*Batteries not Included (Bootleg)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Family films, family drama's, family movies that all blinked a tear from the viewer one way or the other is all what concerned the list of James Horner during '85, '86, '87 and '88. Not that it matters a bit because Cocoon and even animation like The Land before Time proved why he was scoring them in the first place, so don't start there. On the other hand, something is lacking in Batteries not Included if you compare it with either Cocoon, the ape making Cocoon style in Project X or the innocence in The Land before Time because it doesn't get close in that vicinity. No, something is missing to make this a really special Horner score to look for, since it has become over the years a rare bootleg. But on the other hand, it does cover of course interesting points for the Horner fan out there and this solely makes it a clear sign of what to do if you finally spot it. Basically the score covers several genres and either it is the jazzy, swing tone of Cocoon or the more soft, elegant, string themes of once more Cocoon. That this wonders off in territories like Project X and The Land before Time isn't my problem, but Horner's own personal style that he mingles in anything he writes.

The bootleg that covers very acceptable sound quality and a 45 minute running length starts with the jazz tone and almost ends with it, so to speak. The jazz tone can become at times a bit annoying since we heard it before in Cocoon and perhaps a bit too much in here. So tracks like 'Main Title', 'Hamburger Rhumba' with its bouncy attitude and 'Cafe Swing' with its Sixties feel are perhaps a warning if you didn't like that style already in Cocoon. But the rest is mainly some quirky stuff you could associate with Project X, like in 'Night Visitors' for an example. One track that completely caught me off guard nonetheless is 'Hamburger Rhumba' since it starts for no apparent reason with the theme of The Land before Time, only for a moment though. The rest of the tracks basically cover the light string touch of Cocoon for the tiny ships making their pleasant entrance into the family and residents of the building. 'New Babies' is at times sad if completely beautiful later through the string work, reminding you of Project X. Yes, I am getting old on that part!

On the other hand, a completely different style is noticed in 'Arson', covering no real dissonance but definitely a darker mood, with the main theme played on a much lower basis. The last track entitled 'A New Family / End Credits' is definitely the best since you receive basically everything worth remembering of the previous seven, like the jazz style, the more orchestral upbeat calling theme (usually played on a tiny flute in the movie to call the little ship) and getting all in The Land before Time and Project X territory. It might be a track worth hearing if you spot it on a compilation for sure. There is basically nothing wrong about Batteries not Included but also not much that makes it special; its not a score worth paying a lot of money for. The movie was in my book enjoyable and at times touching, and the score surely helped. That the score loses a bit of interest on disc is perhaps surprising but no one can resist the Horner string sound of the various mentioned scores, even if we heard it before. I would then categorize this as something under a different name, how about "Horner trademarks Included".

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title (4.59)

2. Night Visitors (8.50)

3. Hamburger Rhumba (3.41)

4. New Babies (3.46)

5. Cafe Swing (3.34)

6. Times Square And Farewell (6.08)

7. Arson (6.09)

8. A New Family / End Credits (8.29) Excellent Track

Total Length: 45.42

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

=== Link to Composer Site: James Horner ===