'Torchwood: Children Of Earth' Soundtrack Fittingly Epic

A good mixture of music, but not straying too far from the 'Torchwood' theme

By ROBERT YANIZ Jr. Aug-29-2009

Since it began in 2006, “Torchwood” seems to have been perpetually eclipsed by the success of the most recent incarnation of “Doctor Who,” the series from which it spun off.

However, with “Children of Earth,” the five-part miniseries that essentially serves as the show’s third season, the stakes are higher than ever for Capt. Jack Harkness, Gwen Cooper and Ianto Jones. And veteran “Torchwood” composer Ben Foster –- not to be confused with the popular actor of the same name –= captures the apocalyptic tone on its soundtrack.

Divided into sections representing each of the miniseries’ five episodes, the “Children of Earth” soundtrack opens with “The First Sacrifice,” a haunting melody which starts out very similar to a lullaby. Given that the miniseries initially centers on the world’s youth, this music is particularly fitting, instantly conveying a distortion of innocence that figures prominently into the plot.

Performed with gusto and verve by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the score gets going early on and never lets go. With an exquisite instrumental blend, the music conveys a sense of looming danger. In fact, the soundtrack grows more and more epic and intense as it goes on, punctuating in short and exhilarating bursts at the end of each of its five sections.

“Countdown to Destruction,” the final track in the “Day One” section, certainly reflects the energy of the first episode of the miniseries, building into a thunderous combination of sounds that vaguely resembles Hans Zimmer’s work in the Pirates of the Caribbean sequels.

Other standouts include “Tractor Attack and “The World Looks to the Skies,” which encapsulate the spirit of adventure that “Torchwood” fans have come to associate with the series. “Requiem for the Fallen” and “The Ballad of Ianto Jones” are appropriately tragic pieces that punctuate the finale of “Day Four,” especially with the former’s mournful vocalizations. And tracks like the guitar-driven “Fighting Back” and the solemn “Redemption” help build the tension as “Children of Earth” reaches its grand finale.

As an extra treat, the soundtrack also features both the opening and closing themes of the series as bonus tracks. Their inclusion only serves as further evidence that the music of “Children of Earth” has brilliantly built upon the musical foundation “Torchwood” has stood on since its inception.

Offering a five-episode tale instead of its traditional 13-episode seasons, “Children of Earth” was an ambitious move for the creative team of “Torchwood,” and it remains to be seen when and if the series will continue in the future.

Nevertheless, Foster’s score for this collection of episodes has helped elevate the world of “Torchwood” to a higher plane by delivering a musical score that ranks among the best in modern television music.

About the Author: Robert Yaniz Jr. has been passionate about the entertainment industry since childhood. He currently works at a newspaper in Tampa, Fla., and spends his down time toiling away on his first screenplay and other creative writing endeavors.
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