Outland - Capricorn One

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

GNP Crescendo is crazy of science fiction scores, we have figured that out by now. And by releasing two Goldsmith scores from the same era together, they have made it their business by giving it the treatment it deserves. Good for the fans of Goldsmith and especially it is all about luck when you get two scores for the price of one. But taste is another and that one isn't so lucky after hearing it for the first time. Outland is the least inspiring score of the two (at least when it concerns the pleasure of listening to it) and Capricorn One has better moments but not enough to really satisfy me. The liner notes help a lot but I was just zombie dead when I heard Outland for several times throughout. Goldsmith may help the effective line of the movie but its nothing that works for musical enjoyment. The two scores were always considered minor developments when both Alien and Star Trek: The Motion Picture were released but still the effective thread is strong, the melodic content however may even risk pure Goldsmith admirers to swallow for a moment. But still, I guess true die hard admirers will see both releases as a good thing, collecting it for instance might be more important than liking it.

Outland offers more furious brass and energized ruckus than the usual form of score. But all is accepted when it perfectly captures the mood and threat of the movie's characters. However liking Outland as the musical listen is something else. The two moments that jump out the most are even not heard during the movie. These are the soft yet dull 'The Message' and the electronic, bouncy 'The Rec Room'. Both are perhaps the most melodic music for enjoyment. Some moments do recall Alien ('The Mine') or Poltergeist ('The Hunted') but mostly the score is nothing but dull, dull in the word of singing with it or enjoying it as the casual listen. It has a brooding mystery on occasions and the score will do the film justice but Goldsmith admirers who weren't really thrilled by Alien will see Outland in general even as a weaker attempt. The final minute of the last track 'Final Message' is probably the best piece of music you can hear, having a positive ending and for once sounding Capricorn One in tone. But is this the trouble and money worthy for not die hard Goldsmith fans? Not one second of my mind. Even I have a lot of scores by Goldsmith but Outland is not one I treasure, hell it didn't even see my CD-player's inside for some time now. So in general its even a score I would assume to skip if you don't know a lot about its interior sound or feel from the movie.

From Capricorn One on, the sound soon becomes to grow in thematic quality, 'Main Title' is a decent favorite among compilation albums but isn't such a memorable theme to begin with, it does have a short hint towards 'Kay's Theme', same as 'Bedtime Story'. Together it is this theme that pleases me the most. Also important to witness is the multiple use of the main theme in variations or more aggressive versions, one of the better to show this is the aggressive 'Break Out'. This at least makes it 5 times better than Outland. The moody horror music also makes place for more normal background music and by unleashing the two themes more then often, this is easier to explain. Finally, a bit more angry use of music in 'The Snake' makes the score eve more diverse in tone. Together it might sound a whole lot better than Outland but still it isn't a score I keep returning at. Capricorn One does have one final moment of good music, again heard during the last minute of the final track 'The Celebration' which I think is more then welcome. Capricorn One is better and Outland isn't really much, so both scores are these solid items for true Goldsmith fans of his era but still melodic fans who keep searching for the good examples will not truly enjoy its overall listening material. The liner notes are ample and most welcome and a list of Goldsmith's composed scores and several photos make it more then worth the attention, if you like it, these gritty non to bombastic and adventurous science fiction scores of Jerry Goldsmith. Otherwise stick with Total Recall instead.

Outland: **
Capricorn One: ***

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Tracks

Single Disc

Outland

1. The Mine (3.53)

2. Early Arrival (4.10)

3. The Message (2.07)

4. The Air Lock (4.42)

5. Hot Water (4.50)

6. The Hunted (5.14)

7. Spiders (2.30)

8. The Rec Room (3.23)

9. The Hostage (4.19)

10. Final Message (3.27)

Total Length: 38.50

Capricorn One

11. Main Title (2.47)

12. Bedtime Story (3.01)

13. Docking (2.55)

14. No Water (2.27)

15. The Message (4.34)

16. Break Out (3.13)

17. Kay's Theme (3.17)

18. The Station (3.31)

19. The Snake (3.38)

20. The Long Climb (3.53)

21. The Letter (2.53)

22. The Celebration (3.04)

Total Length: 39.31

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Jerry Goldsmith ===