Film on Vinyl: Outlander
Welcome to another installment of Film on Vinyl, Joe Donohue’s column that celebrates the blending of his love for film and music by reviewing and dissecting movie soundtracks pressed on the oh-so-sweet vinyl record. Next up on the playlist: Spacelab 9’s release of the "Outlander" soundtrack.
There’s no denying that the quality of television has vastly increased over the last 10 years. We’re no longer forced to watch boring, generic cop procedurals and carbon-copy sitcoms … or at least not just those shows. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve found myself enjoying such series on numerous occasions, and each has its place, but it’s the minds of J.J. Abrams, Vince Gilligan, and Bryan Fuller — to name a few — that have given us so much more.
One perfect example is the hit Starz show “Outlander.” This unique piece of television has created a truly imaginative world in which viewers can get swept away. While I’m still incredibly new to the show, I can still say that Bear McCreary’s score is extremely beautiful, and precisely captures the feel of two very different times.
I’m very thankful to my friends at Spacelab 9 for assisting in bringing this score to vinyl, and giving this audiophile the chance to dig his nails into this piece.
And, here … we … go!
Packaging:
The crew at Spacelab 9 does what it does best by utilizing the show’s imagery for the album cover. Why fix what isn’t broken? “Outlander” is about a woman whose heart is torn between two men and the different eras in time to which they belong, and the cover shows just that. And much like the cover itself, the inside of the gatefold houses multiple shots from the show.
I’m also quite infatuated with the green marble-colored vinyl. I’m not usually one to go nuts over a colored variant, but there’s something about this one that definitely caught my eye. It has a simple elegance, much like the score itself, and complements the rest of the release.
One little touch to this release that I found quite handy is having the sleeve openings on the inside of the cover instead of the outside. This probably isn’t a new thing, but with as many times that I’ve had a mild heart attack from one of my records accidentally sliding out and onto the ground, I’m more than appreciative for this little feature.
Tracks:
What I love about this score is the vast range of emotions that each track evokes. Even though many of the tracks may have a similar tone, none of them ever feels redundant. Too often, some scores will have one highly recognizable piece and then every passing track leans on the original without the chance to stand on its own. One example? “Star Wars.” While I’m in no way putting down John Williams’ work, this score often feels redundant, and Mr. McCreary does a great job of avoiding this same pitfall.
I absolutely love ‘Outlander – The Skye Boat Song’ and ‘Dance of the Druid.’ McCreary weaves a wonderful tale with such beauty and finesse that you can’t help but fall in love with every single note. Not having had the pleasure of seeing much of the show has given me a deeper understanding of McCreary’s work, and has really shown me how strong his abilities are. As I listen to each track, I fall more in love with this show, and can’t wait to dig deeper into this world.
To me, this is the true test of a composer’s work. Not only does the score need to seamlessly gel with the story, but it should also be able to stand on its own. “Outlander” is the very embodiment of this principle.
Thoughts in a nutshell:
Spacelab 9 continues to knock each release out of the park and, in doing so, builds the pressure on their shoulders. The “Outlander” score is absolutely beautiful and can be enjoyed all on its own, regardless of whether someone watches the series. This is a release that warrants a spot in every audiophile’s collection, big or small.
Until next time, make sure you’re using the appropriate cartridge. Remember to always spin responsibly.