Soundtracks of My Childhood
My explorations into electronic music led me to seek out some soundtracks to movies that I’ve loved for over 20 years.
Alain Goraguer – Le Planete Sauvage (DC)
I’ve loved the music to this 1973 animated film since I was a little kid, so I’m ecstatic to finally have the soundtrack. To me, it sounds a lot like Can, with some of the more lavish orchestrations of Amon Duul II.
Fabio Frizzi – Zombie (Blackest Heart)
Lucio Fulci‘s Zombie (aka Zombi 2) is one of my favorite films in the zombie horror subgenre. The music has always intrigued me because, while it nods to Goblin, it has a distinct flavor all its own.
John Carpenter & Alan Howarth – Escape from New York (Silva America)
Cool music for a really cool movie! This electronic soundtrack easily stands on its own merit as an album of compelling music.
Goblin – Profondo Rosso (Cinevox)
One more to add to my growing Goblin collection. You may know this as the music to Dario Argento‘s Deep Red. I believe this was the first soundtrack they did for him and it’s phenomenal. It’s like prog rock that’s not lame.
Klaus Schulze – Body Love (Inside Out)
Unfortunately, I’ve never seen the film Body Love (it’s a ’70s German porno, so I can only imagine) but the soundtrack ranks up there as one of Schulze’s best albums, I think. I used to have a bunch of his stuff on vinyl, but gave it up when I moved cross-country. Bummer.
John Carpenter – Assault on Precinct 13 (Record Makers)
Another great soundtrack from Carpenter for another exceptionally cool movie, i.e., not that embarrassing remake from 2005. It’s amazing the amount of time, love and energy that Carpenter used to invest into his work. Where did it all go?
Geinoh Yamashirogumi – Akira (Demon UK)
Extraordinarily powerful music for an extraordinarily powerful movie. Geinoh Yamashirogumi combined complex percussion with modern classical choral arrangements for the perfect soundtrack to one of the best animated features of all time.
Alain Goraguer – “Au Dela De La Peur” 7” (Serie Parade)
I loved the Fantastic Planet soundtrack so much, I decided to seek more music by Goraguer. I found this 7” for a film by the same name from 1975. While it reminds more of something that would be used in a crime movie (I haven’t seen the film it came from) it bares many of the signature trademarks of Goraguer’s heavy, but lilting style.
Giorgio Farina & Goblin – Discocross (RCA)
My last Top Ten list centered on italo disco and this ultra-rare Goblin collaboration is just that – Goblin-style, of course!
Various – Night of the Living Dead (Varèse Sarabande)
It defined the zombie film as we know it today while making astute social commentary. It’s also one of the most beloved movies from my upbringing. Some of the best canned music I’ve ever heard!
