"...First The Knees, Then The Names..." - The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel by THOMAS NEWMAN (Soundtrack CD)

The CD Soundtrack To 

"The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" 

by THOMAS NEWMAN

"...First The Knees, Then The Names..."

Thomas Newman's knack at taping into our deepest emotions via his gorgeous and emotive movie music stretches back to 1994 to his magisterial work on the mighty "Shawshank Redemption" - a film and soundtrack CD that still sends chills up my spine ("Little Women" from the same year is beloved too by fans).

2015's "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" is a clever meeting of Eastern Rhythms meets Western Moodscapes - both musical cultures jostling alongside each other in lovely compliment. One moment it's all delicate keyboard fills and plucked harp strings - the next you're doing the neck jerk and donning a Sari for the Modern Indian Dance Funk of "Ye Ishq Hai" by Shreya Ghosha. The mixture of contemporary Indian pop with his short instrumental passages of mood and sway (28 tracks, 61:39 minutes) works beautifully. In fact I remember as I watched the film in the snazzy new Empire Cinema in E17 thinking how pretty the interlocking weave was - a properly lovely Soundtrack winner.

US released 2015 on Sony Classical 88875031972 (Barcode 888750319722) - the booklet is an 8-page basic affair with Director John Madden quite rightly waxing lyrical about Newman's contribution to the whole upbeat mood of the film. There are credits, photos of the cast - the usual stuff. The audio is exemplary - beautifully recorded and produced - a genuine pleasure to listen to (UK even saw a Music-On-Vinyl 2LP set for this film). Which brings us back to the music. 

For instance Track 3 is called "Knees Then Names" - it's only shy of two minutes - yet Newman crams in more subtly and prettiness and emotive chords in those 180 seconds than most do in 10-minute passages. The 1:28 minutes of "Nimish & Abhilash" mixes his rhythms with Indian vocalists and the short result is hypnotically brilliant. And of course there's that fabulous multi-cultural feel to the whole shebang.

Another lovely listen from Thomas Newman - buy and enjoy...

"Little Women - Original Soundtrack Album" by THOMAS NEWMAN (1995 Sony Classical CD)

"...Snow Play..."

The masterful soundscape-maker himself THOMAS NEWMAN gives us a typically beautiful and poignant CD soundtrack - and the music is from a year where Newman's skill with a sweeping emotion seemed to be utterly inspired – 1994 – home of the mighty Redemption.

This time his strings and lush arrangements went to the 1994 girly-fest movie remake of "Little Women" directed by Gillian Armstrong (Winona Ryder and Gabriel Byrne have almost shocking chemistry in the affection department). 

1. Orchard House (Main Theme) 

2. Meg's Hair 

3. Snowplay 

4. Scarlet Fever 

5. Ashes 

6. Spring 

7. La Fayette's Welcome 

8. A Telegram

9. Two Couples

10. Burd3ns 

11. New York 

12. Harvest Time

13. Maria Redowa

14. Letter From Jo

15. Amy Abroad 

16. Limes

17. Beth's Secret 

18. For The Beauty Of Earth 

19. Little Women

20. Learning To Forget 

21. Valley Of The Shadow

22. Port Royal Gallop 

23. Domestic Experiences 

24.The Laurence Boy 

25. Lovelornity

26. Under The Umbrella (End Title)

USA CD released 10 January 1995 - "Little Women – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" written and conducted by THOMAS NEWMAN on Sony Classical SK 66922 (Barcode 074646692226) was Produced by TN and BILL BERNSTEIN.

Lots of the 26 cuts are admittedly short - sometimes less than a minute in some cases and they often feeling like snatched moments - which is of course exactly what they are (even with that number of titles, its total playing time is only 37:24 minutes). But it's the beauty of the opening 3:29 minutes of "Orchard House (Main Title)" for instance or the 3:41 minutes of "Under The Umbrella (End Title)" at the finish line that show why Newman was and still is nominated so many times for Oscars and many other awards.

TN is also famously a close relative of the iconic songsmith Randy Newman – himself a prolific Soundtrack writer who has contributed to some of Pixar's most famous movies "Toy Story" and "Monster’s Inc." to name but a few. Thomas Newman also did the gorgeous sweeping music to Pixar's much-loved "Wall-E" – another beauty with an exclusive Peter Gabriel song in the closing credits.

"Little Women" is not "The Shawshank Redemption" for sure where every second feels soul touching and epic (others would passionately disagree and say "Little Women" is its musical equal). But I have to own everything this songwriter has ever done and I suspect after one listen to the loveliness contained within this - you may become the same...