ven the most casual music fan would likely agree that a well-written, professionally performed tune can be spiritually uplifting. However, crafting a work of such intensity is extremely difficult, which is in part why so few recordings contain truly exciting songs. Only a handful of albums have ever had the audacity to attempt to lift listeners up as high—or as far—as To Touch the Stars. Designed specifically to promote continued cosmic research, this admirable assemblage of compositions, presented in cooperation with the Mars Society (www.marssociety.org) and the National Space Society (NSS) (www.nss.org), offers, as the disc's caption elegantly exclaims, "a musical celebration of space exploration."
The CD provides a delicious mix of serious sentiments, tender reflection and droll observations. Christine Lavin's "If We Had No Moon" is at once educational and inspirational, describing what Earth would be like if our lone natural satellite didn't exist, just as "Fire in the Sky," composed by Jordin Kare and played by Kristoph Klover, fuses a summary of the space race with a solemn Challenger eulogy. Five other numbers are authored by filk (science-fiction folk) legend Leslie Fish, including a fun ode to Sputnik titled "Surprise!" and "Queen Isabella," a witty track examining the current need for a benevolent astronautic benefactor.
The winners of two separate songwriting competitions are also showcased. "Now's the Time to Touch a Star," penned by Michael Penkava and sung by Karl Franzen, garnered first place in the NSS-sponsored Apollo Awards, with "The Pioneers of Mars," from Karen Linsley and the late Lloyd Landa, capturing top honors in the Mars Society's Rouget de Lisle contest. The booklet accompanying the collection furnishes lyrics to all 17 cuts, along with comments from Mars Society founder Robert Zubrin and NSS executives Brian Chase and Jay Wittner.
Motivational melodies aim to inspire
An Associated Press poll conducted just prior to President Bush's recent space initiative address disclosed that, while a majority of Americans profess to support the exploration of the heavens, those same individuals, when pressed by researchers, revealed a desire to use the money
earmarked for such study to instead solve troubling terrestrial issues. That's a disturbing discovery, and although a single recording isn't likely to alter the situation, if any one album could make a difference it would be To Touch the Stars. Despite the fact that, more often than not, the singers lack the talent necessary to fully convey the lofty emotions expressed within the lyrics, taken as a whole the compilation is moving and motivating.
"The Challenge," by Linsley and Landa, is a touching piece, wonderfully encapsulating both the rewards and risks inherent in outer space travel. Linsley's voice is practiced and poignant, especially when insisting "it's time to leave the cradle, to view the great unknown, to proudly stride the cosmos on our own." "Hope Eyrie," composed by Fish and sung by Julia Ecklar, is similarly stirring, as is the upbeat "I Want to Go to Mars," a rollicking rock 'n' roll rave-up courtesy of The Birdwatchers. Stan Clardy's "Big Blue Sky" impeccably elucidates the imaginings of earthbound space enthusiasts, even as Cynthia McQuillin's rousing "Star Fire" libretto overcomes Ecklar's curiously feeble vocal performance, forging an affecting tribute to the Apollo astronauts.
There are a couple of songs that regrettably can't be salvaged, most notably "Beyond the Sky," a Judy Collins-penned work irreparably tarnished by Margaret Davis' earnest yet imperfect voice. Still, the collection remains worthy, delivering a flawed but inspiring soundtrack for every individual who, through either a love of science fiction or direct scientific study, ever hoped To Touch the Stars.
