Screen Sounds
by Jeff Hall

Here's another release from composer Alan Williams, this time of selections composed in 1996/7 for the TV series High Tide, which concerned a couple of surfer brothers, who had all kinds of adventures pursuing the cash to maintain their lifestyle.

The music featured on the album is split into two sections, with the more dramatic scoring, found in later episodes, contrasting with the electric guitar flavored approach for earlier episodes. The first ten tracks are pretty much what one has come to expect from many contemporary shows, with quite a propulsive, percussive, feel to the action writing and suspenseful interludes; with synths and keyboards often taking the lead where melody is required for breezier and more emotional moments. This music accounts for the first ten tracks, with a further 16 representing the original guitar-dominated, often rhythmic and percussive approach, with Nick Nolan the featured player.

Both kinds of scoring have their plus points, but I cannot recall the show ever making it to terrestrial TV in the UK, so it's impossible for me to compare their effectiveness. What however the music does display is the versatility of its composer.