Sony Classical releases Gustavo Santaolalla's score for The Book of Life. The movie tells the legend of Manolo, a conflicted hero and dreamer who sets off on an epic quest through magical, mythical and wondrous worlds in order to reunite with his one true love and defend his village...

Gustavo Santaolalla delivers some interesting themes in his score for The Book of Life. The album contains 29 tracks (48 min, 51 sec) and incorporates some beautiful pieces of music: 'The Book of Life Theme'; 'Visiting Mother' (the central theme to which pops up a few times throughout this score); 'Sanchez Bullfighting History'; 'Reunited With Mother'... in fact, it's at this point I stop writing a list and instead realise that almost every single track has something magical to offer the listener.

It's a sumptuous feast for the ears Santaolalla delivers so many varied and beautiful themes that it's practically an attack on your senses. This score encapsulates all the positive aspects of James Horner's music in the '90s, with a Spanish themed twist... The end result is one of the most refreshing, and incredible scores I've heard in a long time.

10

Darren Rea