Take a classic fable, shake it up so that an ordinary young boy who thinks he’s just a nobody, stumbles across a mythical sword.  Turn it into a modern day tale of wizards and an a cunning enchantress where the boy becomes a great leader and you have  The Kid Who Would be King, a different take on the Arthurian legend.

The score would perhaps call for the treatment of say John Powell or Alan Silvestri but here we  are in the hands of the Electric Wave Bureau, a London based collaborative artist collective who compose and source music for film, tv and radio. Previous scores include Paddington & Paddington 2.  Whilst there is heavy use of electronic’music in the score it is a real scene setter and fun!
Opening with a vibrant Arthur’s Theme we move to the short but stunning Prologue signposting the coming quest complete with heraldic choir. Said choir reach  full height and herald a pivotal moment in It Has Been Drawn. A simple four note rift introduces a key character in Enter Merlin which is so so catchy it’s a shame it’s so short as a are quite a few of the tracks. The main action, show-down cue Mortes Milles Attack is full steam ahead with a driving bass line and I’m glad to say the catchy rift returns in the triumphant Arthur’s Theme.

As many of the cues are short the whole is not as cohesive as it could be but electronics do not dilute this atmospheric score, it enhances the childlike wonder of the story but you can’t help wondering how magnificent it could have been with a full orchestra. 

***1/2/*****

Label: Milan Music
1. Arthur’s Theme (Album Mix) (3:12)
2. Prologue (2:14)
3. Failure (2:01)
4. It’s a Tough World (1:57)
5. Morgana (1:55)
6. Building Site (1:36)
7. It Has Been Drawn (1:08)
8. Bedders Is Knighted (0:54)
9. Enter Merlin (0:52)
10. Take Me East at Once (0:56)
11. Merlin Appears (0:55)
12. Cease Your Slumber (2:33)
13. Your Quest Is Decided (1:12)
14. The Inscription (2:11)
15. This Is Destiny (1:29)
16. Morgana Observes (1:28)
17. The Quest Begins (0:28)
18. Transport Hub (0:57)
19. 20 Mile Walk (0:52)
20. I’m the King Around Here (1:36)
21. The Sword (2:03)
22. You Knew All Along (1:42)
23. Mere Rumours (1:51)
24. Arcadia (1:48)
25. Journey to the Underworld (2:03)
26. Goodnight Your Highness (1:01)
27. I’m so Sorry (2:03)
28. Who Will Join Us (3:21)
29. It Won’t Be Easy (1:43)
30. Mortes Milles Attack (2:51)
31. Heroes All! (1:07)
32. Arthur’s Theme (3:32)
33. Epilogue (3:25)