Goblin: Contamination (1980) 03/10/2009

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” ;)]

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