Peter Gunn (Live in Tokyo, 1986)

Album review

Art of Noise's brilliant new wave pop re-working of Henry Mancini's Peter Gunn theme became a surprise smash in the British pop charts in 1986, scoring a berth in the top 10 that is exceedingly rare for an instrumental song. Of course, they had fine material to work from. Mancini's tune, with it's memorable opening bass riff and it's powerfully bursting brass melody, has long ranked among the best theme songs in television history. Art of Noise brought it into the '80s by adding a driving drum backing, electric guitar, spacey synth bridges and quirky sampled and synthesized noises. The tune is immaculately timed, building from the rich guitar opening, provided by the remarkable Duane Eddy, to a blustery brass climax and starting again. This 12" single also includes an extended version of "Peter Gunn," which, you may be surprised to learn, does not get old after six minutes. There is also an unremarkable instrumental track called "Something Always Happens" that mixes '70s vibraphones, strings, synthesizers and samples of almost inaudibly mumbled phrases that include the words Art of Noise. For those who dig the title track but don't have much patience for experimental sound collage, the single may be sufficient. Those who already own In Visible Silence or The Best of the Art of Noise will probably want to pass on the single.

© Evan Cater /TiVo