CD REVIEW - CAPRICA


Caprica
Music by Bear McCreary
La-La Land Records LLLCD 1098 (US)
18 Tracks 54:04 mins


Having produced so much wonderful music for the recently concluded Battlestar Galactica series, it's good to see Bear McCreary getting the opportunity to continue his work on the pilot for a prequel show, entitled Caprica, which is now available on DVD in the States. Caprica concerns the origins of the Cylons, with the Eric Stoltz character seeking to re-create his dead daughter in synthetic form, using a remarkably life-like avatar she had created before her untimely demise. A necessarily talky affair, in which we are also introduced to a very young William Adama, it nevertheless should make for an intriguing series, even if we do know where the story is heading.
The soundtrack to the pilot, which is released by La-La Land Records on June 16th (go to www.lalalandrecords.com for ordering info and samples), finds McCreary in more conventional mode than his Battlestar music, though, just to let you know there is a connection, the taiko drums and ethnic instruments still crop up here and there, particularly in relation to the character of Adama's father and his Tauron origins, and are especially powerful in "Terrorism on the Lev," "Cybernetic Life Form Node" and "Zoe Awakens." We even get a snatch of the familiar Adama's theme at the conclusion of "The Adama Name."
The remainder of the score rather represents the inner turmoil of the main characters following their tragic losses (Adama Sr also lost his wife and daughter in the same atrocity), with much bittersweet and quite elegant writing, predominantly for woodwinds, harp, piano and strings. At its heart is he main theme, first heard in "The Graystone Family," has a sinewy quality that somehow reminds me a little of Jerry Goldsmith's Basic Instinct theme. It is heard particularly effectively in "Grieving;""Zoe's Avatar;" "Amanda Graystone;" "Monotheism at the Athena Academy;"the dark and ominous "Delivering the Message;" and the melancholy "Joseph and Daniel," with its expressive cello solo; whilst the emotions are allowed to flow on the strings of "A Tauron Sacrifice" and the rollercoaster ride that is "Irrecoverable Error."
The "End Credits" commence with variations on the main theme, before urgent strings bring the track to an ominous conclusion.
In the colourful accompanying booklet, can be found notes from director Jeffrey Reiner and the composer, together with performance and production credits.
This is yet another superior work from McCreary, the equal of anything currently being written for both large and small screens, and is well worth adding to your collection. And don't forget to check out his Los Angeles concert on June 13th or, failing that, his appearance at The House of Blues in San Diego during Comic Con in July.