In September of 2010, Berlin’s Private Records launched with a repress of Christian Bruhn’s 1986 soundtrack to the animated series Captain Future. A decade into the label’s history, they return to Bruhn’s music, with his score for Alice Im Wunderland. Much as Captain Future was the European dub of a Japanese anime, so does Alice Im Wunderland translate Fushigi no Kuni no Alice into German and – like that first Private Records release – change the soundtrack into something new.
Bruhn’s music here is considerably more disco than once might expect for an anime series from the mid-’80s, and especially one that adapts Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novel fairly true to the time period in which it was originally written. It’s burbling disco rhythms and faux synthesised horns all the way, and feels very upbeat and positive.
The theme song flirts with Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun and Tweedlee Dee and Tweedlee Dum comes close to ABBA’s Gimme Gimme Gimme, placing Bruhn’s score squarely in the midst of the ’80s European pop sound. Fans of the composer’s work on Captain Future will find much to enjoy here, even though it’s definitely goofier than that previous release.
Given the series’ more childlike qualities, the music is a perfect fit, but one’s ability to appreciate cheese will define their ability to enjoy Bruhn’s score. The title song, sung by Lady Lily – aka Bruhn’s then-wife, Erika – is a real highlight, and was also released as the B-side to her 1984 single, Patrik Pacard, the theme song to another television series which ran on Germany’s ZDF. It’s a bright and joyous tune, as if someone had done a disco remix of Limahl’s The NeverEnding Story. The sheen of ’80s kid’s entertainment is all over it, and that’s a good thing.
The rest of the music is entertaining, but again – it’s a little childish and cheesy. However, those who enjoy vintage computer game scores will find much to enjoy in the silly vintage synth sounds on display throughout Bruhn’s music.
The Alice Im Wunderland cover artwork draws from the show’s animation, and is as bright and vibrant as the music itself. The vinyl is a limited edition of 100 copies on translucent red with black splatter, which looks and sounds pretty solid, although one would expect it to be more of a pink and yellow hue, in order to be better pair with the album jacket.
