Mark Kermode's Surround Sound (2025) By Mark Kermode

Mark Kermode is one of the most recognisable names in film criticism and academia, and has been in or around the industry for decades. As such, he has built up a vast wealth of knowledge on various aspects of it, with one of them being film soundtracks - one of his biggest industry passions. It was this mix of knowledge and passion that I hoped to find in his latest book, which promised a wide array of information on the sound of cinema.

Immediately, I found that Kermode's personal yet still fairly formal way of writing suited me a lot. It felt like reading the script to an extremely engrossing documentary series. The book was co-written by Jenny Nelson, whose own influence can be felt throughout the book too - indeed, she helped bring a sense of order to the potentially chaotic array of knowledge put forth by Kermode.

I found the various chapters incredibly interesting, particularly because they did not just talk about the 'big hitters' of film composition and soundtracks, but evidently went to great lengths to feature some of the lesser known or championed musicians and filmmakers who have influenced the world of film music in the last century or so. I was especially pleased to note the abundance of female musicians that Kermode and Nelson talked about, particularly because of how difficult it has been for many of them to establish themselves in a historically sexist industry.

The 'Soundtrack Selection' portions of the book were also of great interest to me, because they focused in on some of cinema's best soundtracks, including a couple of my all-time favourites, from 'Blade Runner' to 'Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me'. It was refreshing and fascinating to learn about Kermode's own history with music; his love affair with soundtracks, his fairly humble beginnings around the industry, and the undoubted passion he has for the music of cinema, as well as cinema itself.

The amount of firsthand sources used in the book could be felt in abundance throughout the book. Kermode has admitted himself that it took him over ten years to write the book, and in that time, he was evidently able to accrue a wide array of information from many of the musicians and filmmakers who influenced and shaped the industry, as well as some of the more intriguing anecdotes behind some of the greatest soundtracks ever. It was all incredibly engaging.

The truth is, I could sit here and rave about this book all day if I wanted to - I enjoyed it immensely. Kermode and Nelson came together to create a phenomenal account of film music, its history, its construction, and its wider influences. Kermode has long been a source of inspiration and motivation to a cinephile like myself, and being able to read in-depth about his love and passion for the industry that he has been around for so long was truly wonderful. The book is ideal for film fans and music fans alike. Informative, refreshing, and altogether brilliant - this is a superb read from start to finish.