G'OLÉ ! (OST)

I'm going to start off this review by stating that it will not be a very long one and that has only to do with the musical content of this album. I choose to regard this review as merely a way to put forth a slice of cold facts and not much more. I think that's fair.

Secondly, I adore Rick Wakeman. He possesses a keyboardistic flare that is largely unchallenged. He is, in fact, The keeper of the keys. Also, he's been extremely productive throughout his career. The man has dipped his toes into everything from complex, challenging progressive (as in Yes), produced some of the most brilliant concept albums of all time (Journey to the centre of the Earth, for example), written scores and soundtracks for movies and made (all too many) new age and easy listening albums (if you ask me). So, in the bewildering jungle of music made by this man, where does "G'Ol'" fit in?

Just to make things clear: you will not, I repeat NOT, find any challenging progressive rock on this album. No, it is not the sequel to "Close to the edge", nor is it "The six wives of Henry II, pt. II" either. You have to remember that this is a soundtrack for the film about the 1982 world cup. The problem with soundtracks, or maybe I should say a plausible problem, is that soundtracks most of the time works perfectly in its setting, where the footage is enhanced by scary music or majestic pomp. Thusly realized you are stuck with an album that outside its pictorial empire falls rather flat or at least fails to reach the heights of so many other albums by monsigneur Wakeman. It lacks a certain something, like a pizza without the dough or a steamboat without an engine.

Now, that is not to say that this is a bad album. It's not. It holds many a trademark by the master. His keyboard wizardry is ther to be found and some tracks (Shadows, Frustration and G'Ol') are great little numbers, slightly progressive in flavor but colored by the time in which it was written. I have not seen the movie but I suppose the images goes splendidly together with the music.

So, an odd but entertaining album suited for days of doing nothing special. Put it on and I bet you'll feel amusement and pleasure. You will not, however, be shipped off to the galaxy of interstellar prog where the complexity and musical density transforms your soul. That will not happen.