David Arnold – Shaken And Stirred (The David Arnold James Bond Project)

I really wish this would get a vinyl release... and of course, I'd love for it to include the Bjork and Candi Staton bonus tracks. I can dream, can't I?

Does anyone have any info on the promo copy that was released which featured Björk's 'You Only Live Twice', before she pulled the track from the project at the last minute? The track leaked because of the existence of said-promo.

I imagine David Arnold being at the peak of his life when he was told that he will be responsible for the following James Bond soundtracks, because this album shows the ammount of love and respect he gives for John Barry and all the songs. Interestingly enough, despite being a cover album with lots of different talents, it is a very good one, with some covers that nearly surpass the originals... and some that aren't so.

David McAlmont is an underrated singer, but I don't get his falsetto for "Diamonds are forever. Aimee Mann does a wonderful "Nobody Does it better", being more psychodelic, sexy and catchy than the original (with all its 90s flavour in it). Leftfield and Bukem do a kind of "dub" of the two themes, more than a retake, which are fine by themselves and show how capable they were as producers. I don't like Jarvis delivery in "All time high", but I love how Iggy Pop fits "We have all the time in the world". Sarah Nelson is a good Shirley Basey for the 90s, Martyn Fry sings "Thunderball" with confidence and fun, and Natascha Atlas makes "From Russia With Love" feel a bit too brief.

So the highlights for me are two: Crissie Hynde adding noise to "Live and let die", and most of all, the most wonderful of the colaborations: Propellerheads retaking "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" in their breakbeat style (and with some Space March in between) and turning John Barry into 90s electronica.

And behind all of them, David Arnold arranging with taste, competence, subtlety when necessary. No wonder he was chosen as the next John Barry.