Suite," a mélange with shades of Baroque, Romantic, and pastoral, as well as a few comical touches. This original music for the film based on George Orwell's novel Keep the Aspidistra Flying has all of the quaint and cottage-like charms of a modern symphonic score as well as the tedium. But the disc gets a bit more interesting afterward in its progression of individualized tracks with descriptive titles like "A Kiss Down an Alleyway" and "Tea with the Undertaker. " There is even a dash of cozy cocktail music and a closing vocal version of the main title by Colin Blunstone. Still, the tried-and-true variations on a theme can be underwhelming for those not reinforced by the actual story. --Joseph Lanza .. You can see a complete list of all Mike Batt, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra discography, or go back to the Mike Batt, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra tabs