Lakeshore Records, streaming now

Soundtrack highlights from the first half of Star Trek: Picard’s launch season by the franchise’s current go-to composer Jeff Russo.

The opening titles of a Star Trek show has always been a big deal for fans, and there’s still those smarting from Enterprise’s warbling vocals. But after a majestic theme for Discovery, Jeff Russo seemed a safe choice for the latest iteration, Picard, and it’s not immediately what you expect.

Those anticipating a grand theme along the lines of Jerry Goldsmith’s The Next Generation titles (itself being co-opted from The Motion Picture) will be surprised that this is a lighter, mellower sound. Less Goldsmith and more Jay Chattaway’s The Inner Light, it’s a more reflective piece and the very definition of a grower. Those who have been following the show weekly will now have a familiarity with it, and both the opening and closing versions are on this 28 track release from Lakeshore Records.

With Dahj Activates and Dahj’s Last Fight the tone darkens and pace picks up. Twins is one of the album’s longer cues, featuring some beautiful cello work, as well as playing out the end of the first episode and the big reveal of being on a Borg Cube. Picard Requests Help follows Jean-Luc to Starfleet, and it’s great to hear a blast of Alexander Courage’s original series theme and Goldsmith’s Next Generation alongside extrapolations of the new main theme.

Romulan Collusion brings back the theme for the show’s villains as showcased in Twins, darker and lower in register than Picard’s themes. Rafi Decides to Join plays us out of episode three, and understandably Picard’s ‘Engage!’ moment is played out with Goldsmith’s Next Generation. Happier Times is a light blast of nostalgia to when Picard first met a young Elnor, ethnic instruments and vocals establishing the Qowat Milat way of Absolute Candor. The episode ends with a confrontation between La Sirena and a classic Romulan Bird of Prey, underscored with a terrific action cue, Mystery Ship.

Soji and Narek Waltz is a beautiful would-be love theme for the mismatched couple as they slide around the floors of the Borg Cube, and Seven Needs Revenge is a multi-layered cue that gets tight to the heart of Stardust City Rag. The disc is completed with two mints tracks from the related Short Treks, Children of Mars.

Verdict: There’s still a bit of me that balks at having to buy two separate releases for an entire season’s scores (there’s presumably a related Ferengi Rule of Acquisition) but this is a solid set of cues from the season’s first half, with the unfolding drama sure to create opportunities for even bigger moments in Chapter 2. 8/10

Nick Joy