Gangs Of New York OST

Given that it’s an old-fashioned epic of a film, it’s fitting that the soundtrack to Gangs Of New York has such a classic feel. Not for Martin Scorcese and Robbie Robertson a chart friendly compilation of pop music ‘from and inspired by’ the movie, Gangs… is a collection of largely instrumental tracks with an Irish feel that mirrors the themes and feel of the film. A new track from U2 (with added Corrs for extra Irishness) is the main selling point, but to be honest ‘The Hands That Built America’ isn’t much cop, an al-too-earnest throwback to the grim days of ‘Rattle and Hum’ and overshadowed by the vibrant Othar Turner and the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band, which doesn’t happen every day. Indeed, while the mix of archive (many from the Alan Lomax collection) and modern recordings gives an accurate and worthy musical picture of the developing global melting pot of the period, it’s not much fun. Often quite beautiful, yes (especially Maura O’Connell’s dramatic ‘Unconstant Love’), and probably perfectly matched to the visuals, but it doesn’t make this an album to which you’ll necessarily want to return to again and again.