Antonionian: “Into the Night”
[audio:https://alarm-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/06-Into-The-Night.mp3|titles=Antonionian: “Into The Night”]Antonionian, a.k.a. Anticon affiliate and multi-instrumentalist Jordan Dalyrmple, is known for his drumming and production work with Subtle, General Elektriks, and 13 & God. His solo-project name, Antonionian, is inspired by Italian cinema auteur Michelangelo Antonioni. In this piece, penned exclusively for ALARM, Dalrymple picks four upcoming film releases to watch and, more specifically, hear.
Four Forthcoming Film Scores
by Antonionian
1. Cosmopolis by Howard Shore
The general public might know him from the Lord of the Rings movies or, more recently, the Twilight series, but to me, Howard Shore‘s most compelling work has been in collaboration with director David Cronenberg. Starting with The Brood in 1979, Shore helped introduce the “body horror” genre with his dissonant orchestration and spooky synth washes. Videodrome and Naked Lunch wouldn’t be the surreal classics they have become without his otherworldly aural vision. I’m very interested to hear and see what the duo does with a Don Delillo adaptation. Info at www.cosmopolisthefilm.com.
2. We Need To Talk About Kevin by Jonny Greenwood
I’ve always considered Jonny Greenwood to be the most interesting member of Radiohead, and after hearing his scores for Bodysong and There Will Be Blood, I was no less impressed. When the “Popcorn Superhet Receiver” excerpt kicks in with that clattering, cult-y percussion during the pivotal scene in P.T. Anderson‘s epic, I still get chills. Greenwood’s accompaniment to the recent Norwegian Wood is also an intriguing melange of somber string arrangements with lesser known Can jams. Looking forward to his tonal choices for this forthcoming Tilda Swinton thriller.
3. The Future by Jon Brion
Synecdoche, New York‘s brilliance as a film is only matched by its surreal, light-hearted soundtrack by Jon Brion. Punch-Drunk Love was another triumph of wit and beauty that really jelled with its score. With that being said, it makes sense that he would team up with someone as artsy and forward-thinking as Miranda July for her new film, The Future. Brion’s Nilsson-esque charm and July’s hopeless romanticism should make for an engaging experience. Info at www.mirandajuly.com.
4. Khu by Jonathan Bepler
Matthew Barney‘s Cremaster series was so visually arresting that one might overlook the genius of Jonathan Bepler‘s scores. With Khu, an interpretation of the Norman Mailer novel Ancient Evenings, Barney and Bepler seem to have integrated performance art, music, and film into an entirely new form. I’m not sure that it qualifies as a proper film score, but with a sonic palette incorporating such unusual elements as trombone choir, giant harp, and breath mask, its inclusion on this list seemed to be a necessity. There’s a short clip from the score on Bepler’s website, www.jonathanbepler.com.
[Have you pre-ordered yet? Don’t forget to visit the Kickstarter page for Chromatic: The Crossroads of Color and Music, our next book that profiles independent musicians and artists who explore color in unorthodox ways.]