Conducted by Nic Raine, Paul Bateman, and Nicholas Dodd

Produced by James Fitzpatrick

Release Date: May 7, 2002

           Silva Screen Records

     Yet another Silva Screen compilation, with this one containing music from classic (and some not so classic) science fiction films hitting the highlights between 1953 (The Thing from Another World / When Worlds Collide) and 1999. While it is a science fiction album, it is a little odd that selections from The Right Stuff and Apollo 13. Nevertheless, given that this is the first volume of what will ostensibly an ongoing series, it will be interesting to see just what material is incorporated on subsequence albums.

     The Good - There are plenty of great selections on this 2 disc set. All the stalwarts are here (Star Wars, Back to the Future, Independence Day), and some of the more obscure material is great too (such as Henry Mancini's Lifeforce, a tune I constantly find myself humming). The suite of music from Battlestar Galactica and Close Encounters of the Third Kind is really nice also.

     The Bad - The sound effects are nothing more than simple gimmicks which add nothing of value to the album. Some of them start out so low in volume you can't tell what's going on unless you have the track listing right in front of you. Others immediately go to full volume as soon as they crop up, causing a jarring reaction as you immediately hit the volume control. Also, there is hardly any new material for those who have collected similarly themed compilations in the past. Given that, it may not be worth it for those who have already purchased albums which contain the same recordings.

     The Ugly - My biggest gripe about this album has  to do with the treatment of the Star Wars material. While I've usually been lax on getting up in arms over tempo changes in concert versions and re-recordings, the Star Wars main title on this album is so slow and half-hearted that it's almost un-listenable. What makes this problem even odder is that the Back to the Future track on the second disc is actually played at a faster tempo than is usually found on compilations like this. It is by far the worst rendition of the main title I have ever heard. It's such a shame too because Duel of the Fates sounds pretty good here (and it's not the easiest piece to pull off). The Star Wars moments take up at half of the first disc, and I have to say I'm just getting really tired of the same old pieces. I wish someone would come up with some new way to present the material...like maybe a suite for each film or something.

     A nice compilation marred only by the disappointing Star Wars main title track. Otherwise, if most of this material is new to you, then you can do a lot worse as far as compilations go.

Disc 1

1 - 2001: A Space Odyssey - Also Spach Zarathustra (1:48)
2 - Star Wars - Main Title (5:23)
3 - The Empire Strikes Back - Han Solo And The Princess (4:08)
4 - The Empire Strikes Back - The Imperial March (3:09)
5 - Return Of The Jedi - Forest Battle (3:52)
6 - The Phantom Menace - The Flag Parade (3:18)
7 - The Phantom Menace - Anakin's Theme (2:51)
8 - The Phantom Menace - The Adventures Of Jar Jar (3:25)
9 - The Phantom Menace - Duel Of The Fates (4:10)
10 - Sound Effect - Apollo 13 Life Off (0:52)
11 - Apollo 13 - Main Title (2:59)
12 - Capricorn One - Overture (3:19)
13 - The Right Stuff - Main Themes  (4:43)
14 - Battlestar Galactica - Main Themes (4:57)
15 - Sound Effect - The Nostromo (1:00)
16 - Alien - End Title (3:50)
17 - Independence Day - End Title Suite (9:01)

Disc 2

1 - Aliens - Prelude/Ripley's Rescue (4:50)

2 - Mars Attacks - Introduction & Main Title (4:02)

3 - The Thing From Another World - Main Theme (2:03)

4 - War Of The Worlds - Main Title/Martian Man Dies (4:13)

5 - When Worlds Collide - Main Title/The New World (4:18)

6 - Armageddon - Suite (5:08)

7 - Sound Effect - Crash Landing (0:47)

8 - Lost In Space - End Title (3:26)

9 - Back To The Future - Main Title (3:25)

10 - The Black Hole - Overture (4:55)

11 - AI - Where Dreams Are Born (4:00)

12 - Lifeforce - Main Theme (4:04)

13 - Predator - Main Titles (4:07)

14 - Sound Effect - Dogfight (1:00)

15 - Starship Troopers -  Klendathu Drop (5:03)

16 - E.T. - The Flying Theme (3:32)

17 - Close Encounters Of The Third Kind - Suite (8:16)