Terry's Reviews
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Battlestar Galactica – Music by
Richard Gibbs La-La Land Records – 2004 Wow! What a surprise this score was for the new Sci-Fi Channel Mini-Series. This is an excellent score by Richard Gibbs that is deep and powerful. From the opening "Are You Alive/ Battlestar Galactic Main Title" to the last track "By Your Command" you get over sixty-eight minutes of exotic drums, ethnic voices and strong ambience. |
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| In the linear notes Richard Gibbs says that he
approached his composition to try to avoid the played out "space opera" sound
found on most films and television dealing with this environment. Director Michael Rymer
envisioned this same type of score to support the drama of the show. Now I didn’t see
any of the series on television, but strictly as a score, it works. The drums and cymbal work in "Counterattack" really felt unique and Gibbs presents a fresh way of approaching what I imagine is an action scene. "Cylons Fire" continues with drums and percussion leading the way. "Launch Vipers" is equally thrilling with percussion that fades in and out with big blows. "Seal The Bulkheads" brings a wave of ambience. The female vocals soar in "The Lottery Ticket" and reminded me of what Lisa Gerrard did in THE INSIDER and GLADIATOR. The little click-it-t-clack percussion sound in "Inbound" added a great deal of suspense. We get a chance to catch our breath with "Apollo Is Gone / Starbuck Returns." You can’t help but float into space with the beautiful female vocals of "The Storm and The Dead." Gibbs composes the female voices and percussion to clash together to create "Silica Pathways." The subtlety of ""Reunited" soaks deep into you consciousness. The beating percussive sound in "The Sense Of Six" mixed with the twisting high-pitched keyboard parts are probably the most cosmic sounding part of this score. Then this percussive sound is taken farther and deeper to bring "Starbuck’s Recon." Gibbs commands "Battle" like a general in a war. He has his instruments, especially drums and percussion attack from all sides. By the end you feel like you have been in the middle of the conflict but are elated from experiencing it. It was a great decision by Richard Gibbs and director Michael Rymer to have this music underscore rather than going over the top. Gibbs’ use of exotic instruments and voice gave the score a human feel. Most of you probably feel that science fiction music can sound too mechanical but that is not the case with Richard Gibbs’ score for BATTLESTAR GALACTICA. |
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