Soundtracks: November

Hellbound Hellraiser II (Christopher Young,1988)

The Last Starfighter (Craig Safan,1984)

The Boy Who Could Fly (Bruce Broughton, 1986)

Dracula (James Bernard, 1958)

City Slickers (Marc Shaiman, 1994) ///

Hellbound Hellraiser II (1988) Christopher Young / Massive musical barrage, an alternately glorious and devilish assault on the senses created and played with epic style. Immersive density of orchestration is well suited to some unnerving sounds and often quite beautiful tracks.

The Last Starfighter (1984) Craig Safan / Packed with sweeping themes, lilting fanfares and explosive action. Well served highlights on initial release, later Intrada edition fleshed out complete score, including sublime final track (though misses two very 80s songs!).

The Boy Who Could Fly (1986) Bruce Broughton / Joyous, lyrical score that is poignantly delicate and grandly soaring, moving and exhilarating. Original album was a London re-recording, 20 years later  soundtrack release revealed expanse of ideas. Gorgeous and essential.

Dracula (1958) James Bernard / Moody and darkly majestic, dense, frenzied musical clusters that gnaw away and develop an increasing sense of unease, before a cathartic resolution in The Final Battle. 2019 Prague re-recording includes  gorgeous Rhapsody For Lucy coda.

City Slickers (1994) Marc Shaiman / Equal parts romantic Americana, full bodied pastiche and rousing Western action, all marvelously entertaining. Album includes diverse highlights from thematic heart, if not full narrative development. Malleable love theme also becomes decent song.