Category: Digital Songs & Albums

HARLEM NOCTURNE: THE MIKE HAMMER TV THEME {Cover} (by The London Starlight Orchestra: 16 Famous TV Themes)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 18, 2020

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 3:28 Min.

Dating back to 1939, this instrumental jazz classic co-written by Earle Hagen and Dick Rogers was a frequent cover for decades. Perhaps most memorably, the tune was became the lead theme of Stacy Keach’s hard-boiled Mike Hammer TV franchise in the ‘80s (and its brief reboot in the ’90s). The London Starlight Orchestra covered the Hagen-Rogers tune for its 1989 album, 16 Famous TV Themes.

REVIEW:

Given its ultra-obscure source, one might have low standard-issue expectations for a nondescript orchestra covering “Harlem Nocturne.” Impressively, this up-tempo rendition offers terrific entertainment. Lightening the tune’s gritty noir-style spirit, The London Starlight Orchestra makes this jazz standard sound surprisingly fresh. It’s worth checking out as a possible download addition to any instrumental jazz or relaxing TV tunes playlists.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7½ Stars

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Digital Songs & Albums Electronica & Epic Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles) Music & Radio Shows Soundtracks (Digital)

AIRWOLF RETURNS {Cover} (by Kevin F. Montague: Airwolf – The Movie: Music from the Original Film Score)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 18, 2020

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 5:01 Min.

The original 1984 TV score for Airwolf’s feature-length pilot episode (aka “Shadow of the Hawke”) was produced by composer-conductor Sylvester Levay. For a subsequent overseas release, the pilot film and a later TV episode, “Mad Over Miami,” were subsequently melded together to what has since been dubbed Airwolf: The Movie.

Approximately thirty years later, musician Kevin F. Montague recreated Levay’s orchestral work to produce Airwolf: The Movie’s pseudo-soundtrack. This particular track evidently occurs at the onset, as nefarious Dr. Charles Henry Moffett and his henchmen turn a test flight into a killing spree before absconding with Airwolf to hide out in Libya. The track is further bracketed by sound effects, i.e. blowing desert winds and multiple instances of Airwolf’s engines blasting into turbo mode.

REVIEW:

Kevin F. Montague comes close to reviving the instrumental panache of Sylvester Levay’s work, not to mention the inclusion of the spot-on sound effects. What Montague doesn’t overcome is this track’s oddly compressed audio quality. Too often this track sounds as if it’s merely regurgitated as a synthesizer cover. One might also notice that the ending sound effects (specifically, variations of Airwolf’s acceleration) merely pad the running time.

At most, listeners receive a fun five-minute homage. Still, “Airwolf Returns” is indicative of how cool Levay’s futuristic-sounding instrumentals were for the mid-80’s.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5½ Stars

Note: Levay’s opening credits version appears on 1996’s Television’s Greatest Hits, Vol. 6: Remote Control album.

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Digital Songs & Albums Electronica & Epic Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles) Music & Radio Shows

A NEW LIFE (by Thomas Bergersen: Sun)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 17, 2020

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 4:48 Min.

From his 2014 album, Sun, European composer-musician Thomas Bergersen performs this track, which appears as # 6.

REVIEW:

Bursting with a fresh sense of energy, Thomas Bergersen’s “A New Life” incorporates contemporary electronica within an epic Celtic backdrop. The multiple vocal strands by a chorus provide further classiness. For fans of epic score-style instrumentals, adding “A New Life” to a favorite playlist makes good sense.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars

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Digital Songs & Albums Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles) Music & Radio Shows Rock & Symphonic/Metal

CAN’T GET ENUFF (by Winger: In the Heart of the Young)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 15, 2020

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 4:24 Min.

This 1990 song was among the tracks released for radio play from Winger’s second album: In The Heart of The Young. Its lead singer is Kip Winger.

REVIEW:

Winger was among those Late ‘80’s-Early ‘90s lite metal rock bands that briefly caught fire in the ‘big hair, even bigger sound’ MTV video era. Considering the fairly strong quality of their output, it isn’t surprising that Winger faced a glut of competition seeking to be the next Bon Jovi or Def Leppard. Still, some of this group’s tunes from their 1988 self-titled first album and 1990’s In the Heart of The Young hold up surprisingly well. “Can’t Get Enuff” doesn’t make that cut, despite its dynamite melody.

Instantly confirming its suggestive title, the less-than-subtle lyrics overdose on glamorizing sexual lust — at least, without resorting to profanities. Still, its metallic sound compensates well, including a funky bubbling sound effect reminiscent of a mad scientist’s laboratory. Soaring above the high-caliber instrumental work, Kip Winger’s voice is another solid asset — his vocals are easily comprehensible. Unfortunately, that’s part of the problem, as this smarmy tune is unabashedly an innuendo-fest, including a few allusions to kinky foreplay. For parents, the sexually-charged content of “Can’t Get Enuff” makes it a potentially awkward download option.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5½ Stars

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Digital Songs & Albums Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles) Jazz, Blues, & New Age Music & Radio Shows

THE ROAD … (by Keiko Matsui & Jackiem Joyner: The Road …)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 13, 2020

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 4:28 Min.

As the title track off her 2011 album, The Road…, Japanese keyboardist Keiko Matsui teams up with saxophonist Jackiem Joyner on this instrumental jazz track. It’s Track # 9 on the album.

REVIEW:

Unlike the upbeat previous track (# 8: “Affirmation,” with guest saxophonist Kirk Whalum), “The Road…” is noticeably more dramatic, including some melancholic beats. Yet, Keiko Matsui’s keyboard magic once more comes alive here – as with Whalum, her creative chemistry with Jackiem Joyner is gorgeous. While this track easily mingles into Matsui’s extensive playlist, it’s still a “Road…” well worth taking.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars

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Digital Songs & Albums Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles) Jazz, Blues, & New Age Music & Radio Shows

EMBRACE & SURRENDER (by Keiko Matsui: The Road …)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 13, 2020

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 4:46 Min.

For her 2011 album, The Road…, Japanese keyboardist Keiko Matsui performs this instrumental jazz track. It’s Track # 5 on the album.

REVIEW:

Imbuing “Embrace & Surrender” with a timelessly jazzy sound, Keiko Matsui works her instrumental magic on this tune. Further enhancing the experience for listeners is some old school blues thrown in for good measure. Suffice to say, Matsui’s track delivers first-class entertainment for instrumental enthusiasts from any generation.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 9 Stars

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