Skyfall. Thomas Newman

When thes latest assignment of James Bond (Daniel Craig) goes gravely wrong and agents around the world are exposed, MI6 is attacked, forcing M (Judy Dench) to relocate the agency. These events cause her authority and position to be challenged by Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes), the new Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee. With MI6 now compromised from both inside and out, M is left with one ally she can trust: Bond. 007 takes to the shadows, aided only by field agent, Miss Eve Moneypenny (Naomie Harris), following a trail to Silva (Javier Bardem), a mysterious enemy, whose lethal and hidden motives have yet to reveal themselves.

Thomas Newman has never written an all-out action score before, but this is the first time that the primary thrust of a Newman score has been action – and, it must be said, he’s pretty good at it. His music has a very rich orchestral and instrumental palette and relies very few on synthesized and electronic enhancements. The opening theme “Grand Bazaar Istanbul” is tremendously exciting, often incorporating syncopated percussion rhythms, electric guitar chords, flashing string writing and thrilling trumpet blasts within a large and powerful orchestra.