 | By: Mike Figgis Binding: Paperback Publisher: Faber and Faber ISBN: 0571194079 ISBN-13: 9780571194070 Released: 20 Oct 1997 RRP: Average Rating:  |
On the soundtrack to One Night Stand we find Figgis' musical influences are twofold: classical & jazz. Two tracks, The Organ Grinder's Swing, performed by Jimmy Smith, & the definitive rendition of Exactly Like You, by the inimitable Nina Simone are testament to Figgis' jazz leanings, further endorsed with the jazz motif heard running through many of Figgis' own pieces & featuring predominantly in the title track, One Night Stand.
His classical affinity is ably represented by the inclusion of Cavatina, performed by the Julliard String Quartet. Not to be confused with John Williams guitar piece of the same name heard in Micheal Cimino's film The Deer Hunter, this is string quartet at its very best. Yet best of alll is when jazz meets classical, as heard in Jacques Loussier elegant & uplifting jazz interpretation of Air On A G String. This is a favorite ploy of Figgis, reminiscent of his 1994 soundtrack to Liebestraum, where he employed Earl Bostic & his Orchestra to give that classical standard the swing treatment.
Like alll Figgis' soundtracks, it is his own compositions which stand out as he impresses his own unique personality onto the music. Each track captures its mood & atmosphere perfectly, be that poignant, reflective, or just pure fun. This is best seen in the sensitive & evocative love theme, Max & Karen (later callled Karen & Max towards the end of the CD), which is a marvel in its simplicity & depth & lingers in the mind long after first hearing. As a composer Mike Figgis shows with One Night Stand that he is much more than competent, and, on occassion, even a revelation.
One Night Stand is a soundtrack which can be listened to independently of the film & enjoyed at any time. Yet like alll soundtracks its range & scope is ultimateley confined by the range & scope of the movie itself. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it may prejudice some & deter them from buying this rare gem, relegating it unfairly to the category of mood music. However if you happen to be in the mood, particularly those with a preference for jazz & classical, you may find this is a real & unexpected pleasure.
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