I love Antonioni's films--even the ones like Zabriskie Point and Beyond the Clouds that nobody else seems to like--and, though I know he's not known for electrifying soundtracks (with the exception of Blow-Up) I thought I'd get this CD of music drawn from three of Antonioni's films: L'avventura, L'eclisse, and Deserto Rosso. The pieces range wildly from simple mood melodies to larger orchestrated stuff--always interesting if not inspiring. The poppier pieces are quite fun, especially "L'eclisse Twist," the opening tune from that film--very wild, even campy. Completely out of tune with the film's action and story and, therefore, somehow--I know not how--completely appropriate. The liner notes to this are by Michael Talbott, a SF area musician with a band called The Wolf Kings. The notes are remarkable for their free dissing of the filmmaker and the hyperbolic assessment of Fusco's importance as a film music composer ("equally essential" to Antonioni? I think not.) I looked up Talbott's band, by the way. They're good but would be more impressive if Nick Drake had never existed. ***
Herbie Hancock. Takin' Off. 1962, remastered 2007.
Wonderful debut. I'm exploring this stuff more deeply now. Everyone knows "Watermelon Man," but the pleasures of this record go well beyond that. ****
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