Saturn 3

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

If you may ever encounter weird movies, then Saturn 3 might be one of those '80 flicks you completely resent or basically will overwhelm you positively with its unique science fiction look. And Elmer Bernstein worked on that part too with creating one of his most ambitious innovating scores of his career. Sadly most of the music Bernstein wrote was tossed out of the final edit of the movie and only 26 years later does it present itself on CD for the very first time. What we hear now is one of Bernstein's most daring scores and considering it was tossed out of the final reel anyway, we stumble upon music we heard before in more rewarding efforts. It all starts with 'Space Murder' and its a 9 minute representation of what we will encounter in the music to come. Opening with a full brass assault mimicking 2001's North odyssey, without hesitation it leaps forward into a strange pop beat effect that would color the disco period of that time, yet it leaps further from then on to more brief orchestral carnage, somber moody suspense and the musical material we heard in the latter effort Heavy Metal namely the love theme of that score, here it represents Farah Fawcett's interest in the movie. In a way its better heard in the conditions Bernstein used it for Heavy Metal yet at the other hand, its the blossoming music that counter attacks the carnage of the rest of the entire score. With 'Meet Hector' guitar and flute dance around a darker setting while the strange sound design Elmer wrote for the movie just comes through daringly fresh. For 'The Brain' the flute returns yet Bernstein has another surprise waiting for you, I can only describe it as an orchestra warming up with the strings and here above anything else it truly works in creating an ethereal mood. The disco is back in 'Blue Dreamers' while Silvestri's beat straight out of CHiPs continues to guide the remainder of the track.

With 'Peeping Toms' we reach what is essentially the score's most daring and perhaps biggest innovating piece of all. Its a sinister piece where strings and flute mesh together but low chanting choir or breathing is putting the S in sinister, apart from the brassy frenetics around the 4th minute in pompous effect. More darkness unravels within the further tracks, with 'Training Hector' being a noteworthy one, with ominous choir, unnerving brass and atonal piano it all sounds so effective together, here you spot the hand of a master who knew what he was doing. Occasionally the effects sound dated like in 12, but Bernstein usually used his techniques to the finest degree, like 'The Run' which begins ala Ghostbusters and returns to more suspense build up. For 'A Head for Hector' its nothing but eeriness and wonder in detail that lingers behind, like the light vocal effects in begin and Superman effects due to the strings and part theme. A brief faint love version is spotted in 'Alex Alone' while 'The Big Dive' comes down as the best track in power alone, with a solo vocal, thundering brass and fanfares straight out of Ghostbusters bringing a darn impressive finale to its heights. With 'End Credits' the main musical material returns, such as the 2001 like influence and the love theme by solo vocal. What Elmer Bernstein wrote for Saturn 3 and what was most not featured in the film is not his best but surely one of his guilty pleasures because he goes overboard in certain kind of areas, but with surprising effect. It works and while it was never or almost wasn't heard in the film, its still a difficult but rewarding affair. In a time of playing it safe and few renewal, the old regenerate the youth with an amazing modern and complex sound design, ready to be loathed to those who want it simple, and ready to be liked by those who want music to be daring and cunning. Saturn 3 becomes the score no want expected, no one heard of yet, no one expected Elmer Bernstein ever to compose.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Space Murder (9.20)

2. The Lab (2.05)

3. Meet Hector (4.44)

4. The Brain (2.08)

5. Blue Dreamers (2.42)

6. Hector Mimics Benson (1.25)

7. Peeping Toms (7.15)

8. Adam's Target (2.00)

9. Benson Is Off (2.16)

10. Training Hector (3.13)

11. Adam Rescues Alex (2.39)

12. Hector Loses It (6.52)

13. The Run (1.48)

14. A Head For Hector (3.31)

15. Alex Alone (2.06)

16. The Big Dive (4.37)

17. End Credits (3.22)

Total Length: 62.48

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: Elmer Bernstein ===