Seemingly virtually a "house composer" for Disney, Bruce Broughton has a long association with the studio; in recent years he has generally been working on direct-to-video fare for them, but he went through a phase of scoring some of their more low-key theatrical releases, one of which was the modestly-successful live-action family film Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, about a bunch of talking animals and their adventures.  It did enough at the box office to generate a sequel three years later, in 1996, and Broughton was again brought on (wahay!) to score it.  

Most successful sequel scores see the composer take some of the base material of the previous score, and then expand on that material while also providing plenty of new stuff as well.  That's exactly what Broughton did here.  In "A Homeward Bound Overture", we are treated to a reprise of the previous film's slightly shanty-like main theme before hearing new music, including a new action theme and a jazzy sax solo.  Later on, the music is very much an extension of the first score, with some delightful adventure sequences combining with dramatic action once again.  There are some wonderful moments: the orchestral, John Williams-style "Airport Escape" is a real treat; the lilting guitar version of the secondary theme from the first film in "In the Park" offers some real beauty; "Bungled Ambush" has a delightful bluegrass feel and is another highlight.

The action music is as impressive as it was in the first score; it's possibly a bit darker, with "The Fire" being a very bleak piece to begin with, a hint of Bernard Herrmann in there perhaps (though certainly not so much that it feels out of place - and it does turn rather lighter as it moves on).  "Attacking the Red Van" is another fine piece of action music.  Predictably, there's a heartwarming conclusion in "Delilah Returns", which is another delight.  This is a winning score, arguably slightly more varied than its predecessor, and certainly just as enjoyable.  Of particular note, as always, are Broughton's precise and clever orchestrations and Armin Steiner's crisp, expressive recording which makes the best of them.  This is a rare album, but any fan of Broughton or good old-fashioned orchestral adventure music should get it if they can.