Sony Classical release Thomas Newman's score for The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. The movie is the second installment of the star-studded British comedy that follows a group of British retirees who decide to spice up their lives in magical India...

Thomas Newman's score for The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel delivers exactly what you'll be expecting. Given the movie's premise, it's not a surprise to discover that this is overflowing with Indian-based music. Which, to the indigenous population, is probably about as authentically representative of their culture as is the necessity to work music around a 'Rule Britania'-esque theme every time foreign movies set sequences in Britain.

That's not overly important though, as those who have enjoyed the movie will relish the opportunity to take away a little bit of it to listen to. It works surprisingly well when listened to in isolation. Whether you have this on in the car or while at home enjoying a quiet evening in, there's no escaping that this is entertaining.

For those who want to hear more of the Thomas Newman they know and love from movies like The Shawshank Redemption, there are a few snippets here and there ('Soft Hiss of Treachery'; 'Aaina').

There's a theme on here (most notable in the track 'Sagai') that reminded me of an Indian reworking of 'Family Pictures' from A.R. Rahman's score for People Like Us.

So, an enjoyable, if somewhat predictable, offering.

8

Darren Rea