This Fireball is red hot

Barry Gray

Fireball XL5

Various Artists

Silva Screen SILCD1595 57:31 mins

Big kids of a certain age will fondly remember Gerry, the small-screen sci-fi show which ran for 39 episodes in 1962-3. Its brilliantly conceived mix of high-stakes drama, appealing puppet characters and beautifully realised miniatures made it must-see viewing. The weekly adventures of Col. Steve Zodiac, Doctor Venus, Robert the Robot and the World Space Patrol – in their titular rocket ship – were given fabulously colourful music by the British composer Barry Gray. Gray had worked with Anderson on , and would go on to score all of the ‘Supermarionation’ series that followed, bringing what would become a trademark sound to the screen. The drama and peril is taken seriously with an edge of robust, cinematic brass, but those lines are coloured in with playful jazz and pop elements that scream the ’60s and today feel utterly charming. Gray studied the ondes martenot with its creator in Paris and he uses the instrument’s otherwordly sound to fine effect here, along with harp, guitars, vibraphone and – perhaps ironically for a puppet show – no strings. Silva’s release sounds out of this world, lovingly produced with great attention to detail. ★★★★★