Words & Music

"Nosferatu the Vampire", as the title suggests, is based on the Dracula legend and stars Peter Karrie and Claire Moore (as Nosferatu and Mina) along with Mark Wynter, Barry James, Mario Frangoulis and Annalene Beechey in the supporting roles, and is a retelling of Bram Stoker's classic vampire story. A strange choice you might think after his "Pride and Prejudice", and as befitting the subject Mr Taylor has written a sombre, dark, brooding but nontheless rhythmic score but has also managed to give it a modern feel throughout, which I am pleasantly pleased to report goes extremely well with the subject matter. One of his trademarks is fine ballads and once again he does not disappoint, with what I consider are three outstanding examples, "Wherever You Are", "Am I Awake" and "Unspoken Thoughts". But it's not just the ballads that are worthy of mention here, there are lots of other good things to be savoured throughout this excellent recording. Just to mention some of the other highlights I enjoyed - "Ship of the Dead", "A Lot to Fear" and "And Sheep Shall Not Safely Graze", the latter put over in the most marvellous way by Barry James as "poor mad Renfield". I consider this to be Bernard Taylor's most ambitious and (to me) highly satisfying work to date and can only commend him for it. I liked this a lot, and recommend it unreservedly!