t one time or another, every science-fiction fan has probably been asked to create a list of his or her favorite films and TV shows. With the wealth of wonderful productions that have been crafted over the years, it's definitely a difficult task, and gathering together a comparable compilation of beloved movie and television themes is just as problematic. That was the mission faced by the producers of The Science Fiction Album—Volume 1, who've done an adequate job assembling works not only from well-known contemporary SF titles, but also a few classic gems and some flicks that, at best, could only be considered "guilty pleasures."
Following the obligatory "Also Sprach Zarathustra" from 2001: A Space Odyssey, the first of the package's two CDs opens with an assortment of motifs from the Star Wars saga. In addition to the usual compositions culled from the original trilogy, such as the familiar "Main Title" and "The Imperial March," four The Phantom Menace cuts are also showcased, including "The Flag Parade," "Anakin's Theme" and "The Adventures of Jar Jar." Selections from Apollo 13, Capricorn One, The Right Stuff, Battlestar Galactica, Alien and Independence Day, plus a couple of synthesized sound-effect tracks, complete the disc's lineup.
"Prelude/Ripley's Rescue" from Aliens launches the second half of the collection, which concentrates largely on older and more obscure works. Themes from the original The Thing From Another World, War of the Worlds and When Worlds Collide are among the highlights on this platter, along with cues from Mars Attacks!, Back to the Future, The Black Hole, A.I., Lifeforce, Predator, Starship Troopers, E.T. and the big-screen remake of Lost in Space. Suites devoted to Armageddon and Close Encounters of the Third Kind are featured, too, together with two more sound-effect tracks.
Novel tunes for the novice collector
The Science Fiction Album—Volume 1 is obviously the initial installment of a potentially wide-ranging anthology emphasizing distinguished SF soundtracks. In fact, a four-disc set, simply called The Science Fiction Album, has already been released in Europe, incorporating not only the melodies contained here, but also numbers from Things to Come, The Matrix and sundry Star Trek adventures, among others. While admittedly forgoing quite a few key titles, the 30 cuts presented on this collection—all re-creations of original works, performed by The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra—are, by and large, stirring
and satisfying.
The suite focusing upon the "Main Theme" of Battlestar Galactica is perhaps the most sublime piece. The varied instrumentation, alternating between grand horns, poignant woodwinds and sinister strings, perfectly balances the show's exciting moments and emotional interludes. Other exceptional tracks include the "Main Title" from Apollo 13, which captures the ambiance of the real-life drama through a subdued yet striking trumpet motif, and "Where Dreams Are Born," the soft selection from A.I., powered by a haunting, wordless solo from singer Charlotte Kinder.
A few cues are comparatively anemic, especially "Duel of the Fates," which seems a bit gaunt when measured against the version heard on The Phantom Menace soundtrack CD. The liner notes are adorned with scenes from vintage movies like Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, This Island Earth and—on a special insert card—an attention-grabbing, lenticular
poster-art image from The Man From Planet X, even though no tunes from these low-budget 1950s flicks are contained within the collection. Despite such weaknesses, The Science Fiction Album—Volume 1 is a decent, if not necessarily all-embracing, assemblage that's ideal for either the novice fan or individuals simply seeking a relatively broad-ranging SF-music compilation.
