[Thor Joachim Haga]

I have a troublesome history with James Bond. I never grew up with him/it. I vaguely remember seeing a scene with Bond in some shark tank(?) while visiting my grandmother and uncle in the 80s, don’t even remember what film that was. Then I remember taping ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE off of the telly in the early 90s. But my Bond exposure didn’t really start until GOLDENEYE, which I saw in the theatre. So never had that nostalgic connection that many do. I did, however, have a massive walkthrough of all the Bond films in the late 2000s, as a discerning adult viewer (few made an impact).

Plus, I’ve always had issues with Barry’s staccato action and suspense sound. Goes on my nerves. So while I’ve come a way in my Barry appreciation since the 90s (especially the lusher themes and the loungey stuff), the Bond stuff remains a bridge too far.

But I’m willing to give the remastered original soundtrack presentation(s) a chance (for all these Bond reissues/expansions), just because I’m a cat.