The Match (Bootleg)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Harry Gregson - Williams was at the time of The Match still a B-listed choice, making his movies all right but not standing in the spotlights, or getting the attention he now so easily receives in 2004. His solo gigs were not as investigated as they are now, and forgotten entries couldn't help but push that MV stamp away from him. The Match from 1999 is a forgotten entry because it was not the big movie but a small lovely affair made by friends, for friends who play soccer. The entry was a time tipped by Varčse Sarabande as future release but constant hassles concerning the production firm and its release didn't help much, making it still to this day an unreleased item. Samples surfaced from time to time, and even if these are just together 10 minutes of playing time, they show a small part of Gregson - Williams lovely score, starting with the expected Celtic touch, in case you were wondering where it all played. 'The Dream' which starts with Celtic flutes, light vocal accompaniment (and take light very seriously), the usual bodhram drums and they all set up a lovely kind of piece. Its basically not one of those grand Irish or Scottish pieces Horner could develop but its flair is equally fitting for the time. 'Sad Eyes' has a lovely piece for solo harmonica, solo flute and solo guitar and make just about up what you expect of it. And 'Willie's Theme' is again that same flute and Celtic violin which makes it playful another time.

The highlight or best track in case you are speaking of small affairs is 'You Can Win', and shows perhaps possible sings of why Varčse wanted to release the soundtrack a couple of years ago, its basically the same as any other but the bodhram drums move into some kind of jig with the flutes, they perform the first track's theme and its basically very fitting for the Irish folks as for the feeling for playing soccer. 'Foot-Tap' is a more strange affair with electric guitar and solo flute make some sense, but it feels rather strange if you compare it with the rest. Altogether, this mounts up to not even 10 minutes full, which makes my review rather pointless, but its not pointless to point out the possible potential of a small but lovely affair. Harry Gregson - Williams' score can not be questioned with so little material, but it does exhibit points that could make it fitting, if we just could hear more of the light Celtic flavor in a 30 minute soundtrack or so. Its altogether not that special but to show a side different from Harry Gregson - Williams (and especially then) is perhaps more interesting all the same. The Match is light, not even worth it unless for the real die hard fans of him, but it again has something waiting to emerge, and perhaps some professional work could grant it more then its winning points.

\ľľľ/

Tracks

Single Disc

1. The Dream (2.03)

2. Sad Eyes (1.43)

3. Willie's Theme (1.45)

4. You Can Win (2.05)

5. Foot-Tap (2.19)

Total Length: 9.55

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: Harry Gregson - Williams ===