Blade Runner - 25th Anniversary Edition

Defining soundtrack replicated and expanded

The story of the Blade Runner soundtrack is so unique it’s even got its own Wikipedia page. When the soundtrack was first released in 1982 it wasn’t the real music, just interpretations by the New American Orchestra. The fans weren’t happy, and even when in 1994 a soundtrack with Vangelis music was issued, it was so far away from the actual full soundtrack the fanatics remained restless and eventually took the matter into their own hands. Weird CDRs of the full score began slowly appearing, two-, three- and even four-disc sets were illegally compiled, pressed and surreptitiously distributed around the globe through fairs, conventions and the internet. Now, at last, the bootlegging may well stop as this new and expanded official 25th anniversary release has arrived. Disc One of the set is the freshly remastered 1994 edition. Disc Two is the all important missing music. Extra super bonus Disc Three is new work by Vangelis as an homage to the old work. But Disc Two is really what this release is all about, with 44 minutes of magical, multi-layered atmospheres and the signature Vangelis sounds that so many people have waited a quarter of a century to hear in their own right. The tracks here often merge gracefully into each other, the whole weaving a large drifting tapesty of miserable, spine-tingling and strangely subversive future music. It may be 25 years old but it still conjures up very unique and contemporary visions of grime, waste, and damp darkness. It’s a truly dystopian musical trip egged on with buzzing low frequencies, echoes, ghosts and seamless, almost mystical synthesising that could have only come from this one composer. The influence of the 1994 album is everywhere, and to get (most of) the rest is wonderful and another lesson in ambience can now begin. So, to sum up: Disc One is superb, a classic. Disc Two is sublime. And rather than have a dig at Disc Three, let’s just say some will like it, others won’t. But now the priceless missing music is available our immediate listening future looks very good indeed.

Universal | TV 75305174 (3-CD)

Reviewed by Jonny Trunk
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