REVIEW: Sky original 1975 soundtrack

If your recollection of being a youngster going to bed having nightmares after watching the likes of Boy From Space or Dark Towers you might’ve been spared even more chilling visuals via the mid 70’s programme Sky broadcast via HTV.

Conjured up by Dr Who’s then prime spellbinders Bob Baker and Dave Martin the shows proceedings showcased a bright blonde teen figure in the guise of Marc Harrison, slightly similar to Colin Mayes but with a sparce white cloak of mysteriousness. After being discovered in Somerset via some lone teens, the assembly all make company with one another communicating via various unusual alien like means. To get the viewers’ attention there’s talk of the world ending, entitled ‘The Chaos’ which in today’s current climate might be putting things lightly, there’s also a trip to a slightly named place of the time, Glastonbury, Sky moves between different episodes via increasingly eerie music, all of which has been compiled into a stunning new release.

Simply entitled Sky, released via Buried Treasure Records, this long player is quite simply a thing of elegance. Unfolding the package is like all your best Christmas’s rolled into one joy filled explosion of visual aids. The 10” translucent ice blue vinyl comes wrapped in Marc Harrison silhouette taken from an edition of yoof magazine Look In, with added bonuses of Sky coloured tote bag, 3” fridge magnet, TV times postcard and A3 Look In poster featuring artwork by legendary Italian illustrator Arnaldo Putzu, the entire package is quite simply moving.

The audio contained on release has been taken directly from the original master tapes, there are 26 individual cues contained here, each one a delight to behold. Starting out as it so rightly should do with the exquisitely composed HTV ident by Johnny Johnston and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop this sets the scene for the main theme, as haunting as anything Derek Griffiths could conjure up, its harpsichord and piano played here might well have you jumping behind the sofa for safety precautions. Other delights include deftly poetic Clothes, the poignant violin of Smothered By Living Things, Devour filled with smooth moody sythn plus a batch of unused music from the deft hand of composer Eric Wetherell, This unparalleled musical assembly perfectly fits into the charmed Kingdom of recent charming releases such as Bod: Words and Music, Ivor The Engine And Pogles Wood by Vernon Elliott and Mr Benn – The Music.

Sky can be purchased via the following link