Bladerunner Nostalgia

Sitting in Jazz Alley on a Saturday night listening to Spyro Gyra play their style of jazz fusion I couldn't help but get nostalgic as one particular musical passage resonated with my memory of a synth-layered Vangelis track I remembered from way back. It served as the score to the Bladerunner scene where Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard is looking out onto the futuristic cityscape from his apartment balcony.





Vangelis effectively plays to the mood of this particular scene. As we observe Deckard comfortably taking a respite from the almost routine perils of his profession one can't help but feel cradled by Vangelis's synth textured soundscape. It's essentially a futuristic sounding lullaby that seems to hint at emptiness in terms of human emotion. The scene is contemplative, prompting us to peer into Deckard's mind. What's in there? Why does he look somewhat lost as he cradles his drink? It's a soothing harmony yet cold and barren at the same time which is of course a perfect audio backdrop against a dystopian Los Angeles.