(Milan)
What is the movie Angel Baby about? I'd love to tell you, but I have no idea myself. From what I can from the promotional material that accompanied the soundtrack and the photo layout in the CD, it's a love story - but as is often the case with small, independent films, one cant always be so sure.
What does that have to do with the quality of the album? Depends on how you look at soundtracks. If your idea of a soundtrack is an album that exists as a separate entity of the film itself, then it doesn't mean anything. But if you're like me, a soundtrack album is one that you listen to not only to enjoy the music, but to bring you back to those special moments in the film. Of course, there are exceptions to this. Although I do enjoy the soundtrack to The Crow: City of Angels, I will have lived a long and fulfilling life if I never see that particular piece of crap again.
As far as the music on Angel Baby is concerned, it's a mixed bag, indeed. Featuring songs that run the gambit from world music to classic rock, the overall feel of the album is indeed that of a soundtrack. That's how the opening track, "Sygyt Khoomei Kargyraa" by Shu-de, with its world-music feel and execution is followed by Norman Greenbaum's classic "Spirit In the Sky". For soundtracks, it's not the genre thats important - it's the song.
The album also includes tracks by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan ("Sea of Vapours" and "Tracery", both written by Michael Brook), Peter Gabriel ("We Do What We're Told" from the So album), and The Vogues ("You Are My Special Angel"). But the true joy of the album is the first single (if you live near a college radio station, I'm willing to bet they have it), "Until I'm In You".
Produced and written by Gavin Friday and Maurice Seezer (who have worked with Bono on songs for the film In the Name of the Father as well as recording under the name Gavin Friday), "Until I'm In You" features the vocals of Anneli Drecker. The feel is basically "Portished-meets-Bjork", and is worth the price of the album alone.
Angel Baby is, overall, a quality soundtrack album. I still don't know what the movie is about, though - but if the soundtrack is any indication of the film it promotes, I can't wait to find out.
