The album starts off with a bouncy, upbeat Irish type sound that gives way to an Eddie Van Halen style electric guitar. This is a different way of opening a Harry Potter score. It is the sound of rebellious youth taking on the establishment, and it is a memorable way to start things off. This gives way to a theme new to the series, the theme for Professor Umbridge. It is a bouncy, prissy, superior jaunt. This leads to "Another Story" which reintroduces John Williams theme introduced in the first film. It does have some modification to it, it still feels epic, but it has a stripped down feel as well.
Nicholas Hooper's work has a number of interesting cues that I look forward to in the film. From the danger present in "Dementors in the Underpass" to the light approach of "Dumbledore's Army" to the long awaited by fans first kiss of Harry highlighted in its own cue called appropriately "The Kiss," the music here is all falling into place and making me look forward to the film. Other cues that I really enjoyed are "The Room of Requirements," the playfulness of "The Ministry of Magic," and the final track "Loved Ones & Leaving."
Overall, this is a very enjoyable score that takes its departure from the other scores in the series, forging new ground while still remaining true to the tone and atmosphere of the series. The score is an intriguing work that has me ready to go see the film, and see how it works in context.
Bottomline. Very good, although it does not strike me as being overly complex. It is an easy listen, an enjoyable one that does bring me back into the Potter world while not simply rehashing what has come before.
Recommended.
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