Sony Classical release John Williams's score for The Post, a thrilling drama about the unlikely partnership between The Washington Post’s Katharine Graham, the first female publisher of a major American newspaper, and editor Ben Bradlee, as they race to catch up with The New York Times to expose a massive cover-up of government secrets that spanned three decades and four U.S. Presidents...

John Williams has always been my favourite composer. His scores for Raiders of the Lost Ark and the original Star Wars trilogy was what got me interested in movie scores in the early '80s.

The score for The Post captures much of what first attracted me to his work. There's an energy and a subtle beauty that seems, in this album, to lay out a road map of all his high points over the years. While there are little nods here and there to previous scores, 'The Court's Decision and End Credits' is very reminiscent of Williams's score for Saving Private Ryan [1998].

The score contains 10 tracks (40 min, 10 sec) and I heard the occasional homage to Jaws [1975]; The Witches of Eastwick [1987]; War Horse [2011]; and Jurassic Park [1994]. He also revisits a little of his past with 'The Oak Room, 1971', which is a beautifully subtle jazz piano track.

This is one of Williams's greatest, most complex scores to date. Cherish this - we've no idea how much longer he will continue to deliver such intricate, beautiful themes.

10

Darren Rea