...or so I'm ready to argue as a 30 year devotee of this sorely under appreciated genre. So, in an effort to do my part, each week I'll be making recommendations of soundtracks current and vintage, make a fuss over long awaited soundtrack scores finally getting a well deserved release, and in general, make some noise about this often overlooked category. Beyond my long experience as a listener and as a pianist and songwriter, both of which I've put to use in writing a quarterly soundtrack column for the Chicago Tribune, I can only offer my recommendations. You'll discern my taste soon enough and upfront I'd like to make it clear that I'll focus most heavily on SCORE soundtracks. In the end, all criticism is subjective but if I can point a listener toward a little heard soundtrack or strongly advise you to either ORDER IMMEDIATELY or SKIP ALTOGETHER, all the better.
Just time for a quickie soundtrack this time out... But, of course, it’s a great one!
Perhaps one of the most offbeat soundtrack listening experiences this year is provided by The Science of Sleep (Astrakwerks), the definition of a schizophrenic soundtrack if there ever was one. Matching the movie’s constant shift between waking and dreaming and childlike enthusiasm, Jean-Michel Bernard’s score zips around on the disc’s 26 tracks at lightning speed from the punk sounding “Generique Stephane” to the perfectly dreamy “Stephane Visite Appart.” Guitars crash one moment, sonorous cellos emote the next and there's also a lot of tinkly jazz. Dialogue is sprinkled throughout as are a smattering of carefully chosen vintage songs (including “Coutances,” a lovely, rare track from French troubadour legend Dick Annegarn). The whole is startling, sensual, and, duh, very French! A real charmer.