Source:
https://scmp.com/article/191818/record-review

Record Review

Original Soundtrack - The Star Wars Trilogy (BMG/RCA Victor) In May 1977, Star Wars forever changed the face of film, blew away box office records and spawned a merchandising fever that has barely slowed since.

The music was as much a part of the film's excitement as the visual effects and the storyline's mythic underpinnings.

Composed by John Williams - at the time best known for keeping everyone out of the water with his menacing strings and horns on Jaws - he would go on to perform similar chores on episodes V and VI of George Lucas' space opus, and would win the Oscar for best score that year.

With the re-release of the re-mastered, re-edited and generally re-tinkered Star Wars Trilogy, 20th Century Fox has wisely re-issued the soundtracks.

These limited deluxe editions greatly expand on the originals (which will not mean much for those who have the treasured double album vinyl set for The Empire Strikes Back but will if you have the abbreviated re-issue) and the woefully incomplete Jedi recording as well as 1993's magnificent four-disc box-set anthology thus allowing a new generation to experience the grandeur only the London Symphony Orchestra could provide.

Soundtrack lovers and fan(atic)s will have a field day reliving the high drama of The Battle of Yavin and The Clash of Lightsabres, the swirling romanticism of Binary Sunset and Burning Homestead - which marks the turning point at which Luke Skywalker discovers the Empire's ruthlessness and vows to follow the Force and join the rebellion.

It is a powerful moment.

The extras - which after all make these collections essential - are not to be sniffed at, either.

The albums' producers have done a great job of combing through the archives in search of never-before-released material. Of historical note is the first known recording of the Star Wars theme.

However, with changes to the films come revisions to the music, in particular on Jedi where one pseudo-disco song (this was the early 80s after all) Lapti Nek, has been junked in favour of Jedi Rocks, a pseudo rap-bluesy number.

A mistake - thankfully not one composed by Williams.

Closing out Jedi is an environmentally friendly piece with which Williams returns to that galaxy far, far away. It has superseded the tribal rhythms and booming bass of the original's Ewok Celebration, with a new composition that combines the peaceful strains of Andes pipe music and soft choral backing to glorious effect in Victory Celebration/End Title .

Feel the Force.

- Steve Liu Eternal - Before The Rain (EMI) It is hard not to compare this British trio with the Californian all-female group En Vogue. Both are successful R & B and gospel 'sisters' groups - only the latter, also known as the Funky Divas, are more, well, funky.

In fact, Eternal has mellowed in their latest LP release, Before the Rain. Gone are the upbeat tracks that were prominently featured in the group's debut album Always and Forever.

And gone are the catchy teeny bopping tunes such as Stay - which helped the group burst into the British pop scene in 1993 - and other chart-topping dance numbers, including Save Our Love, and Crazy.

Which is good news because it shows the group - Kelle Bryan, sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett - has moved on and matured. Its first track Don't You Love Me is a rhythmic ballad coupled with the sensuous vocals of Easther Bennett.

It is this soulful voice that separates Eternal from the other all-girl groups that have recently flooded the British pop market.

The success of this album (already number two in the British charts) and its last Power of a Woman sees the departure of Louise Nurding in 1995 - but her absence has had little effect.

Their duet with Bebe Winans and All My Love are the only upbeat tracks, the latter reminiscent of the pop classic Walk On By.

This collaboration with producers Nigel Lowis (Dina Carroll), Dennis Charles, Ronnie Wilson and Nick Ingman also includes one soundtrack from the Disney film The Hunchback of Notre Dame : Someday.

Commercially speaking, they are no Spice Girls but Britain should be pleased it has produced a group that strives to better itself and is not simply concerned with sales figures.

- Kevin Kwong