Review of Jake's Progress
Q, 1996-03-01

"This is a rematch for the team which, with GBH, won a BAFTA ( British
Academy for Film and Television Arts?) in 1992 for the Best Original
Television Music - an Alan Bleasdale drama, with music co written by
Costello and film and TV composer Harvey. If Costello's work has to be
divided between "classical" and "pop" then this falls on the classical
side, consisting of a series of short orchestral pieces. Since the music
accompanies a whole host of different scenes it's no surprise that the tone
varies. Still the dominant mood veers between melanchony and wistfulness and
includes a handful of simple seductive melodies. Briefly, for one track,
Grave Dance, Costello calls upon Attractions drummer Pete Thomas and straps
an electric guitar on himself. It's as if Jimi Hendrix has lept into the
orchestra pit, but normal service quickly resumes.
3* out of 5