Sony Classical release Patrick Doyle's score for Murder on the Orient Express, including a song performed by Michelle Pfeiffer with lyrics by Kenneth Branagh. What starts out as a lavish train ride through Europe quickly unfolds into one of the most stylish, suspenseful and thrilling mysteries ever told. From the novel by best-selling author Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express tells the tale of thirteen strangers stranded on a train, where everyone’s a suspect. One man must race against time to solve the puzzle before the murderer strikes again. Kenneth Branagh directs and leads an all-star cast including Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley and Josh Gad...

There have been several adaptations of Agatha Christie's most famous novel, Murder on the Orient Express, over the years. While the plot holds few surprises (everyone knows the ending) it's the execution and the actors interpretations of each character. One of the most important elements of the movie is the music, which sets the atmosphere.

Here Doyle, it would appear, has steeped himself in Christie's original novel, as the music represents another character in the movie, binding the narrative and the characters together. There's a dark, brooding feel to tracks like 'Geography' and 'One Sharp Knife' where you can almost visualise the spirit of the train as a demonic entity.

The score contains 24 tracks (56 min, 46 sec) and while I'd argue that 'Justice' is easily this album's most beautiful and intricate track, 'The Orient Express' and 'Orient Express Suite' are notable as reminded me very much of Benny Oschmann's score for the game The Raven: Legacy of a Master Thief.

It's an impressive, multi-layered score which you'll get hours of listening pleasure out of.

8

Darren Rea