Music from the Movies
by Andrew Keech

Sketches is a wonderful collection of themes and moods from the talented and under-exposed composer Alan Williams. The collection is a soaring selection of action, dramatic, comic and romantic cues offering a vast wealth and variety of music on one CD. His tremendous score for the Imax film Amazon , which was nominated for an Academy Award, is probably his best-known work and some of the best tracks from this score are included on this album. However, the album starts with the beautiful Barryesque 'Cocos Island' from Island Of The Sharks , another superb Imax score, and other dramatic cues from this score are scattered through the album.

Cues are also included from the poignant Mark Twain's America and the all action Tiny Heros with its infectious trumpet-based theme. Clubhouse Detectives , a 1995 kid's film, is full of light adventurous music while in contrast there is an eerie and sinister cue from Asylum accompanied by wonderful upbeat cue from the same film, 'Looking For Cues'.

This is a superb introduction to the wonderfully melodic and varied world of Alan Williams. Every cue has something to offer and the collection has such a wide variety that it must be one of the best value albums available. The only drawback is the absence of details of the source of the tracks in the meagre sleeve notes, but it is certain that many will become deservedly better known. Highly recommended for anyone who loves expansive orchestral scores.