The latest CD release reviewed

JAMES NEWTON HOWARD
Charlie Wilson's War Varese Sarabande ****

Following the arrestingly diverse scores The Look Out, Michael Clayton, The Water Horse, The Great Debaters and I Am Legend, composer James Newton Howard's sixth film score in 12 months is a singularly smart one. Scoring Mike Nichols's comic satire about a Texas congressman's covert dealings in Afghanistan during the cold war, Howard charts a deft course between action movie and character drama. He combines strong themes and sinuous polyrhythms with lush orchestration, bright electronica and eclectic instrumentation (slide guitar, oud, ney, dhol). The light opera/world fusion mash of Turning the Tide is a particular highlight in a score of wry intelligence and emotional restraint. www.colosseum.de

Download tracks: Charlie Wilson, Turning the Tide

Film reviewed on page 11