Indecent Proposal

Almost any Barry score written from the early '90, meaning from Dances with Wolves has something of that legendary score inside of him. Barry mostly became typecast as that typical emotional composer, writing the most heartfelt themes and beautiful music yet all so similar to one another, you can't quite make up your mind of loving it to death or hating the unoriginal approach. I'm one in between because this is music you can easily listen to again and again but that doesn't mean that I do it, merely because it feels so connected to each other you basically don't care anymore. And the absolute same thing counts for Indecent Proposal, the film with Robert Redford, Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson. Barry is Barry and he writes an emotional strong love theme, makes it tender, sugar sweet and adds the right kind of flair to it so that it becomes a living breathing theme of wonder. Yet, this is so similar to his style it almost feels absurd. One or two scores could trade the theme like that and if you ask me to hum a particular theme, I would have to think hard to basically sing it correct without flowing into another theme of sweet John Barry.

Now, about the soundtrack. At first, this seems to be another typical song release. 90% songs and one lousy score track. Yet, this is indeed deceiving because a mere 25 minute track is spend on the score of Barry which gives you a nice representation of his composed work. I hear you coming, a 25 minute track with the same theme repeated to the death of it! No, this isn't it. Actually, its a well produced piece with enough variation (as long as you can call it that because it remains John Barry after all) to make the track entertaining. 'Instrumental Suite from Indecent Proposal' as it is called is a suite with short intervals to quietly skip to the next composed piece and is as relaxing as they come. The theme which is heard often on compilations is once again a nice theme but sounds so familiar I basically shift into ignore mode. Usually a theme like this would break my heart but it feels just like a Barry theme and how well written, it can't set me on fire as it might have done in other fashion.

The whole suite luckily doesn't consist of this main theme alone and the good thing is, Barry has got variations on it along with several other sub themes. The variations are not that different but just enough to keep it rolling and the other themes are either a theme that could come out of My Life / Dances With Wolves like that or a more dramatic composition that keeps a different pace at it. Now, you know me, scores like these are often loaded with songs and the collection found on the original release consists of The Pretenders, Seal, Bryan Ferry, Lisa Stansfield, Roy Orbinson and several others. Good to know is that Barry has lent his musical talent to one of the songs but since I haven't got them on my recording, I will not go deeper into it. So the questions are made and the answers have been thrown on the table. Yes, this is a typical Barry score, yes it sounds dreamy and sweet and yes, the score doesn't offer much new for the trained ear. But no, this is not boring, no it doesn't sound one theme minded and no it actually is a nice listening experience. So perhaps Indecent Proposal is for you if you keep all this in consideration.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Instrumental Suite From Indecent Proposal * (25.22)

* Piano Solos by Michael Lang

Total Length: 25.22

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=== Link to Composer Site: John Barry ===