Shaken And Stirred (The David Arnold 007 Project) - David Arnold > Reviews > Unshaken and Unstirred

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Completely unoriginal
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	Mixed
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Average
Value for Money	Satisfactory

Advantages:	Propellerheads' OHMSS remix
Disadvantages:	Several mediocre takes on old songs

Recommend to potential buyers:

no

Full review

In 1997 unremarkable (and somewhat generic) film composer David Arnold got his dream job and was installed as the in-house composer for the James Bond series. Arnold, who to my mind has always lacked his own distinctive sound, looked to John Barry for inspiration and managed to ape his illustrious predecessor to a point. Arnold's one original move was an attempt to work in more modern styles into his Bond scores, the addition of techno beats in Tomorrow Never Dies an example.

In 1997 Arnold got an eclectic group of contemporary singers together and covered some of the old classics from decades of Bond music. Did he breathe new life into the songs or was it all a pointless exercise? A bit of both probably, but I'd lean towards the latter.

Shaken And Stirred: The David Arnold James Bond Project

The songs:

Diamonds Are Forever featuring David Mcalmont
(Original Artist: Shirley Bassey)
You may know Mcalmont from his on-off partnership with Bernard Butler. Mcalmont can certainly belt out a song although he makes the Bee Gees sound like Liam Gallagher at times. This is a strong start to the Album. Mcalmont's arch campness works well with the song and he doesn't hold back. One of the highlights of the record. 7/10

Nobody Does It Better featuring Aimee Mann
(Original artist: Carly Simon)
The original from The Spy Who Loved Me is one of the best known Bond themes. Carly Simon was presented with a simple song and did it more or less perfectly. Aimee Mann approaches the song as if it's completely beneath her. She talks, whispers and generally deconstructs the original to a pointless degree. A deconstruction of an old song can be good if you do something interesting but Mann (who I like through the film Magnolia) doesn't. 5/10

Space March featuring Leftfield
(Original artist: John Barry)
The trance like feel of Barry's You Only Live Twice music serves Leftfield well. A solid addition to the Album if you like this sort of thing. 7/10

All Time High featuring Pulp
(Original artist: Rita Coolidge)
Like Aimee Mann, Jarvis Cocker seems determined to put his own stamp on his song...without doing anything especially interesting. The mass appeal of Pulp passed me by in the nineties but if you were a fan you mght have more time for this song than I do. 5/10

Moonraker featuring Shara Nelson
(Original artist: Shirley Bassey)
Nelson sticks closely by the original and the song is all the better for it, capturing the spirit and feel of Shirley Bassey's version. A good addition to the Album. 7/10

James Bond theme featuring LtJ Bukem
(Original artist: Monty Norman)
A bang up to date remix of the 007 theme should be the highlight of Shaken not Stirred but if you can find anything resembling the James Bond music in this tedious noise you have better hearing than I do! A complete waste of time! Moby did a good remix of the 007 theme around this period and it's a shame he wasn't included on this Album instead. 0/10

Live and Let Die featuring Chrissie Hynde
(Original Artist: Wings)
Mcartney's familiar Live and Let Die theme is thankfully recognisable and Hynde does a solid enough job. It isn't tremendously exciting though and at this point in the Album you do start to wonder if there was any point in these songs when you can buy the originals instead. 6/10

Thunderball featuring Martin Fry
(Original Artist: Tom Jones)
One of the better contributions. Fry belts out the big, brassy sixties Thunderball theme and, like Mcalmont, just goes for broke while sticking faithfully to the original. 7/10

FRWL by Natacha Atlas
(Original Artist: Matt Monroe)
A mildly diverting take on one of the lesser known themes. Atlas performs the song in a quiet, warbly manner and it's a pleasant if not quite essential reworking of the original. 6/10

OHMSS by Propellerheads
(Original Artist: John Barry)
The saving grace of the Album. Propellerheads' monumental take on the On Her Majesty's secret service theme is the one song here that sounds new, exciting, vibrant and worthy of release on its own. Great stuff. This is the only song on the Album that I still slip into my Walkman now and again. 10+/10

We Have All The Time In The World featuring Iggy Pop
(Original Artist: Louis Armstrong)
This one shouldn't work but it does. Iggy Pop is at his most restrained and brings a weary air of sadness to the classic song. A nice way to end the Album. 7/10

Overall

I think James Bond fans might find this more interesting than general customers. For me there is only one song on the Album that was really worth the effort. A few more are alright and the rest are rather pointless. While Shaken and Stirred has its moments, overall I don't think the Album has enough of these moments to make it an essential purchase..

My advice would be to seek out the Propellerheads' version of OHMSS and give this a miss.

Label: Warner Music UK Ltd.

Released: 1997

Tracklisting:
1 Diamonds Are Forever (3:54)
Featuring - David McAlmont
2 Nobody Does It Better (4:25)
Featuring - Aimee Mann
3 Space March (5:31)
Featuring - Leftfield
4 All Time High (4:32)
Featuring - Pulp
5 Moonraker (3:56)
Featuring - Shara Nelson
6 The James Bond Theme (6:59)
Featuring - LTJ Bukem
7 Live And Let Die (2:44)
Featuring - Chrissie Hynde
8 Thunderball (4:15)
Featuring - Martin Fry
9 From Russia With Love (3:11)
Featuring - Natacha Atlas
10 On Her Majesty's Secret Service (9:26)
Featuring - Propellerheads
11 We Have All The Time In The World (3:41)
Featuring - Iggy Pop