So I was recently browsing through the soundtracks section at my local FYE, where I stumbled upon Christoper Frank's score for, "Babylon 5: The Lost Tales."  Out of mere curiosity, I scanned the disc to hear some sample tracks.  While I was listening to it, I noticed that the music did not sound purely electronic, as is the case with Franke's previous 'Babylon 5' entries.  I quickly scanned the back of the case and I was indeed right; this score was recorded with the Berlin Film Orchestra.  Needless to say, being a fan of orchestral work AND science fiction,  I couldn't resist purchasing it.

 

"Babylon 5" turned out to be a love it or hate it type of series when it aired during the 90s.  While some viewers loved the direction of Straczynski's story lines, others claimed it was a poor man's Star Trek.  Beyond that, most of the people I spoke with during that time frame pretty much knew about it only for the show's CGI effects, which really was a break-through during the time the show had its run.  For me, I attempted to get into the series in mid-flight, which was a mistake.  It really seemed to be the type of series that required viewing from the first episode on to really appreciate it.  Thus, I wrote it off and never became a fan of it.

 

The music for the series featured the work of Christopher Franke, who returns to supply the music for the DVD release, "The Lost Tales."  Known for his electronic music which accounted for the soundtracks in the series, Franke returns to the saga with the help of the aforementioned orchestra.  Purists, if there are any viewers or listeners who are diehards about this sort of stuff, shouldn't worry -- the sound of "Babylon 5" is fully intact with this new release.

 

The album begins with two brief yet above average tracks.  The intro provides an attention-grabbing opening with its melodic, anthem like music while the Opening Titles brings us through, presumably, the opening credits in good shape.  The intro, specifically, serves as the main theme for the soundtrack and is written in a way that makes you think farewells are in order.  I rather enjoyed the melodic nature of it as it is sure to strike a bit of sentimentality with fans of the series. 

 

After the short-lived but effective opening, the score settles into its own pace.  Perhaps the best description I could offer is that the music takes the listener on a zen-like, astral journey.  It felt as though it had some New Age elements to it, which is not surprising given the themes of the 'Babylon 5' story.  There are brief touches where the themes from the opening tracks touch the score, but for the most part, Franke settles on providing an interesting underscore that combines electronic effects with the music.  Further to that point, while there is a noted inclusion of orchestral instruments, Franke never strays far away from the world he had created.  If anything, his electronic sound is at the forefront while the orchestra provides supporting measures.  This is not a negative, by any means, as this is what should be expected from the score due to the music that was established during the series' run.

 

The recommendation of this score is a mixed one.  While I love the idea of being taken on a galactic journey through Franke's music, it's not the type of score that can generally provide a strong impact.  I think the success of the soundtrack really hedges itself on whether or not you've been a fan of the past works, or if you are looking for a curious diversion from the typical film scores that you've been listening to.  For mainstream soundtrack fans, however, I would venture to say this one isn't for you.