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ALEXANDRE DESPLAT The Golden Co mpass Decca *****

If Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings are among the best work of composers John Williams and Howard Shore, respectively, then rising star Alexandre Desplat's superb score for The Golden Compass promises something even more extraordinary for the second and third instalments of the His Dark Materials trilogy. Combining bold instrumental colours (singing bowls, gongs, mandolin, electric cello, tarbuka), bright chorales and dynamic orchestration with elegant themes and driving polyrhythms, Desplat delivers a sophisticated score, at once dramatic, lyrical and mysterious. The haunting restraint

of The Golden Compass theme is signature Desplat. Recalling earlier scores as diverse as Birth, Syriana, The Painted Veil and L'Ennemi Intime, The Golden Compass is easily one of Desplat's - and the year's - best. www.goldencompassmovie.com JOCELYN CLARKE

Download tracks: The Golden Compass, Mrs Coulter, Ragnar Sturlusson