David Price's unusual variation on the classic Jekyll and Hyde story, Dr Jekyll and Ms Hyde, starring Sean Young and Tim Daly, is notable today mainly because of its music score by the then-newcomer Mark McKenzie, now noted for his orchestral prowess and ability to come up with stellar themes, but unfortunately for the dearth of quality assignments that seem to go his way.

The music is big, fully orchestral and great fun.  The fault is that you can't help but think of John Williams's brilliant Witches of Eastwick theme, very similar to McKenzie's theme here; but apart from that you'd have to be hard of heart not to find something to enjoy here.  It's a richly-orchestrated work, full of joyous melodies and unashamedly over-the-top stuff.

That said, some of it is a little too Mickey Mousey to be entirely satisfying on its own terms and this leaves it coming slightly short of other McKenzie scores in my estimation.  There's nothing much wrong with it, but to be perfectly honest, the brilliant six-minute Overture (so stirring and grand, they used it in the obituaries segment of the Oscars one year) contains most of the score's highlights in one cue, so if you have that you're not missing out on too much other material.

The album was released by Intrada several years ago and is now gradually disappearing, but a few copies are still left at Amazon from the link below if you're interested in expanding your collection of music by this fine composer.

Buy this CD by clicking here!

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