A review by JAMES SOUTHALL

Regular readers will know my feelings about composer collaborations.  In general terms, I hate them and think they are one of the prime reasons for the generic, undistinguished nature of so much modern film music.  There is only really one circumstance in general where I think they can work well, and that's when it's not really a collaboration at all, but when one (presumably more famous or commercial, or whatever) composer writes the themes for a project and another composer develops them and turns them into a full score.  This still gives the main composer the chance to express the music in his own voice and bring a consistency to the project without the need to resort to penning purely generic material.  Such is the case with Madison, whose themes are by Christopher Young, and these are turned into the full score by Kevin Kiner.

It's not entirely clear what Young wrote, but frankly it doesn't need to be.  One thing is certain: the main theme is gorgeous.  OK, so you can't listen to it without thinking of "The Final Game" from Rudy, but that's purely a function of it being set in a similar symphonic neighbourhood.  I imagine that the rapturous, seven-minute opening cue will be heard at high volume on a lot of listeners' stereos for some time to come.  The theme gets many workouts in many very different arrangements through the score, including some particularly touching, vaguely mournful material in the middle (the brief "We Need to Talk" is particularly gorgeous), and even gets a vaguely celtic lilt on occasion ("Mayor Draws Plan" is very nice).  The music doesn't stay light and whimsical throughout, with some powerful (and dark) action music appearing in "Atlas Explodes".

Indeed, from start to finish the album is exceptionally pleasant and just lovely to listen to.  Kiner has done a commendable job in fashioning Young's theme(s) into such an attractive score.  The film is about a 1971 regatta and all the drama thereof and the music is truly heartwarming and lovely.  The album from BSX Records - which is limited to only 1,000 copies, so snap one up quick! - is a generous 53 minutes long, and never outstays its welcome.  The only slight complaint is that in the more fully orchestral sections, the Prague musicians have a hard time doing the music justice, but otherwise this is a great release.  The film itself sat on the shelf for several years before being released; I can't see the same being true of the soundtrack, which will surely be sold out in no time.

Tracks

1. Madison (7:04)
2. Opening (2:04)
3. Leaving Town (1:41)
4. Happy Anniversary (2:52)
5. Bank Stall (:50)
6. I Quit (2:09)
7. Let's Go / Cavern (2:13)
8. We Need to Talk (1:16)
9. Grandma's House (1:56)
10. Mayor Draws Plan (3:52)
11. Town Rallies (1:35)
12. The Gold Cup (1:31)
13. Atlas Explodes (3:20)
14. Jim Stalls Engine (:36)
15. What's Wrong? (:46)
16. Fishing (:52)
17. Stealing / Porch (3:18)
18. The Gold Cup (3:11)
19. You're the Driver (1:54)
20. Stick of Dynamite (2:22)
21. Final Heat (4:15)
22. Victory (3:12)