CD REVIEW - CHILD'S PLAY


Child's Play
Music by Joe Renzetti
La-La Land Records LLLCD 1108 (US)
14 Tracks 64:56 mins

For fans of the Chucky franchise, this limited edition release from La-La Land Records will be a treat, featuring as it does Joe Renzetti's synth score for the film that began it all back in 1988, Child's Play, together with three bonus tracks that include "The Chucky Song," written by Renzetti and Simon Stakes, which is an interesting little oddity that was composed for the end credits, but which the film's producers hated and was therefore unused.
Of course, being largely a synth score, the music has limited appeal for this writer. Much of its drones on endlessly, but we do have some pretty furious action moments along the way, the composer employing metallic percussion to enhance his writing. In the midst of this mix of drones and savagery, however, Renzetti actually comes up with a pretty nice "End Credits" theme, with a kind of tinkling music box theme, overlain with wordless vocals.
The accompanying booklet is a real collectors item too, with plenty of stills and Brian Satterwhite's detailed notes, including a cue-by-cue guide to the music.
Go to www.lalalandrecords.com/ChildsPlay.html for samples and to order your copy of the CD, but hurry, there are only 1200 available!