Jackboots on Whitehall
Guy Michelmore
" Jackboots on Whitehall is jolly good orchestral fun "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Jackboots on Whitehall is a satirical film portraying an alternate history of World War II in which the Nazis have seized London, causing Britain to band together at Hadrian's Wall if they are to prevent a German invasion. This is the first film of its kind to feature animatronic puppets and the voices of well-known British actors including Ewan McGregor, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant and Richard Griffiths. The Award-winning film and TV composer Guy Michelmore was assigned to the project, especially since he already composed music for such animated series as Ultimate Avengers 1, 2, 3 and Iron Man: Armored Adventures.
Of course the most logical response of you is now: "so what? I've never heard of this composer and the animated projects don't deliver me a sense of trust to get to know him." But then I would have to tell you that you're making a big mistake. Because I can't speak for the animated series, but I can speak for Jackboots on Whitehall, basically that it is loud orchestral patriotic music that is so seriously written that is must be tongue in cheek no matter what.
I mean this is stirring music that one doesn't expect to hear in a satirical puppetry show. And yet here it is, a wonderful old fashioned orchestral score that houses a couple of cool themes (albeit sometimes seriously influenced from other well known works). We have the bad guy Nazi theme which is an electric guitar driven march that depicts evil and threat. Versions of their demeanour appear in "Nazi Airship Attack", "Battle of Downing Street", "Chris to the Rescue", "A Highland Morning", "The Battle" and the conclusive "Whitehall March".
Another theme is the Scotland theme, a nice bagpipe / whistle theme that truly enlightens any occasion where it appears in. It's charm is discovered in "Retreat to Scotland", "Where is Herr Churchill?", the excellent "Scottish Attack", "You're a Scotsman" and the full Scottish dancing "Scots Revenge" track. The expected National hymn of Britain of course doesn't remain a stranger whatsoever, even if it's featured in a zany festivity of clown-esque material, that in "Rule Britania".
But its biggest theme is still the main marching theme, a patriotic stirring message that will make everyone salute the CD at least once during the listening experience. It's so sad then that's its a big rip off from the Independence Day main theme. You'll definitely notice it once it appears at the begin of track 8, even though you'll think the world of it once it puts the P on patriotism in the stirring "Whitehall March".
Of course some tracks just dare to be better than the rest. For instance the track "Battle of Downing Street". The Nazi theme and the Independence Day theme fuel a heated orchestral experience, one that is drowned in Williams like trumpets and brief but amazing choral outbursts. Easily put, it's one of the most explosive tracks of the disc. Another winning moment is the beautiful bagpipe moment that moves to an emotional climax in "Hadrian's Wall".
And yet the second part of the score is even better than the first one. Here it all seems that subtlety isn't necessary anymore, and Michelmore delivers you a rousing patriotic stirring finish, starting from the 18th track. From a patriotic song in "Jerusalem" to an amazing choral outburst of the Nazi theme in "The Battle", one track after another just dares to deliver you something bold and exciting. And what follows after that is just as good, or even better.
I mean what about Gustav Holst's beautiful ode to Jupiter in "Facing Defeat" that gets a Scottish aftertaste? What about "Scottish Attack" that mixes the Scotland theme within an orchestral arrangement? And what about the beautiful "The Fallen" cue that brings an emotional variation of the main theme, and that with a wonderful string finish to boot!
Basically put, Jackboots on Whitehall is anything but a subtle score, and once you understand the tongue in cheek mentality of the film and score, you'll be sucked into a patriotic thematic world of grand orchestral marches and beautiful solo violin moments. Even though the temptrack moments do appear to be rather noticeable, this score is still a jolly good experience that continues to prove good film music is discovered in the most unlikely places.
Tracklisting
1. Battle of Britain (2.56)
2. Harvest and Village (2.42)
3. Nazi Airship Attack (4.26)
4. Punjabi's Last Stand (1.48)
5. Light the Beacons (1.55)
6. Last of the Few (1.43)
7. Retreat to Scotland (2.02)
8. Battle of Downing Street (3.31) Excellent track
9. Chris to the Rescue (1.16)
10. Freedom (2.14)
11. Nazis in London (2.17)
12. Traveling North (1.58)
13. Punjabi's Escape from London (0.32)
14. Hadrian's Wall (1.46) Excellent track
15. Aurora Borealis (2.04)
16. Where is Herr Churchill? (0.57)
17. The Morning After (1.08)
18. A Highland Morning (1.59)
19. Chris' Mission (1.28)
20. Facing the Enemy (2.26)
21. Jerusalem (2.15)
22. Defending the Wall (1.05)
23. The Battle (3.35) Excellent track
24. Facing Defeat (1.29) Excellent track
25. Scottish Attack (2.11) Excellent track
26. You're a Scotsman (2.46)
27. The Fallen (2.00) Excellent track
28. Rule Britania (1.25)
29. Scots Revenge (1.14) Excellent track
30. Whitehall March (2.39) Excellent track
31. Scotland the Brave (1.10)
Bonus Track
32. Jackboots Demo (1.05)
Total Length: 64.07
Of course the most logical response of you is now: "so what? I've never heard of this composer and the animated projects don't deliver me a sense of trust to get to know him." But then I would have to tell you that you're making a big mistake. Because I can't speak for the animated series, but I can speak for Jackboots on Whitehall, basically that it is loud orchestral patriotic music that is so seriously written that is must be tongue in cheek no matter what.
I mean this is stirring music that one doesn't expect to hear in a satirical puppetry show. And yet here it is, a wonderful old fashioned orchestral score that houses a couple of cool themes (albeit sometimes seriously influenced from other well known works). We have the bad guy Nazi theme which is an electric guitar driven march that depicts evil and threat. Versions of their demeanour appear in "Nazi Airship Attack", "Battle of Downing Street", "Chris to the Rescue", "A Highland Morning", "The Battle" and the conclusive "Whitehall March".
Another theme is the Scotland theme, a nice bagpipe / whistle theme that truly enlightens any occasion where it appears in. It's charm is discovered in "Retreat to Scotland", "Where is Herr Churchill?", the excellent "Scottish Attack", "You're a Scotsman" and the full Scottish dancing "Scots Revenge" track. The expected National hymn of Britain of course doesn't remain a stranger whatsoever, even if it's featured in a zany festivity of clown-esque material, that in "Rule Britania".
But its biggest theme is still the main marching theme, a patriotic stirring message that will make everyone salute the CD at least once during the listening experience. It's so sad then that's its a big rip off from the Independence Day main theme. You'll definitely notice it once it appears at the begin of track 8, even though you'll think the world of it once it puts the P on patriotism in the stirring "Whitehall March".
Of course some tracks just dare to be better than the rest. For instance the track "Battle of Downing Street". The Nazi theme and the Independence Day theme fuel a heated orchestral experience, one that is drowned in Williams like trumpets and brief but amazing choral outbursts. Easily put, it's one of the most explosive tracks of the disc. Another winning moment is the beautiful bagpipe moment that moves to an emotional climax in "Hadrian's Wall".
And yet the second part of the score is even better than the first one. Here it all seems that subtlety isn't necessary anymore, and Michelmore delivers you a rousing patriotic stirring finish, starting from the 18th track. From a patriotic song in "Jerusalem" to an amazing choral outburst of the Nazi theme in "The Battle", one track after another just dares to deliver you something bold and exciting. And what follows after that is just as good, or even better.
I mean what about Gustav Holst's beautiful ode to Jupiter in "Facing Defeat" that gets a Scottish aftertaste? What about "Scottish Attack" that mixes the Scotland theme within an orchestral arrangement? And what about the beautiful "The Fallen" cue that brings an emotional variation of the main theme, and that with a wonderful string finish to boot!
Basically put, Jackboots on Whitehall is anything but a subtle score, and once you understand the tongue in cheek mentality of the film and score, you'll be sucked into a patriotic thematic world of grand orchestral marches and beautiful solo violin moments. Even though the temptrack moments do appear to be rather noticeable, this score is still a jolly good experience that continues to prove good film music is discovered in the most unlikely places.
Tracklisting
1. Battle of Britain (2.56)
2. Harvest and Village (2.42)
3. Nazi Airship Attack (4.26)
4. Punjabi's Last Stand (1.48)
5. Light the Beacons (1.55)
6. Last of the Few (1.43)
7. Retreat to Scotland (2.02)
8. Battle of Downing Street (3.31) Excellent track
9. Chris to the Rescue (1.16)
10. Freedom (2.14)
11. Nazis in London (2.17)
12. Traveling North (1.58)
13. Punjabi's Escape from London (0.32)
14. Hadrian's Wall (1.46) Excellent track
15. Aurora Borealis (2.04)
16. Where is Herr Churchill? (0.57)
17. The Morning After (1.08)
18. A Highland Morning (1.59)
19. Chris' Mission (1.28)
20. Facing the Enemy (2.26)
21. Jerusalem (2.15)
22. Defending the Wall (1.05)
23. The Battle (3.35) Excellent track
24. Facing Defeat (1.29) Excellent track
25. Scottish Attack (2.11) Excellent track
26. You're a Scotsman (2.46)
27. The Fallen (2.00) Excellent track
28. Rule Britania (1.25)
29. Scots Revenge (1.14) Excellent track
30. Whitehall March (2.39) Excellent track
31. Scotland the Brave (1.10)
Bonus Track
32. Jackboots Demo (1.05)
Total Length: 64.07