Silva Screen Records release Informer, Ilan Eshkeri's soundtrack to BBC's character-driven thriller set in East London. The show explores identity and how a situation can change the perception of an individual. Raza, a young second generation British-Pakistani man from East London is coerced by Gabe, a Counter-Terrorism Officer into informing for him. Gabe, who has a past he wants to remain secret, is joined by Holly, his new and ambitious partner whose endless curiosity becomes a threat to him. As the central counter-terrorism investigation heats up, the stakes for all three, their families and relationships, get higher and higher...

Composed as five stand-alone pieces of music, Ilan Eshkeri's score for Informer consists of repeating lines of melodies performed by individual instruments. This is designed to reflect the dynamics of the characters in the show, as they weave in and out of each other’s lives with their own agendas. The score is made up from variations of these pieces of music. The album is presented with each complete piece and its variations following so that the listener can unravel the elements in the main piece.

There's no arguing that Eshkeri's music for Informer is an impressive and integral part of the TV series. And while it works wonderfully in the show it also sounds impressive when heard on its own merits. In fact the subtle nuances are only really revealed when listening to the music in isolation. This is one score that is perfect for the medium it was composed for, but really comes alive when you hear it as a standalone album. The score contains 13 tracks (42 min, 53 sec).

Classical in construction and beautifully presented, this score has a handful of themes which resurface as the score progresses. 'Informer 9', for example has a simple piano piece, which is repeated. The string section then weaves another tune around the piano base to deliver a truly memorable piece.

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Darren Rea