So here's the thing -- I've been swept up in the Doctor Who experience over the years through the music alone. To date, I've yet to fully engage the series itself yet it feels like I've experienced all the joy, humor, and wonder nevertheless. It's Murray Gold's music that's sent me soaring in a custom Tardis of my own and it's been an expedition that's reaped great rewards. Needless to say I've been counting down the days for this next release, the double CD set dedicated to "The Specials," and I happily retreated to my happy zone upon its arrival. My imagination was ready for the revival.

Disc 1 includes a selection of cues from episodes The Next Doctor, Planet of the Dead and The Waters Of Mars. While the music from this first disc is quite enjoyable, I now look at it now as a warm up for things to come since the splendors that await the listener on Disc 2 is breathtaking. Seriously, keep guard over your goose bumps because they will be summoned forth with prejudice.

The second CD is solely dedicated to The End Of Time Parts 1 & 2 and it plays like a full length feature score, Doctor Who style. It features a blend of all that we have come to know and love from the musical tapestry of the series but elevated to even greater heights. The method in which themes both old and new come into play are a delight for the ears, especially the manner in which familiar motifs are redeployed in their creative variations. I feel that one mark of a great composer is when he or she delivers existing themes in unpredictable and creative ways, which is what transpires here in a series of mini-surprises along the way. That is what John Williams has done throughout the Star Wars saga, for example, and this dynamic leitmotif approach is one that Murray executes to great effect in Doctor Who.

It should be noted that fans of choral mastery will also find great satisfaction with these albums, specifically with the closing tracks on Disc 2. The heart and soul that come across through the choral pieces is what it's all about for me. So often we hear the traditional choir back up a score as if going through the obligatory motions, which is why I fail to connect emotionally with most choral pieces these days. In the case of Doctor Who, cues like Vale Decem deliver the impact that one would hope for. Heartfelt and emotional, it was simply a joy to be swept up in the beauty of these voices, which served as a fitting farewell to an absorbing listening experience.

Perhaps what I enjoy most about this score is that it once again led me on a zany, dramatic, and unpredictable journey. In a so-called rat race where each of our days mirror the one before it, a score like this enters that fray and dares you to imagine. In fact, the only predictable thing about Doctor Who: The Specials is that it was predictably good. Congrats to Murray and the team...keep 'em coming.