With his label counting the accomplished Invisible Soundtracks series amongst its back catalog, Tony Morley's Leaf imprint is more qualified than most to mine the increasingly diverse vein of film scores without visuals. The original Slim Westerns, released in 1994 on the Soleilmoon label, followed imaginary outlaw Gerry Melody through the badlands of the wild frontier, with this 52-minute sequel catching up on the accidental hero as he continues to drift through Andrew Hulmes' sonic landscape. From the tumbleweeds which plague the introductory "Cropduster" through the closing campfire warmth of "Night," the music tips its hat to everyone from
Barry Adamson to
Morricone, with Hulmes keeping Mark Sedgwick and Tom Fazzini's delicate guitar work in check through subtle twists of the desk, maintaining a solicitous edge that never feels too far from the trigger of its Winchester. ~ Kingsley Marshall