:: theLogBook.com Music Reviews ::

Another Doctor Who soundtrack bootleg, this CD features an odd pairing of two wildly different scores by two different composers from the show’s 24th season.

Keff McCulloch’s score from the first story to feature Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor, Time And The Rani, is easily his best contribution to the series’ background music. Peppered liberally with extremely dated dance music elements (such as frequent use of sampled hand claps), the 36 tracks of Time And The Rani feature some excellent eerie synth work, and is well worth a listen. Some of the first score’s highlights are “The Death of the Sixth Doctor”, “A Little Portentious” (the whimsical music which covered the now-traditional costume changing scene), and “Red Alert”.

Dominic Glynn’s music from Dragonfire takes a much more orchestral approach, foreshadowing the later efforts of Mark Ayres. Though still very much synth-based, the music from Dragonfire is memorable and almost hummable. The three-parter from which the music hails is also notable for introducing long-serving companion Ace (Sophie Aldred) to the show’s cast.

Technically, this CD suffers from some of the same pitfalls as the earlier Castrovalva / Mawdryn Undead CD (judging by the packaging, the same party is responsible for both releases). There is a little bit of tape hiss, especially during quieter passages. This CD, however, escapes most of the problems of speed variance and “warbles” which were evident on that aforementioned CD.

I have always been a big fan of these two scores, and while I’d prefer to have an officially BBC-sanctioned, remastered, properly-made copy of both, I suppose this will do until that day arrives.

1. The Death of the Sixth Doctor (0:22)
2. Main Title (0:52)
3. It’s The Man I Want (0:15)
4. Inside The Rani’s Laboratory (0:41)
5. Urak, Get In Here! (1:15)
6. The Death of Sarn (0:52)
7. Mourning (0:24)
8. Mel Taken Hostage (0:28)
9. Mel and Ikona (1:02)
10. The Rani’s Base (1:01)
11. Feeding the Tetraps (0:44)
12. Sad Skeleton (0:23)
13. A Little Portentious (1:00)
14. Melanie Trapped (1:15)
15. Melanie Trapped - episode 2 recap (0:16)
16. Feeding The Tetraps Again (0:43)
17. Urak Pursues Mel (0:56)
18. Strange Matter (1:19)
19. Rendezvous With Faroon (0:22)
20. Mel Goes It Alone (0:58)
21. Mel Meets the Seventh Doctor (0:18)
22. The Rani Returns (1:48)
23. The Rani’s TARDIS (0:22)
24. Sneaking In (0:42)
25. Accidental Capture (0:40)
26. Adept At Maneuvering (1:28)
27. You Know, Don’t You? (0:15)
28. You’re Going To Put It Back (1:27)
29. Red Alert (0:23)
30. Step Back (0:56)
31. The Centre of Leisure (0:34)
32. Future Pleasure (0:46)
33. Punishing The Innocent (2:36)
34. Not A Worthy Opponent (0:51)
35. An Uneasy Silence (1:30)
36. Oh You Lucky, Lucky People (0:08)
37. He’s A Dead Man (0:26)
38. Perhaps You Need A Reminder (0:54)
39. Saving the Nosferatu (0:53)
40. Enter the Dragon (0:28)
41. Exploring Iceworld (2:23)
42. Army of the Dead (0:42)
43. Spot Temperature (1:11)
44. Die Fulfilled (0:32)
45. Mad Dash (0:31)
46. Kane’s Inner Sanctum (1:25)
47. The Dragon’s Fire Unleashed (0:26)
48. The Hostage (0:38)
49. Negotiations (0:38)
50. Iceworld’s True Nature Revealed (0:54)
51. Playing with Fire (0:52)
52. The Final Betrayal (0:38)
53. A Matter of Time (1:06)
54. Meltdown (0:50)
55. Exit Melanie, Enter Ace (0:47)
56. End Titles (0:48)

Released by: ?
Release date: 2000?
Total running time: 48:24

Hailed as a change in direction in the group’s sound, this 1990 album from Depeche Mode introduced one new element: guitars, or at least better-than-usual samples thereof, in addition to the usual wall of synths and samples. But aside from what instruments were being used, this was a big shift in another way, one that I liked - an emphasis on melody and decent songwriting rather than production techniques and pushing the limits of synths and samples for their own sake. There’s actually decent music on here.

Highlights include the slinky “Sweetest Perfection” and low-key “Waiting For The Night”, along with the hit singles “Personal Jesus” and “Enjoy The Silence” (which were followed up by a somewhat smaller hit, “Policy Of Truth”). “Blue Dress” hails back to the lighter, more melodic Depeche Mode of the early 80s, in sound if not in subject matter, and features some of David Gahan’s best vocals in years. Across the board, the vocals on Violator are better than on any Depeche Mode album since Black Celebration.

Martin Gore’s guitar work stands out enough to let us know we’ve been missing out on a decent guitarist ever since Depeche Mode went all-synth.

Also, there are some untitled instrumental interludes hiding after a few of the other tracks, including a haunting piece called “Crucify”, which lurks at the end of the “Enjoy The Silence” track.

And finally, the album’s last track, “Clean”, truly becomes an exercise in irony in hindsight, when one considers that lead singer Gahan later went on to attempt suicide and enter drug rehab. (Then again, Gahan didn’t write the song - Martin Gore did.)

1. World In My Eyes (4:26)
2. Sweetest Perfection (4:44)
3. Personal Jesus (4:56)
4. Halo (4:30)
5. Waiting For The Night (6:07)
6. Enjoy The Silence (6:13)
7. Policy Of Truth (4:55)
8. Blue Dress (5:42)
9. Clean (5:28)

Released by: Reprise
Release date: 1990
Total running time: 46:58