Prime
Source music plus short original score by Ryan Shore
Available on Varèse Sarabande (VSD-6694)
Running Time: 45:12
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Quoting the Internet blub on this film, ‘Prime (starring Meryl Streep, Uma Thurman and Bryan Green burg) is an emotional love story set in New York about a 37-year-old career woman from the Upper East Side and what happens when a 23-year-old painter from Brooklyn falls in love with her. It is a story that looks at love from everyone's point of view and all of those who are affected when families and friends -- and in this case her therapist -- come apart when two people fall in love.’
There is a minimal amount of original scoring by Ryan Shore: the rest of the album is taken up with source music.
Shore’s 3-minute approx ‘Rafi and David’ is a pleasant sounding country-style, guitar-led track. The only other track (at 4:42) is the Prime Suite very much in the same mood.
The rest of the album is made up of a mix of material: evergreens, songs like ‘I wish you love’ delivered excruciatingly by RJD2 and a bleak backing that recalls the plainchant for the dead, the Dies Irae! Thankfully this monstrosity (reprised) is balanced by the more conventional ‘Isn’t this a lovely day’ performed by Stacey Kent – and there is Duke Ellington and John Coltrane performing ‘In a Sentimental Mood’.
Additionally there is Rufus Wainwright singing ‘Peach Trees’, the jazzy ‘Shelter’ sung breathily by Ray LaMontagne and ‘Try’ sung by Sidsel Endresen. These are acceptable to my ears. However, I am far too square to appreciate the (to my elderly ears) ugly discordant remainder and with no other reviewer willing to tackle this album I can only list them: ‘Fake French’ performed by Le Tigre; ‘Still Got Me’ crunched by Daniel Merriweather; ‘Laylo’ sung by Debbie Nova.
Ian Lace
N/A
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