Miss Potter
Nigel Westlake and Rachel Portman
" Sweets from Rachel Portman! Scratch that, sweets from Nigel BABE Westlake! "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
The story of Miss Potter is a curious one, and for once I'm talking about the music here. Rachel Portman was assigned for the music (respected if a too obvious choice). But she was later replaced by Nigel Westlake, only to discover that Portman's music was still placed on the album (2 tracks), and that Westlake's music ultimately sounded like Portman's. If you replace a composer for another sound, I guess that's fair. But if you ultimately go for the same sentimental bittersweet music, I guess that's bizarre. Anyway, Miss Potter ultimately was scored by Nigel Westlake. You know, the Australian composer who became famous with Babe and its sequel Babe: Pig in the City.
After he somewhat vanished from the scenery the last couple of years, he returned with Miss Potter, the bittersweet fairytale movie of Chris Noonan. Westlake delivered great things with Babe, and so I was keen to discover if he would bring fantasy to the fairytale of Miss Potter as well.
First, it was strange discover that material of Portman still surfaced on the CD. But it was also strange that almost everything sounds like Portman in the end. Oh yes, it is sweet. Oh yes, the strings and the flute are ever-present and the theme could be hers. And yet it seems that Nigel Westlake just had to make the music a little less Portman, doing so with various little twists.
For instance "The Story of Peter Rabbit" has a classically inclined scherzo, bringing forth some playfulness like we discovered in Babe. The begin however is Portman all the way, or at least it feels that way. "Miss Potter" has a charming opening with the main theme for piano and strings, and I'm sure many would hear Portman in this. "The Park" is composed by Rachel Portman in the end and that's evident, as she presents a secondary theme in the familiar manner. For how much you've heard it by now, it remains damn lovely.
Furthermore "A Bunny Book to Conjure With" has some nice fantasy moments, with swirling strings and playful flutes that jump around it. With "Mother" and "Jemima Puddle Duck" you're definitely in fantasy land, especially through the assistance of piano and orchestra. "Mr. Warne!" returns by then with the light main theme.
However, if you want fairytale conditions you best check out "Beatrix & Norman", 5 min of nothing less than fairy dust and wonder. It swirls ala Nanny McPhee, we notice some emphasis on brass and the main theme is used ever so lovely, thereby it is really sweet.
Things change in "Return to London" and Portman's second piece "Beatrix Locks Herself Away". It is darker, less cheerful and with the use of solo cello and violin (based on the theme), Portman once again reprises her voice easily. Slightly more optimistic is "Recovering" and "I'm Painting Again", while reaching a happy climax in "The Lakes". Noticeable here is the moment when Rachel Portman's theme and the main theme are introduced as one.
Katie Melua, the hot Russian jazz singer presents here "When you Taught me How to Dance", and it is nothing but the theme of the movie supported by her ever amazing voice.
Together Miss Potter brings the strange mix of rejected material and the used music together, without a real question why both styles sound so much alike. The only difference is in mere voices where Westlake and Portman differ in. But on album that voice is one, and the bittersweet nature makes sure it's such a pleasing album from begin to end. True, bittersweet and we heard it so many times before. But still, but still ...
Tracklisting
1. Miss Potter (3.47)
2. The Park * (3.03)
3. A Bunny Book to Conjure With (3.17)
4. The Story of Peter Rabbit (2.49)
5. Mother (1.34)
6. Jemima Puddle Duck (3.14)
7. The Rabbits' Christmas Party (1.39)
8. Mr. Warne! (2.36)
9. Beatrix & Norman (5.59) Excellent track
10. Return to London (1.13)
11. Beatrix Locks Herself Away * (3.12)
12. Recovering (1.26)
13. I'm Painting Again (1.29)
14. The Lakes (3.45) Excellent track
15. When You Taught me How to Dance: Katie Melua (3.26) Excellent track
* composed by Rachel Portman
Total Length: 42.29
After he somewhat vanished from the scenery the last couple of years, he returned with Miss Potter, the bittersweet fairytale movie of Chris Noonan. Westlake delivered great things with Babe, and so I was keen to discover if he would bring fantasy to the fairytale of Miss Potter as well.
First, it was strange discover that material of Portman still surfaced on the CD. But it was also strange that almost everything sounds like Portman in the end. Oh yes, it is sweet. Oh yes, the strings and the flute are ever-present and the theme could be hers. And yet it seems that Nigel Westlake just had to make the music a little less Portman, doing so with various little twists.
For instance "The Story of Peter Rabbit" has a classically inclined scherzo, bringing forth some playfulness like we discovered in Babe. The begin however is Portman all the way, or at least it feels that way. "Miss Potter" has a charming opening with the main theme for piano and strings, and I'm sure many would hear Portman in this. "The Park" is composed by Rachel Portman in the end and that's evident, as she presents a secondary theme in the familiar manner. For how much you've heard it by now, it remains damn lovely.
Furthermore "A Bunny Book to Conjure With" has some nice fantasy moments, with swirling strings and playful flutes that jump around it. With "Mother" and "Jemima Puddle Duck" you're definitely in fantasy land, especially through the assistance of piano and orchestra. "Mr. Warne!" returns by then with the light main theme.
However, if you want fairytale conditions you best check out "Beatrix & Norman", 5 min of nothing less than fairy dust and wonder. It swirls ala Nanny McPhee, we notice some emphasis on brass and the main theme is used ever so lovely, thereby it is really sweet.
Things change in "Return to London" and Portman's second piece "Beatrix Locks Herself Away". It is darker, less cheerful and with the use of solo cello and violin (based on the theme), Portman once again reprises her voice easily. Slightly more optimistic is "Recovering" and "I'm Painting Again", while reaching a happy climax in "The Lakes". Noticeable here is the moment when Rachel Portman's theme and the main theme are introduced as one.
Katie Melua, the hot Russian jazz singer presents here "When you Taught me How to Dance", and it is nothing but the theme of the movie supported by her ever amazing voice.
Together Miss Potter brings the strange mix of rejected material and the used music together, without a real question why both styles sound so much alike. The only difference is in mere voices where Westlake and Portman differ in. But on album that voice is one, and the bittersweet nature makes sure it's such a pleasing album from begin to end. True, bittersweet and we heard it so many times before. But still, but still ...
Tracklisting
1. Miss Potter (3.47)
2. The Park * (3.03)
3. A Bunny Book to Conjure With (3.17)
4. The Story of Peter Rabbit (2.49)
5. Mother (1.34)
6. Jemima Puddle Duck (3.14)
7. The Rabbits' Christmas Party (1.39)
8. Mr. Warne! (2.36)
9. Beatrix & Norman (5.59) Excellent track
10. Return to London (1.13)
11. Beatrix Locks Herself Away * (3.12)
12. Recovering (1.26)
13. I'm Painting Again (1.29)
14. The Lakes (3.45) Excellent track
15. When You Taught me How to Dance: Katie Melua (3.26) Excellent track
* composed by Rachel Portman
Total Length: 42.29