Directed by Padraig Reynolds and starring Katherine Randolph and Anessa Ramsey, Rites of Spring tells the story about a group of kidnappers who becomes victims of a horrifying secret that must be paid every spring. Newcomer Holly Amber Church, who started out as an assistant to renowned composers Christopher Young and Stewart Copeland, has penned an intense, eerie and effective genre score that makes use of such devices as electrified cello, unusual percussive effects and busy string writing...

Holly Amber Church's score for Rites of Spring is an interesting debut album from this new composer. To be honest, this felt more like the work of someone more accomplished in the movie world than a new comer.

There are flashes of the work of Christopher Young and Stewart Copeland every now and then, but then this is probably not a surprise as Church has worked as an assistant to both of them. When I say "flashes", I don't mean that there are elements of their music "borrowed" here, more that the musical style is similar.

The album contains 22 tracks and lasts for 47 min, 40 sec. It's an interesting album that stands on its own merits as an album you can listen to in isolation outside of the confines of the movie.

If this is anything to go by, then you need to keep an ear open for Church in the near future - expect great things from this promising new comer.

8

Darren Rea