Cory Strand — 213 OST

Minneapolis based Cory Strand is fast becoming one of the most prolific artists with-in the underground HNW/stark ambient scenes- this year alone he has released around 50 releases(many multi disc sets)on his Altar Of Waste label. This recent release sees Strand trying his hand at soundtrack composing, and offering up a compelling & fairly varied collection of brooding & dramatic mainly synth based compositions.

The soundtrack is for a short film student project called 213- the nine minute movie is a throw back to gritty 1970 grindhouse movies. It tells the tale of a young women from a disapproving religious back ground, who is kidnapped by a deranged older couple who live in a isolated snow surrounded cottage in the woods. Stand, who is also a film student who has just passed his cinematography degree, did all the cinematography on the movie too.

The CDR release offers up fourteen tracks in all(only three appear in the finished film) which last between just over the minute & a half, to nearing the five minute mark. Sound-wise there are elements of: 1970’s/ 1980’s synth horror sound track, John Carpenter sub-bass like synthesiser soundtrack, , dark ambience inspired by black metal,  Coil like 1980’s dark post industrial sound tracking, slowed throbbing  bass heavy almost slurred techno inspired electrionca, and on one or two tracks churning & brutal guitar drone is weaved over the morbid & brooding synth melody of the main theme.  The soundtracks main melody is most haunting and effective, nicely conjuring up the edgy snow bound captivity of the film with slow growing tension.

On the whole the soundtrack is well edited, executed & composed, though on a few tracks some of instrumental textures do end in a rather jarring manner; but as this is one of Strands first forays into the soundtrack form these odd errors can be forgiven.  Through out the soundtrack Strand mangers to keep the pace & type of track mixed, so you can happily listen to this all in one go & not get too bored by repartition of similar musical cues.

So if you have a interested moody, and fairly retro based film soundtracking, or dark 70’s/80’s synth scaping this is well worth a look. If you’d like a taste of what to expect from the soundtrack pop over to here, where you can see the whole 213 movie- which in it’s self is a very pro looking student movie that’s got some great atmosphere & setting, effective old school make-up effects, and a creepy/ quirky cast.