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Released around the same time as his first Doctor Who score, The Curse Of Fenric, this album unearths some of Mark Ayres’ pre-Who music from such fan video productions as the Myth Makers interview series, as well as post-Who endeavours. Other items include Ayres’ original demo submissions to Doctor Who producer John Nathan-Turner (which landed him the job, obviously!), as well as music for an unrealized attempt to launch an animated series about the Daleks. Despite the composer’s repeated “apologies” in his liner notes, most of the music is - at the very least - up to the standard of his better Doctor Who scores. These early synth recordings may not be to everyone’s taste, but I find them all rather pleasant. For those intrigued or impressed by Ayres’ Doctor Who music, I heartily recommend this one. Some of the material, such as the “Daleks!” track, was later repurposed for such Who tribute projects as More Than 30 Years In The TARDIS and The Curse Of Fatal Death.

1. Myth Makers Theme (2:09)
2. Mythterious (2:49)
3. I Myth You (1:54)
4. Daleks! (4:44)
5. Terror In Totters Lane (1:53)
6. The Headmaster (0:57)
7. The Fox Goes Free (5:13)
8. The Park (3:15)
   • Introduction (1:07)
   • On The Run (0:29)
   • Mother Nature (0:31)
   • The Master (0:16)
   • Alien Hand (0:18)
   • Return of the Hand (0:34)
9. Star Field (1:40)
10. Myth Runner (Original Soundtrack, part 1) (9:05)
    • Main Title (3:02)
    • Five Minutes Beyond (1:34)
    • The Boss (3:03)
    • Zendar’s Sentinel and First Contact (1:26)
11. Running (Chase theme from Myth Runner (2:44)
12. Myth Runner (Original Soundtrack, part 2) (9:05)
    • Death of the Celebrity (0:35)
    • Hotel (1:28)
    • The Injured Party (1:35)
    • Something To Help You Sleep (0:47)
    • Stop Him! (1:12)
    • The Grand Finale (2:06)
    • Closing Title (1:22)
13. Myth Runner II (3:21)
14. The Digitan (3:47)
15. The Disappointment (3:45)
16. Mythed Again (2:16)
17. Running 1991 (4:45)
18. Myth Runner II (extended CD mix) (7:38)

Released by: Silva Screen
Release date: 1991
Total running time: 71:26

This sophomore effort from the Canadian band that brought us the nicely harmonized electronic rock anthem “All That You Are” is awash in much the same style of production and instrumentation. However, this isn’t a bad thing - I rather like the Econoline Crush style, actually. The album gets a fast-paced start with two of its better tunes, “Surefire” and “Sparkle And Shine”. From there, we’re treated to a couple of uptempo ballads, more near-headbanging material, and - for some reason I can’t fathom - a slightly mellower remix of the song that put the band on the map (”All That You Are x 3″). I’m not sure why the latter is there, unless they wanted to make darn sure that fans of the first album picked this one up. Or perhaps they wanted to ensure sales by including that song in some form on the new album as well as the old, as chances are pretty good that most music buyers would be looking for a familiar title.

I like Econoline Crush, but I can see where they’d be an acquired taste for some. If you like the idea of an intriguing collision of lots of fast power chords - just this side of speed metal - and electronica, you’ll probably like this one.

1. Surefire (3:35)
2. Sparkle and Shine (3:42)
3. Deeper (3:17)
4. Hollowman (3:32)
5. Home (3:11)
6. The Devil You Know (4:27)
7. All That You Are x 3 (3:41)
8. Burnt (4:05)
9. Haven’t Gone Away (3:46)
10. Elegant (3:39)
11. Razorblades and Bandaides (5:43)

Released by: EMI Canada
Release date: 1997
Total running time: 44:17

This selection of freshly unearthed, newly remastered music and sound effects from the 1970s, arguably Doctor Who’s heyday with the role being played by Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker (the two longest-serving actors in the part), is quite an interesting listen.

Central to this lengthy CD is a suite of cues from Malcolm Clarke’s score for the 1972 six-parter The Sea Devils, which had previously been represented on an earlier Silva Screen collection by a track of “edited highlights.” Clarke’s abstract electronic music, in fourteen tracks of its full glory, will likely still be inaccessible to many listeners. This is electronic music at its most abstract and challenging. Mark Ayres’ liner notes aren’t kidding when they cite Clarke’s Sea Devils score as “undoubtedly some of the most uncompromising electronic music ever to feature in mainstream popular entertaiment.” In places, the music sounds more like sound effects gone berzerk, and yet in other places, there are clear, tonal ideas being explored. To be honest, I’m actually able to grok the Sea Devils music more now than I did when I first watched the six-parter from which the music originated.

Other gems include some previously unreleased Dudley Simpson cues from The Mind Of Evil and The Claws Of Axos; though Simpson was a freelance composer, he did experiment with the BBC Radiophonic Workshop’s capabilities early in the 1970s. A brief selection of sound effects, none of which - thankfully - were previously released in 1993 as part of 30 Years at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, draws material from the period between Jon Pertwee’s last season as the Doctor and Tom Baker’s penultimate year in the part.

The real Holy Grail of this whole endeavour comes in the form of two tracks toward the end of the CD. These never-before-heard cues by Peter Howell, who composed many of the better Radiophonic Workshop scores for Doctor Who in the 1980s, were part of a demo recorded to scenes of a 1979 episode to demonstrate to the series’ then-new producer John Nathan-Turner that the Radiophonic Workshop was up to the task of scoring entire episodes in addition to providing sound effects.

Also included is the pre-requisite selection of different versions of the theme music, including the 1970 “stutter-start” edit (which, truth be told, I’ve always rather liked), the infamous “Delaware” version, and other minor variations.

Is this second volume of the Radiophonic Workshop series worth picking up? Well…maybe. I like it, but the Sea Devils suite may be musical anathaema to those with more traditional tastes, and since that is what takes up most of Volume Two, that will probably determine whether or not you care to shell out your hard-earned money to buy it.

1. Music: Doctor Who (opening title theme, 1970) (0:46)
2. FX: Tardis control on & warp transfer (0:22)
3. Blue Veils & Golden Sands (3:25)
4. The Delian Mode (3:33)
5. The Master’s Theme (0:43)
6. Dover Castle (0:39)
7. FX: Keller Machine appears/vanishes (0:23)
8. Keller Machine Theme (0:42)
9. FX: Brain centre atmosphere (0:21)
10. The Axons Approach (1:45)
11. TARDIS lands (0:22)
12. Doctor Who (closing title theme, 1970 (1:13)
13. The Prison (1:19)
14. The Master (2:05)
15. The Naval Base (1:28)
16. The Sea Fort (2:13)
17. Stranded (2:39)
18. The Sea Devil (2:43)
19. The Master At Large (3:04)
20. Air Conditioning Problem (0:48)
21. Duel (1:44)
22. The Master’s Plan (1:31)
23. The Submarine (1:52)
24. Jo Frees The Doctor (1:11)
25. Rock Bottom (1:15)
26. The Beach (1:57)
27. The Minefield (0:23)
28. Devil Underwater (1:18)
29. The Doctor And Jo On The Run (0:35)
30. The Sea Devils Take The Prison (3:24)
31. The Diving Bell (1:23)
32. Mr. Walker’s War (3:05)
33. Torpedo (1:28)
34. Attack In Force (2:02)
35. Ventilation Shaft (1:20)
36. Sea Chase (2:06)
37. Escape (0:46)
38. Doctor Who (stereo version, 1972) (2:21)
39. Doctor Who (Delaware version, 1972) (2:08)
40. FX: Aggedor’s temple atmosphere, Peladon (0:59)
41. FX: Metebelis 3 atmosphere (1:51)
42. FX: Nerva Beacon infrastructure & T-Mat couch (1:42)
43. FX: The Planet Karn (1:49)
44. FX: The Shrine of the Sisterhood of Karn (1:13)
45. FX: The Mandragora Helix (0:46)
46. FX: Nova Device Countdown & Explosion (0:12)
47. Demo 1 (1:13)
48. Demo 2 (1:07)
49. Doctor Who (new theme, 1980) (2:42)

Released by: BBC Music
Release date: 2000
Total running time: 78:19