Keith Emerson — At The Movies
Each of the three discs covers a country- so disc one takes in US Movies, disc two the Italian movies, and lastly disc three the Japanese movies- each of these discs has a running time of well over 70 minutes. The set comes in a glossy colour box, with each of the disc coming in their own cardboard folder. The sets topped off with 16 page inlay booklet- this takes in a six page write-up about Emerson & his soundtrack work by respected musical journalist Malcolm Dome, as well as full credits for each soundtrack.
So first up we have disc one(the US disc), and this takes in two full movie soundtracks. First up we have the soundtrack for 1981’s Nighthawks- this was cop/ terrorist thriller that featuring Sylvester Stallone & Rutger Hauer in leading roles. This soundtrack takes in 11 tracks in all, and offers up a mixture of dramatic orchestration ,showy ‘n’ stabbing synth & piano work, edgy chase like percussive fills , the occasional funky bass line, and sassy yet showy play-ness.
Second-up on disc one we have the soundtrack for 1984’s Best Revenge- which was a drug dealer thriller,that told of American tourist visiting Spain who is forced to take part in a $4 million drug deal, because his best friend has been kidnapped and is being tortured by the drug kingpin who set up the operation. Featured here we get eight tracks from the soundtrack, and these move between synth whooshing 'n' guitar tipped bright to more moody orchestration. Onto elegant & ornate classical piano tracks, which are sometimes swooned with subtle string detail. Through to piano & keyboard led 80’s blends of prog, pop-rock, lite funky & jazzy sound-tracking.
Moving onto the second disc( the Italian disc), and first up we have Emersons' first & most known soundtrack- the soundtrack for Dario Argento’s Inferno. This 1980 movie was the second in the directors Three Mothers trilogy (which consisted of 1977’s Suspira, Inferno, and 2007’s The Mother of Tears). Inferno was a highly stylized mixture of beautifully made set pieces, grand gothic atmosphere, and gory murder. It told of American college student in Rome and his sister in New York investigate a series of killings in both locations where their resident addresses are the domain of two covens of witches. Emerson’s soundtrack for the film takes in 16 tracks, and is wonderful mixture of: felt/creepy–to-dramatic classic piano runs. Moody, big & baroque orchestration. Bouncing & stabbing mixes of prog rock/ Symphonic rock, which blend together weaves of piano, synth, organ & rock guitar searing tones. And grand church organ & synth bombastics, which tipped with operatic vocalizing.
Next on disc two we have four tracks from Emerson’s soundtrack for 1989’s arty & atmospheric horror The Church- the film was plotted around a old Gothic cathedral, built over a mass grave, that develops strange powers which trap a number of people inside with the ghosts of a 12th Century massacre. The four tracks on offer here mixing together brooding & ominous church organ runs with very 80’s sounding electronic beats & synthetic orchestration.
Lastly on disc two we have eight tracks from Emerson’s soundtrack for 1984’s Murderock. This Lucio Fulci directed movie was a blend of Giallo & tacky eighties dance theme- it told of the owner of a prestigious New York ballet school who teams up with a male model to solve a series of bizarre murders of a few of the students.
This soundtrack is very much of a 1980’s synth & electronic drum heavy affair, with dips into AOR focused lite pop rock styling’s & lite prog rock. The tracks moving between the bright, chessey, and boyuant. Onto flamboyant & showy, through to the rather tacky brews of soaring 80’s female singing & prog focused pop rock sound-scaping.
So lastly we have disc three( the Japanese disc). This disc offers up just two soundtracks, and the first of these is 1985 Harmagedon: The Great Battle with Genma. The film was an animated sci-fi tale which told of a post-apocalyptic world, where mankind has been subjugated by a demonical tribe known as Genma. Featured here are six tracks which are all very 80’s synth bound affairs, that find Emerson moving between grand & classical themes, onto slightly funk tipped synth bound epic-ness, through to more playful & cheeky blues runs.
Second on disc two we have the soundtrack for 2007’s Godzilla: Final Wars- this was a 50th Anniversary Godzilla movie, in which Gojira (Godzilla) travels around the world to fight his old foes plus a new, mysterious monster named Monster X. On the disc you get 14 tracks, these move between dramatic & orchestration score. And oriental melody tinged mixers of high velocity techno 'n' moody electronica, which is sometimes tipped with scorching guitar elements.
So in summing up this box set I’d say it’s great to have all of Emersons' soundtrack work in one place, sure it’s a fairly mixed bag going from effective & epic, to slightly cheesy & more than a little dated. But if you’re a fan of Emersons work, or enjoy more flamboyant & prog/ classical tinged soundtracking this is worth a look.