Back catalogue: Soundtracks

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


RECOMMENDED
At the end of the day John Carpenter could present us with infinite takes on the original Halloween tune - that creepy piano masterpiece - and we'd gobble up everything he has to offer. It's a simple case of four notes, or thereabouts, played in a repetitive loop, and it seems to conjure the most disturbing mental images you can imagine. A stroke of genius, you might say.

Halloween Kills is essentially the reprise of all that made the original movie score so powerful. There's not much here that didn't feature in the inaugural franchise outing, but in 2021 the raw and decidedly pared back atmospheres have been built on, expanded, born again, but crucially not ruined. Is John Carpenter the greatest film musician of all time? Hans Zimmer may disagree, but we say "of course".

Review: Before we get into it, let's just stop to consider what it must be like to be John Carpenter' son. A titan of horror, science fiction, and fantasy filmmaking who overcame early critical smiting to garner first a global cult following and more latterly reappraisal and recognition from the cinematic institution, while the reality of having this cultural powerhouse as a parent probably isn't along these lines, we like to think childhood was one long creative play session where imagination was only held back by the need to sleep.

Spurious point made, this latest addition to JC's musical oeuvre sees him team up with offspring Cody - a musician and composer in his own right - and long-time collaborator Daniel Davies for the score to the most recent reboot in the Halloween franchise. You can't touch a classic, of course, but what the actual movie lacked in originality the music more than compensates for, taking what was already an unsettling and chilling aural experience and modernising without fundamentally changing.

Review: RECOMMENDED
At the end of the day John Carpenter could present us with infinite takes on the original Halloween tune - that creepy piano masterpiece - and we'd gobble up everything he has to offer. It's a simple case of four notes, or thereabouts, played in a repetitive loop, and it seems to conjure the most disturbing mental images you can imagine. A stroke of genius, you might say.

Halloween Kills is essentially the reprise of all that made the original movie score so powerful. There's not much here that didn't feature in the inaugural franchise outing, but in 2021 the raw and decidedly pared back atmospheres have been built on, expanded, born again, but crucially not ruined. Is John Carpenter the greatest film musician of all time? Hans Zimmer may disagree, but we say "of course".

Review: Don't believe the hype - we certainly don't. Halloween Ends, 2022's trilogy-concluding horror flick that brought the story of evil Michael Myers to a bone chilling climax, is almost definitely not going to be the last time we hear the terrifying piano riff John Carpenter came up with for his original 1978 slasher classic, Halloween. Nor will it likely be the final outing for the mask-wearing, knife-wielding menace of Haddonfield, Illinois; fictional town the franchise centres on.

Let's face it, the most recent outing in the saga only represented the conclusion of the last three films, but since the first time there have been 13 movies, many comic books, one video game and tons of merchandise. All that aside, you can believe the hype surrounding the latest score, which sees synth and atmosphere master Carpenter, alongside son and regular collaborator Davies, invoke the eerie unease that first catapulted Halloween into the pantheons of all-time greatest scare fests. Don't sleep after listening, then; who knows what's out there.

Review: The Halloween soundtrack is still going strong, thanks to the untarnishable coattails of John Carpenter's original and spectral Halloween theme. For this first-time vinyl release, Sacred Bones immortalise the work of Carpenter, his equally talented son Cody, and guitarist/producer Daniel Davies, who teamed up as a scoring trio for the penultimate instalment in the film series, Halloween Kills, in 2021. With each motif lasting no longer than two minutes on average, this is an OST full of off-key arpeggiations, sinister low notes and sonic bumps in the night.

Review: A decade ago, legendary horror movie composer/director John Carpenter joined forces with son Cody and godson Daniel Davies to make Lost Themes, a collection of new musical compositions to "soundtrack the movies in your mind". It kick-started a prolific period of musical activity which included both real soundtracks and music made for imaginary ones. Lost Themes IV sits in the latter camp, with the trio delivering music inspired by the aesthetic of "noir" movies. While Carpenter senior's suspenseful, paired-down drum machine rhythms and clandestine synthesiser sounds are still present, they work in harmony with creepy effects, immersive sound effects and additional instrumentation. For proof, see the growling guitars on 'My name IS Death' and the exotic classical guitars and sitars of 'He Walks. By Night'.

Review: Is John Carpenter the most formidable force in 20th Century US moviemaking? He must certainly be in the running. Say what you will about the genres he focuses on (horror, suspense, sci fi, slasher, those details aren't significant. Instead, what's important to remember is that for decades the director has dedicated his career to creating not just vivid on-screen worlds, but atmospheres and feelings. Taking ownership of his own scores is a big part of that, and in many ways Carpenter's tunes are as memorable as his plots. Here joined by son Cody, and Lost Themes I & II sparring partner Daniel Davies, many of the most iconic tones, keys, melodies, and hooks from more than 20 years of cinematic delights are presented as new - and we couldn't be happier.

Review: A decade after John Carpenter's groundbreaking Lost Themes debut, his collaboration with son Cody Carpenter and godson Daniel Davies, the pioneering composer and director has revitalised his career. Lost Themes IV: Noir explores the essence of film noir, infusing Carpenter's signature synth-driven sound with dark, atmospheric motifs. Described as "soundtracks for the movies in your mind," these compositions evoke the mysterious allure of classic noir films. While traditional noir scores relied on orchestral arrangements, Carpenter, Carpenter, and Davies craft their distinctive sound with synths and guitars, capturing the essence of the genre. With this latest installment, they continue to redefine Carpenter's musical legacy, transcending mere homage to create immersive sonic experiences.

Review: A decade since his groundbreaking Lost Themes debut, John Carpenter, along with son Cody Carpenter and godson Daniel Davies, has revitalised his career. Lost Themes IV: Noir delves into the essence of film noir, infusing Carpenter's iconic synth-driven style with dark, atmospheric elements. Termed "soundtracks for the movies in your mind," these compositions summon the enigmatic charm of classic noir films. Departing from traditional orchestral scores, the trio crafts a distinct sound with synths and guitars, capturing the genre's essence. With this latest release, they redefine Carpenter's musical legacy, moving beyond homage to create immersive sonic experiences that transcend expectations.

Review: Divinity made waves when it premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, leaning in on sci-fi dystopia directed in a hallucinatory style by Eddie Alcazar. The themes of immortality in an imagined future are ripe for all kinds of questionable behaviour and thrilling drama, and the soundtrack duties have been handed over to the more than capable partnership of DJ Muggs and Dean Hurley. You might not have immediately put the legendary Cypress Hill producer together with David Lynch's soundtrack collaborator of choice, but the pair have created the perfect cyberpunk setting which fuses Terminator-esque nostalgia with high-impact contemporary sequences, sounding like the future we all fear on this silver pressing for Sacred Bones.