nlike many science fiction TV series, Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final
Conflict doesn't focus solely on dramatic journeys through time or space.
Instead, much of the action takes place here on Earth, with the show
centering upon the Taelons--an advanced alien race with dubious
intentions--and their impact on human society. The program's emotional
soundtrack reflects that largely terrestrial perspective, injecting
electronic and orchestral arrangements into works that intermingle various
musical styles and techniques.
Composed, arranged and produced by Micky Erbe and Maribeth Solomon, the 25
cuts on this CD offer a union of classic and contemporary themes. The brief
"Main Title" launches the disc with a lovely yet slightly foreboding melody
that combines a soft chant, hushed synthesizers and a Chinese stringed
instrument called an erhu. That same wordless voice also appears in other
tunes, including the ethereal "Defector," which showcases a sequence of
shimmering artificial tones, and the mysterious "Atavus." "Moonscape"
incorporates deep percussive sounds to emphasize an immense but desolate
vista, with "The Gauntlet" utilizing similar though somewhat more somber
beats to convey a rather mournful air.
Quiet keyboards generate an enchanting atmosphere on "Lilli," while
plucked notes and a sorrowful violin give "Payback" a flustered, melancholy
feel. The album concludes with "Volunteers/End Credits," an angelic
composition which integrates many of the motifs and instrumental elements
heard earlier on the collection. A foldout booklet supplements the disc and
contains a brief introduction from Earth: Final Conflict executive
producer and star Majel Barrett Roddenberry, along with a succinct but
informative overview of the music.
Foreign yet familiar
Although Earth: Final Conflict has a regular cast of characters,
Roddenberry notes in her commentary that "the scope of the series is
such that one episode might take place in an industrialized American city,
while the following week's adventure concentrates on a rural European
village." The show's scale is therefore global, requiring the
accompanying melodies to reflect various foreign
cultures. It's a colossal challenge, but one which, for the most part, Erbe
and Solomon successfully meet.
"The Secret of Strandhill/Redemption" is a exquisite example of that world
music fusion. Celtic sounds permeate the work--taken from a story line that
unfolds in Ireland--with pipes, a whistle and a country fiddle complementing
strange, synthesized intonations and ghostly vocals similar to those first
heard on the "Main Title." An equally enchanting effect is achieved on "Float
Like a Butterfly," a concise cue that echoes the rural simplicity of an Amish
community. However, not every number is steeped in ethnic orchestration.
"Sleepers" is a mellow, almost new-age track that incorporates soft waves of
synthesized sound, and "Truth" presents rich electronic keyboard components
that, through their leisurely presentation, are quite soothing.
A number of notable motifs are introduced on the album, but, possibly due
to the musical demands necessitated by the constant changes in the episodes' locations, in most cases these themes aren't significantly
developed beyond their initial incarnations. Additionally, a few selections,
such as the rambling "Second Chances," seem rather slipshod. Nevertheless, on
the whole, the soundtrack to Earth: Final Conflict is pleasing and
enjoyable.
