Goblin: Contamination (1980) 03/10/2009
Posted by scrambledface in Soundtrack.Tags: Jazz, Progressive, Rarities
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At long last, we return to productivity with a lesser-known creation of Italian soundtrack mavens Goblin. The progressive rockers formerly known as Cherry Five are, of course, best known for their collaborations with giallo/horror legend Dario Argento, most famously on his masterpieces “Profondo Rosso” and “Suspiria,” as well as his production of George A. Romero’s epochal “Dawn of the Dead” — although Romero largely removed their work from the American version, it’s all in the European cut entitled “Zombi.” This selection, however, is the score to the 1980 film “Contamination” by Luigi Cozzi, the director of the Lou Ferrigno “Hercules” flicks as well as the hugely entertaining “Star Wars” knock-off “Scontri Stellari Oltre la Terza Dimensione” (aka “Starcrash”). Incidentally, Cozzi himself worked with Argento on several early ’70s projects, two of which have finally seen U.S. DVD release in recent months: the great murder mystery “4 Mosche di Velluto Grigio” (“Four Flies on Grey Velvet”) and the TV anthology “La Porta sul Buio” (“Door Into Darkness”). “Contamination” was ostensibly a rip-off of Ridley Scott’s blockbuster from the previous year, “Alien,” in that it’s a sci-fi/horror crossover featuring ominous giant eggs, only it’s set on Earth and these eggs exude slime which causes people’s guts to explode. Typical of Goblin’s work, the soundtrack combines ominous Floydian prog (“Withy”), groovy funk rhythms (The Carver”), atmospheric jazz (“Ogre”) and vintage electronic touches (“Connexion”). It’s far classier and more exotically diverse than its roots as a Spaghetti splatter score would suggest to the uninitiated. It’s also a good example of the labyrinthine nature of the group’s recording history, fraught with revolving members and recycled tracks. While “Contamination” features the familiar rhythm section of bassist Fabio Pignatelli and drummer Agostino Marangolo, by the time of its recording, the core group had splintered, with both keyboardist Claudio Simonetti and guitarist Massimo Morante having moved on. Also, four of its eleven tracks actually come from Goblin’s score for Aristide Massaccesi’s 1979 necrophilia sleazefest “Buio Omega.” The link provided here takes you to the 2000 Cinevox reissue, which beefs up the original content with three alternate takes and two excellent “suites.” As for the film, it’s now widely available in its uncut form and is pure lurid fun, a must-see for all golden-age Italian gore afficionados or “Video Nasty” completists.
“Contamination” [theatrical trailer, featuring “Connexion”… by “The Goblin” ;)]
Xploding Plastix: Amateur Girlfriends Go Proskirt Agents (2001) 03/01/2009
Posted by scrambledface in Experimental.Tags: Electronic, Jazz, Trip-Hop
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Just as contentious as the classification “post-rock” is the term “livetronica.” Essentially a fusion of electronic music and live instrumentation, it’s typically associated with the jam band scene, since groups like the Disco Biscuits and Sound Tribe Sector 9 are among its most famous practitioners. Like many jam-related subgeneres, however, livetronica has a more inclusive appeal than one might think. I mean, I don’t like to dance at all, but having actual musicians involved takes away a lot of the anonymous monotony that bores me in regular dance music. Although they’re more likely to play to bespectacled hipster crowds, I would personally include bands like Ratatat, The Octopus Project, Sleepy Eyes of Death and Xploding Plastix under the livetronica heading. The last of these is a Norwegian duo, comprised of Jens Petter Nilsen and Hallvard Wennersberg Hagen (once the keyboardist of unfortunately forgotten black metallists Kvist). Their invigorating debut, the amusingly-titled Amateur Girlfriends Go Proskirt Agents, crossbreeds flavors of jazz and trip-hop with whirlwind IDM rhythms, exotica’s velvet cocktail lounge opulence and the moody ambience of a film noir soundtrack. It feels like a spy movie, and copious dialogue samples — the only vocals heard — reinforce the retro-modern cinematic aesthetic. Amateur Girlfriends Go Proskirt Agents makes great background music, while the kinetic percussion on singles “Behind the Eightball” and “Treat Me Mean, I Need the Reputation,” as well as highlights like “Having Smarter Babies” and “Comatose Luck” perking up the album’s mellower latter half, make it just as suited to active listening. Its shifting mélange is immersive enough to reel in even those who think they hate electronic music.
“Doubletalk Gets Through to You” (fan-created video)
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