Get Carter (2000)
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Composer: Tyler Bates, Theme: Roy Budd
Lable (Release Year): Jellybean Recordings (2000) Availability: **** Rating: *** |
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Get Carter, if I am not mistaken, is Tyler Bates' first released score. Whether it is right or not, this score certainly makes quite a good impression on me. Get Carter is a remake of a 1972 film of the same name, starring Michael Caine (who plays the bad buy THIS time in the remake!). The score was scored by Roy Budd. It was a contemporary jazz score filled with the sound of the 60s. Certainly, no one would expect Tyler Bates to provide the same type of score after 3 decades. However, he may have done his best to link his score to Budd's. The first two tracks, "Prelude" and "Main Title", are two surprisingly faithful renditions of Budd's score. To my utmost surprise, Budd is NOT credited anywhere on the release!! So, if you have not heard of the old score or seen the original movie, you might have thought Bates composed the 2 tracks. NO, Roy Budd did. The instrumentation is faithful to the original, especially the harpsichord sound. The only difference is the beat is a little heavier so that it sounds more like techno. It is nice to hear the catchy, groovy, and jazzy Main Title in digital recording. The sound quality of the original recording is quite unsatisfactory. The theme is used again only in "Finished What You Started". "Garden", "Audrey's Decision", and "Doreen's Story" carry the second theme. It is a nice poignant theme with the melody play with solo cello and violin. "Christmas Tree Chase" is another highlight. It pays homage to Budd's Main Title. A tongue in cheek track with a nice mix of swing, techno, and groovy bass rhythm. "House of Cards" ,"Truth in Mirror" and "The Disk" are nice fast paced rhythmic track. Unfortunately, they lack the melody and a great bass line that track 4 has. The last two tracks "Chicken In Chinatown" and "Cybersex" are two heavy techno tracks, especially "Cybersex". They are very typical but enjoyable if you don't mind techno. Strange enough, a new rhythm starts at the end of "Chicken In Chinatown" but it fades out in less than 10 seconds. Anyway, this score is probably worth owning for just the first 4 tracks, especially if you are a fan of Budd's theme. Otherwise skip it if you are sick of rhythmic techno score already. | |
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