Swallows and Amazons

Ilan Eshkeri is becoming more and more a prominent composer, not the one day fly he could have been after Stardust. And yet somehow he has never reached Stardust again in power. And let's get it out of the way, Swallows and Amazons is not Stardust. This one is a lighter version, and an easy one to appreciate. What it does have is a lovely theme, a theme that truly comes alive in "Swallows and Amazons" and "The Flying Boat". Old school emotional music full of innocence, it's something you don't hear anymore today. There's a returning action / suspense theme that's effective too, and a lovely secondary theme in for instance "Swimming Lesson" that should have been used a lot more. Perhaps this album lacks a bit of variety in the end. It's all easy to appreciate, but a couple of extra highlights could have truly elevated the experience. Harmless and lovely to digest, Swallows and Amazons is an orchestral affair with a heart.

The opening is already great, the birth of a lovely theme and a splash of emotion at the end
Very thematic, easy to appreciate, perfect for a children's movie
Lacks something, perhaps a bit more variety

Track Listing

1. Swallows and Amazons (3.57) Excellent track
2. Escape from the Train (2.06)
3. Darien Peak (2.53)
4. Swimming Lesson (3.07)
5. All Aboard (3.19)
6. Walker Island (4.03)
7. The Next Morning (1.53)
8. The Charcoal Burners (2.01)
9. Amazons (1.49)
10. Race to Rio (2.29)
11. Manoeuvres in the Dark (2.39)
12. Man Overboard (1.35)
13. Wild Cat Island (1.22)
14. Saving Jim (2.02)
15.The Flying Boat (6.11) Excellent track
16. Jim the Pirate (2.28)

Total Length: 43.54