A new review from Runcible -- of what appears to be the beginnings of a franchise... -- Da Message Board

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Date Posted: 10:26:01 08/06/00 Sun
Author: David H
Subject: A new review from Runcible -- of what appears to be the beginnings of a franchise...

JEFF WAYNE'S MUSICAL VERSION OF THE WAR OF THE WORLDS:

ULLAdubULLA -- THE REMIX ALBUM

(p) and (c) 2000 Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd

I found a lot that could have been implemented differently (possibly even better) with the game, but I did find one positive -- the music rocks! Lately I've found playing the music more enjoyable than the game itself.

And it seems that some people may have felt the same way, as one of the latest CDs from Sony Music that's come to our record store shelves is a compilation of remixes derived from the music of War of the Worlds. And yes, like practically everything else associated with this title so far (except maybe the Playstation version of the game), the mixes are spread across two CDs -- this time however, it's a 7-inches and 12-inches arrangement, following the lead of dance music compilations.

The majority of material is new, and has been produced by mixers as diverse as Apollo 440, Sakin & Friends and Dario G. However I've spotted samples and motifs from at least four of the game mixes in Max Mondo's takes of various tunes -- understandable, as he was involved with most of the game mixes -- and another, Dead London as mixed by Mister JoyBoy, is transplanted whole.

Also transplanted whole from the '95 re-release of the original album are The Spirit of Man '95 and the Dark Autumn Dub (eight-and-a-half minutes of noise in '95, and still eight-and-a-half minutes of noise in '2K). If the retrospective angle was to have been fleshed out completely, Ben Liebrand's version of The Eve of the War from the '91 re-release should have been included as well, and it's a minor disappointment that it hasn't been -- that piece is a particularly good mix.

The new mixes are markedly different from the originals, and range from pumping to moody to downright scary. But as a whole, I find the remix album doesn't really add anything to the mythos that's grown around the original. With a history of three re-releases ('85, '91 and '95), a licenced video game and this new remix album, it appears that War of the Worlds is being developed into a franchise. It has worked in the past with some sci-fi series, but I for one am not sure if it will be as successful with this one.

Recommendation: For devotees, dance music fans and those who don't mind being frightened out of their minds all over again... ;)

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