BLADE RUNNER
Rating: 
Original Review: Blade Runner is perhaps the earliest incarnation of the 'talking over the music' phenomenon that is currently sweeping soundtrackland but, strangely, it doesn't seem to grate as much on Vangelis' score as it does with others. Maybe its because Blade Runner is such a peculiar score anyway - almost completely synthesised (as are most of Vangelis') and at times rather dissonant, but occasionally superbly melodic and beautiful. After Harrison Ford's moody voice-over, the Main Titles begin - a set of unearthly synthesised chords which seem to invoke feelings of coldness and distance, but without ever sounding horrible. I really like the film's 'Love Theme', a light and attractive melody with a prominent saxophone melody which, despite reminding me of a bubblebath commercial, is a high point of the album. 'Tales of the Future', which features the vocal work of Vangelis' friend and fellow Greek Demis Roussos sounds as though it would be more at home in an ethnic drama than a sci-fi, but it somehow works quite well - it sounds very exotic and unusual and Roussos' vocals add a touch of the bizarre to the proceedings. The End Credits theme is a rapid action cue with synthesised sound effects whizzing in the background along with a pounding timpani, and is by far the best cue on the album. I'm not quite sure how this score managed to attain the cult following it has done, but any album which pairs Demis Roussos with Mary Hopkin can't be all bad.
Track Listing:
- Main Titles (3:42)
- Blush Response (5:47)
- Wait For Me (5:27)
- Rachel's Song (performed by Mary Hopkin) (4:46)
- Love Theme (4:56)
- One More Kiss, Dear (written by Peter Skellern, performed by Don Percival) (3:58)
- Blade Runner Blues (8:53)
- Memories of Green (5:05)
- Tales of the Future (performed by Demis Roussos) (4:46)
- Damask Rose (2:32)
- Blade Runner (End Titles) (4:40)
- Tears in Rain (3:00)
Running Time: 57 minutes 32 seconds
EastWest Records (1994/1982)
Music composed and performed by Vangelis. Recorded and mixed by Raine Shine, Frederick Rousseau and Philippe Colonna. Album produced by Vangelis.
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These web pages were designed and maintained by Jonathan Broxton copyright 1997. All opinions and views expressed on these pages are my own and are in no way intended to reflect those of my employer, the Trent Institute for Health Services Research, or those of the University of Sheffield.