Journey to the Moon and Beyond

Mort Garson wasnt just a pioneering synth maestro; in the way he brought varied sounds and worlds of music together, he was a synthesizer, too. Picking up where Music from Patch Cord Productions left off, Sacred Bones compilation Journey to the Moon and Beyond reaffirms how wide-ranging his work was while highlighting his abilities as a composer and arranger. Two suite-like pieces from television scores offer particularly fine examples of Garsons scope: "Zoos of the World," from a 1970 National Geographic special, is equally stately and whimsical, with fanfares and warm, flowing melodies that touch on the baroque feel of the eras electronic pop as well as its lush orchestral pop. Though Garsons soundtrack to the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing was one of the most prominent uses of his music at the time, it was considered lost until archivist Andy Zax rediscovered it. Presented here for the first time, "Moon Journey" lives up to its name, spanning tumultuous sci-fi atmospheres, the whimsy and mischief associated with the moon since time immemorial, and the soaring idealism that led to one giant leap for mankind. Journey to the Moon and Beyonds artifacts also reflect how Garson put his stamp on the styles of the era when he wasnt shaping the sound of electronic music. The main theme to Black Eye, a 1974 blaxploitation film starring Fred Williamson, distills the genres brassy drama; its end credits deliver a groovy, moody love song so quintessentially early 70s that it begs to be played on an eight-track. Similarly, the molten guitar solo that ignites "Western Dragon (Pt. 2)"s East-meets-West fusion adds a dose of acid rock to Garsons exotica leanings. While its not as strictly electronic as Music from Patch Cord Productions, Journey to the Moon and Beyond offers plenty of the synth fantasias that the Garson fans who discovered him in the 21st century have come to know and love. The bubbly Moog sound that launched the themes for a thousand public broadcast service TV stations is front and center on "Music for Advertising #6" and in the ricocheting tones of "Three TV IDs." Within the realm of the compilations electronic pieces, the range is remarkable. "Music for Advertising 8" overlays striding brass with careening synths, while "Love Is a Garden" provides a serene flashback to Plantasia. Even when Garson dips into novelty, its innovative. The mewing electro-boogie-woogie of "Cat Boogie" may be kitschy, but its still possible to hear a distant connection to the way Suicide gave the mix of early rock & roll and electronics a stiletto edge a few years later. Just as rewarding as the deeper dives into Garsons discography, Journey to the Moon and Beyonds breadth makes it a tremendously entertaining time capsule and a must-listen for his aficionados. ~ Heather Phares