n the course of television history, few individuals have been given the opportunity to shape the overall sound of a science-fiction series as fully as Babylon 5 composer Christopher Franke. Over 110 episodes and a handful of made-for-TV movies, he skillfully defined and refined the show's music, crafting melodies that authentically augmented the epic arc of the adventure. The Best of Babylon 5 highlights some of his finest melodic moments, showcasing a range of motifs and "main title" themes, along with a rare track that was never released, from a video game based on the program.
Although most "best of" packages tend to be rather broad-based, this collection focuses on only a few key installments of J. Michael Straczynski's grand SF saga. The episodes "The Geometry of Shadows," "Severed Dreams" and "Shadow Dancing" are represented by three cuts apiece, just as "A Late Delivery From Avalon," "Z'Ha'Dum" and "Walkabout"—all from the program's third season—are each exemplified by a single cue. The CD also features a solitary number from "Sleeping in Light", the show's final chapter.
Works from specific episodes aren't necessarily grouped together, but the tunes are creatively sequenced, fading into one another and forming short yet satisfying suites. Narration-free incarnations of the opening music from the show's second through fifth years appear as independent selections, with a separate six-minute "Bonus Theme," originally written for the canceled Sierra On-Line Babylon 5 game, concluding the collection. The disc's simple trifold cover is adorned with thumbnail photos of the series' main characters plus pictures of previously issued B5 soundtrack albums.
B5's best not always brightest
With 30 different CDs presently available spotlighting melodies from Babylon 5 and its sundry spinoffs, it's probably fair to surmise that anyone who wants to re-experience the show's music already owns at least one—if not many more—recordings. For these individuals, The Best of Babylon 5 essentially offers nothing new. However, rabid collectors craving every note associated with the series, or folks who're simply looking for a straightforward compilation of the program's major motifs, should be reasonably satisfied with this disc.
By amassing an array of works from numerous episodes onto a single album, The Best of Babylon 5 allows listeners to effortlessly ascertain Franke's emotional and compositional range. The strange artificial voices, taut percussion and expansive electronics of the interconnected "Begin to Attack the Shadows," "Emergency Treatment" and "The Geometry of Shadows II" cuts—respectively taken from "Walkabout," "Shadow Dancing" and "The Geometry of Shadows"—display a wonderfully tense yet alluring atmosphere. At the same time, the easygoing New Age air of "The Geometry of Shadows
III" nicely recalls the composer's formative years as a member of the space-rock band Tangerine Dream, while the heartrending "Dying Station," which subtly echoes Samuel Barber's famous "Adagio for Strings," fashions a truly affecting ambiance.
The video game "Bonus Theme" is a wide-ranging composition with martial overtones that expertly exploits the show's familiar leitmotifs. Although an enjoyable interlude, it predictably adds little to the overall B5 repertoire. Selections from a greater assortment of episodes would also have more abundantly exhibited Franke's extraordinary talents. Nevertheless, The Best of Babylon 5 supplies a decent though clearly incomplete sampling of the program's most eloquent cues.
