Search - Various Artists, The Charlatans, Basement Jaxx :: Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) The Soundtrack

Music for the living and the deceased

Kate Estwing | St. Louis, MO | 10/03/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The phenomenal Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) television show soundtrack is worth having, not only for its diverse artists and rare tracks, but for its ability to capture the mood of the televsion series.
Many of the songs portray love and death, along with the idea of a spirit walking around on earth (Hopkirk) trying to make sure his best friend (Randall) doesn't make the moves on his still-living girlfriend. The Theme is a full, melodic song with vocals, which is impressive as far as television themes go. Highlights: Basement Jaxx's collaboration between electronic and swing jazz (complete with scats by Gwyn Jay Allen) on "Jus Tonite," Pulp and the Swingle Sisters' (of the acclaimed Swingle Singers) complete success of combining brooding rock with rich vocal arrangements on "My Body May Die," Talvin Singh's tribal electronic "Carnival of Drums," and up-and-coming Icelandic star Emiliana Torrini's haunting "Dead Things." And I'm leaving out the other half of the album only because it would take too long to review.
The songs flow well from one track to another, and this soundtrack reflects "Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)" as well as Danny Boyle's "Trainspotting" Soundtrack reflects that movie's aura. There is no dominating style or genre of music overall; but the same strange unity between songs, where all songs serve a purpose to capture in music what's been viewed on a television screen."