JON ENGLISH & MARIO MILLO: AGAINST THE WIND ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK

Well, first I have to confess that my relationship to this LP is very intimately personal: it was being played in a candle-lit room when I entered the world of romance, first kisses and all that. And naturally the music would still raise warm memories, preventing me to judge it with absolute objectivity, but I do my best. Actually the bigger problem is that I haven't heard it completely for a couple of decades (sadly I haven't seen it on CD anywhere). The background of this music's reception goes further, as the TV series was seen in Finland sometimes in my early teens. Hopefully it will reappear one fine day, because I believe it was a good one. It's about people who struggle their lives in Australia, where criminals and other misfortunate people were sent by the British goverment in the Empire days. It stars Jon English who sings on this soundtrack.

Many will remember the love song 'Six Ribbons'. It's a very beautiful, folkish ballad. It is sung in two different versions and also its melody is recycled here and there in the instrumental pieces. The rest of the album, as far as I remember, is instrumental, composed by Mario Millo, Australia's most important prog figure in the 70's, I presume? It is mainly orchestrated as film music usually is, but not just that. Acoustic guitars, flute and synths are present, maybe some folky instruments as well (I really should hear it again...). Anyway, I remember taping the whole - at least nearly all - album and thinking it was surprisingly good on its own, without the TV series (or love life, ha ha!). On that ground I can rate it 3,5 stars.

Of course it can be pointed out that it's not a prog album even if it's here, but hardly anyone expects it to be. It's a good soundtrack album, way better that the large majority of soundtracks. There's both warm emotion and intensive drama - and maybe the long ending number 'Death Or Liberty' did get quite progressive too! 'Waltz Theme (The Women Are Chosen)' is really charming. Recommended to listeners of film music and delicate, pastoral instrumental music - if you can find it.