CD REVIEW - TORCHWOOD


Torchwood
Music by Ben Foster and Murray Gold
Silva Screen SILCD1267 (UK)
32 Tracks 78:15 mins

Fans of Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood finally get their wish with this fine release of highlights from Ben Foster and Murray Gold's scores for both the first and second series, available from 22nd September.
Of course, Silva Screen have already released two great albums of music from Doctor Who, where Gold composed and Foster orchestrated and conducted. For Torchwood, Foster was given joint composing duties and came up with a score with a slightly more contemporary edge, mixing electronics with orchestra, but just as enjoyable.
This generous disc gets under way with some weird electronics in "Everything Changes," before mournful orchestra takes over. This is followed by the energetic "The Chase," which includes a variant of the series' main theme, as it races to its ever exciting close. "Ghosts" features suitably eerie strings, a mood that continues in "Sleepers, Awake!," which ends with percussive manace. The bittersweet "Toshiko & Tommy," for the doomed romance between the Torchwood brains and a soldier out of time, follows. "Into The Hub" is largely and suitably awe-filled, with almost a fairytale quality. More action follows in the determined "The Mission."
Annalise Whittlesea provides a haunting vocal for the fabulous "Gray's Theme," which is followed by another fine melody for "Jack's Love Theme," featuring piano and strings. "Another Day, Another Death" is of a more contemporary nature, trudging resignedly along its way. More contemporary sounds follow in the pruposeful mover "Look Right Then Leave." Orchestral wonder, with some gorgeous string playing, accompanies "Welcome To Planet Earth;" whilst "The Plot" is much darker, moving along quite grimly, before opening out into more exciting action.
"Out of Time" is an almost rhapsodic love theme for piano and strings, with "The Death of Dr Owen Harper" suitably tragic. We're back to more eerie music at the start of "King of the Weevils," before the cue errupts into percussive action, turning more electronic and attmospheric as it continues. "Owen Fights Death" is another memorable, contemporary sounding action cue, whilst "The Woman on the roof" is delicate and sad.
The theme first heard in action guise in "Owen Fights Death" is given a nice piano and guitars-lead pop rendition in "Owen's Theme," becoming ever more powerful as it continues. This is followed by "Pearl & the Ghostmaker," with its carnival-like echoes. "Flat Holm Island" is an emotional piece for strings, featuring expressive cello solos; the mood continuing in "A Boy Called Jonah," with a darker interlude along the way. "Toshiko Sato - Betrayal & Redemption" offers a sad refrain for bassoon, interrupted by a full-blown action interlude.
The somewhat unlikely, but real, pairing of "Gwen & Rhys" is given a tender love theme; followed by the fateful "Jack Joins Torchwood," which leads into "Captain Jack's Theme," basically the aforementioned action variant on the Torchwood theme. "I Believe in Him" is almost religious in feel, with "Memories of Gray" continuing the mood somewhat, with a reprise of "Gray's Theme." The emotion keeps right on going in the heartbreaking "Goodbyes" and "Death of Toshiko," where we say our goodbyes to two much-loved characters; with "The End is Where We Start From Here" finding Jack and his remaining colleagues picking up the pieces and resolving to go on with their vitally important work. An extended versionof the high octane "Torchwood Theme" brings the album to a satisfying close.
Accompanying the disc is an eight-page booklet, featuring portraits of the cast, music credits, and a note on the music from Torchwood Executive Producer Julie Gardner.
The music for both Doctor Who and Torchwood is among the best contemporary TV scoring anywhere on the planet, and can be appreciated even if you are not as yet a convert to the shows. I am certainly very grateful to Silva Screen for this release and, along with the Doctor Who albums, cannot recommend it highly enough. Order your copy from www.silvascreen.co.uk.