Search - Craig Armstrong :: Plunkett & Macleane

Electronica artists are increasingly in demand as film scorers. Overall this is good news, and this heavily instrumental music fits especially well with action or sci-fi movies (cf. Pi). Since Plunkett & Macleane is set in the 18th century, choosing Massive Attack associate Craig Armstrong was a bit of an odd choice-one that's mostly paid off. Here Armstrong mixes up Carl Orff-style pomp, string-laden trip-hop, and a somber ambience reminiscent of late 1980s Goth. And despite Lewis Parker's inept (and incongruous) rapping, a cover of Talking Heads' "Houses in Motion" provides a soulful break from the heavy-duty atmospherics that make up most of this CD. We're not talking Miklós Rósza here, but this definitely is an encouraging piece of work. --Elisabeth Vincentelli