Soundtrack Review: Blade Runner 25th Anniversary by Vangelis (2007)

Posted by Jorn Tillnes

April 25, 2008

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041408-0427-soundtrackr1 Soundtrack Review: Blade Runner 25th Anniversary by Vangelis (2007)

This is a review of the motion picture score for Blade Runner 25^th Anniversary by Vangelis.

After about 10 releases of this score, bootlegs and official ones, the ultimate edition finally arrived in December 2007. I say ultimate edition, because it has 2 CD’s with the music from the movie, including some unreleased material and also a third CD with completely new material from Vangelis with music inspired from the movie. It still misses a few cues that have been on a few of the other editions, but this is the most complete set so far. This is the track list of Blade Runner 25^th Anniversary:

CD1:

Main Titles
Blush Response
Wait For Me
Rachel’s Song
Love Theme
One More Kiss, Dear
Blade Runner Blues
Memories Of Green
Tales Of The Future
Damask Rose
End Titles
Tears In Rain

CD2:

Longing
Unveiled Twinkling Space
Dr. Tyrell’s Owl
At Mr. Chew’s
Leo’s Room
One Alone
Deckard And Roy’s Duel
Dr. Tyrell’s Death
Desolation Path
Empty Streets
Mechanical Dolls
Fading Away

CD3:

Launch Approval
Up And Running
Mail From India
Br Downtown
Dimitri’s Bar
Sweet Solitude
No Expectation
Boulevard
Vadavardt
Perfume Exotico
Piano In An Empty Room
Keep Asking

So here you get 36 tracks and the total play time is 2:29:40, a little bit more music than the original 1994 release who had a total play list of just under an hour. CD1 of this release is a re-mastered version of the original 1994 release by the way. As I mentioned in one of my Retro Wednesday’s, this is one of those scores that just stick with you. When you watch the movie you are immediately aware of it. It’s ironic though that the most famous theme is the End Titles. When you listen to it, it’s hard to fathom that this score was made in 1982, well at least CD1 and CD2. It simply sounds amazing. I have the original 1994 release, and it almost have the same sound quality as the re-mastered edition.

For those of you who have the original release, CD2 and CD3 will be of most interest because it contains new previously unreleased material and completely new songs from Vangelis inspired by the movie. I think that was a stellar idea, and I wish say, Angelo Badalamenti would make an ultimate edition of Twin Peaks with new music inspired by the TV show. Let me just say this, CD2 is just as beautiful as CD1, and it just fills in the blanks, when you craved for more, I know you did when you bought the original release.

By the way, let me just say that I normally hate dialogue in scores, I absolutely despise it. So how come when Decker speaks on the Main Titles, it makes my brain fall in love with the voice of one of the best sci-fi characters of all time? I have no idea how my brain works, but I notice that the voice is calming, and it has an almost dreamy quality to it. It is not disturbing at all, just simply beautiful and part of probably the greatest sci-fi score ever made.

CD3 is of course a treat, not just for anyone who loved Blade Runner the movie or the score, but for those who love Vangelis. I have to say that it all fits with the theme of the movie and the other 2 CD’s. It’s just as beautiful, but you might be surprised by a couple of cues which perhaps sounds more 2007/2008 than 1982, but who cares when it’s all so beautiful. This score is a must-have for everyone, doesn’t matter if you have the original release or not. I can’t believe how beautiful it sounds still after all this year. One of the best scores ever made. Listen to Blade Runner 25^th Anniversary by Vangelis below: