Sony Music has released the original soundtrack to the television serious The Last Kingdom with music by Emmy-winning composer John Lunn and vocals by Faroese recording artist Eivør. The series is based on The Saxon Stories by historical novelist Bernard Cornwell. Uhtred, born the son of a Saxon nobleman, is captured by the invading Danes and raised as one of their own. Forced to choose between the country of his birth and the people of his upbringing, his loyalties are ever tested. What is he – Saxon or Dane? On a quest to reclaim his birthright, Uhtred must tread a dangerous path between both sides if he is to play his part in the birth of a new nation and, ultimately, recapture his ancestral lands...

Fans of The Last Kingdom will no doubt be eager to add this soundtrack to their music library. While John Lunn (Grantchester; Shetland; The White Queen) gives us themes with untold depths, I have to admit that while Eivør's vocals were interesting enough, they soon started to sound a little cliched.

I know that the vocals almost become another character in the series, but I just couldn't help wishing for more music without them. Tracks like 'Destiny Is All' bucks this trend as the vocals are front and centre. However the majority of the tracks seem to include the vocals as an add-on; an afterthought.

The album's 10 tracks (55 min, 04 sec) don't, I think, work too well outside of the show. They're interesting enough, it's just that there's little here to make you want to come back for more. At times I couldn't help thinking this was a poor man's Gladiator (Hans Zimmer).

5

Darren Rea