Madison Gate Records releases Outlander: Original Television Soundtrack, Vol. 1, with original music composed by Bear McCreary. The album contains period-accurate songs adapted by McCreary for the television series, including the main title theme, 'The Skye Boat Song', performed by Raya Yarbrough. The series follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world where her life is threatened. When she is forced to marry Jamie, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate affair is ignited that tears Claire’s heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives...

Whether you're going to enjoy this score depends very much on how much of a fan of music from the 18th Century you are. I'm not overly smitten by it and, as a consequence, I found it a bit of a chore to listen to. Still, if you're buying this, it's a fair bet that you're a fan of the show and know what you're letting yourself in for.

The album contains 13 tracks (50 min, 29 sec), some of which you'll recognise (like the opening to 'The Losing Side of History') as they're traditional well known songs. For those who have no idea what to expect, the only popular score I can think of to compare it to (and this is a weak link at best) is James Horner's music for Titanic.

"Period-authentic" it may be, but this album all comes down to personal taste.

5

Darren Rea