Good old EMI, pervayors of fine Christmas albums everywhere. Unfortunately, they forgot that this was the soundtrack to a film and not just a compilation of Christmas carols. So, despite a promising track listing we are finally presented with a smattering of Julian Nott's marvellous score and plenty of the ever so twee sounding Tiffin Choir (sick bag please) and junior warbler Charlotte Church, plus a somewhat standard pop song given a gutsy, if not quite note perfect rendition by Kate Winslet. The two Church performed songs are pleasant enough and she does have quite an impressive voice, although whether she breaks fully into singing opera, light classics (a lá Russell Watson) or teeny pop, only time will tell. What If has even charted here in the UK, even if it does sound like a less convincing variant on Prince of Egypt's When You Believe, although Kate Winslet's singing is much more pleasant than the diva-ish messrs. Carey & Houston.

What there is of Julian Nott's score is simply delightful, from the gorgeous trumpet solo of Hospital, the lively - the not overtly folksy - Fezziwig's Jig, every minute is a joy. Resolution features a brief theme for brass choir which is all too short. Scrooge's Theme is minor key, but quite lovely and once again makes good use of the trumpet as soloist. Outside of that melody, it is hard to discern a main theme running through Nott's music. Undoubtedly the full score (which I believe runs to 50 minutes) would give the themes room to breath a liitle more, but the short shrift given here, together with being broken up by the carols and other songs, means that each of his cues offers up something new, but definitely leaves the listener wanting more. Marley's Ghost is undoubtedly a highlight, a very dramatic cue that builds to a quite dark finale, but then countered by the more genial Scrooge Awakes counterpointing strings and piano.

I suspect that those who are simply picking up the album (which seems to be heavily promoted in stores) will enjoy it as a decent festive album and memento from the film. However, those interested in Julian Nott's score will likely be disappointed at the short running time it is given. There are nine tracks of his music, but the packaging doesn't list times and unfortunately many of them run all too briefly. Being performed (beautifully, I might add) by the City of Prague Philharmonic, it wouldn't be subject to re-use had more been included and given the total running time of the album, could have at least have boosted Nott's 20 minutes to 30 at least. Still, it is still worth savouring until they finally release his Wallace and Gromit scores.

Rating ~

1. Come Gather Round the Christmas Tree (2:20)
   Traditional - The Tiffin Choir
2. Quis Est Deus (4:16)
   Bill Whelan - Charlotte Church & Monks of Glenstal Abbey
3. Hospital (2:30)
4. Fezziwig's Jig (1:33)
5. Three Kings (2:39)
   Nicolai & Cornelius - The Tiffin Choir
6. Resolution (1:32)
7. What If (4:06)
   Steve Mac & Wayne Hector - Kate Winslet
8. The Coventry Carol (4:25)
   Traditional - The Tiffin Choir
9. Nos Galan (Deck the Halls) (2:09)
   Traditional - The Tiffin Choir
10. Scrooge's Theme (2:09)
11. Marley's Ghost (3:41)
12. Scrooge Awakes (2:12)
13. It's the Heart that Matters Most (2:22)
    Mac, Hector & Black - Charlotte Church
14. The Holly & The Ivy (3:25)
    Traditional - The Tiffin Choir
15. The Reading of the Will (1:14)
16. The Ghost of Christmas Present (1:13)
17. Dickens Arrives (1:37)
18. Cradle Lullaby (3:43)
    Philip Pope - The Tiffin Choir

Total Time ~ 47:13