wickerman

Solaris was available from Japan. don't know if it still is (first one to bust crap Guru rhyme gets a nosebop)

i've never seen, nor heard it. is it good. it's been recomended to me in the past.

from http://www.aquariusrecords.org

WICKER MAN, THE -- ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK (Silva America) cd 16.98
Oooh -- a domestic release (somewhat different from the
previously available version issued in 1998 by the UK's Trunk label,
more on that later) of the soundtrack to the amazing and supremely
creepy 1972 British pagansploitation film The Wicker Man! A group of
folk musicians, most of whom appear in the film, bring nordic lyre,
harmonica, concertina, recorders, guitars, hand drums and more (some
psychedelic electric guitar at one point!) to Paul Giovanni's
exceptional Celtic influenced compositions. More than just film
accompaniment music, the soundtrack plays an important role in the
film's characterization of the pagan inhabitants of a remote island
off Scotland (led by their Laird, played by Christopher Lee in what
he considers his greatest role) who are suspiciously reticent in
helping a stuffy, upright Christian policeman (Edward Woodward)
investigate the mysterious disappearance of a young girl. Sometimes
bawdy, sometimes haunting, and ultimately infused with the film's
mounting sense of menace, the songs capture the lusty forces of
nature which embrace death as readily as birth. As much as they work
in the context of the film, these songs form an album that is great
in its own right. Divided into "Songs From Summerisle: Ballads of
Seduction, Fertility and Ritual Slaughter" and "Incidental Music From
The Wicker Man," the tracks are culled from newly unearthed stereo
masters as well as rougher and perhaps more appropriate sounding mono
mixes which originally appeared in the film. Highly recommended, both
for fans of English folk (of the sixties revival and/or "apocalyptic"
varieties) as well as for fans of cult oddities. Truly the "unholy
grail" of film soundtracks, as the Trunk version's liner notes put it.
Oh, if you've got that disc, and are wondering what's different
with this release, here's the lowdown: That 1998 cd release was a
mono recording, taken from the music and effects tapes from the
shortest (86 minute) cut of the film, whereas this new version was
done from the newly-discovered stereo masters of Giovanni's music,
and includes the wonderful song "Gently Johnny" which only appeared
in the longer, uncut version of the film and thus was missing from
the Trunk cd. The sound effects and dialogue aren't mixed over the
songs, as with the earlier version, and as mentioned, this new disc
is organized with a suite of tracks of incidental music and sound
effects presented separately, following the actual songs (rather than
mixed all together, arranged as in the film). However, this new
Wicker Man's running time is actually a few minutes *shorter* than
the previous version, even with "Gently Johnny" included. Hmm. We're
not exactly sure what's missing, presumably some of the incidental
music /effects were edited differently. But no matter, this still
must be considered the definitive Wicker Man soundtrack, because of
its superior stereo sound source, as well as the packaging, which
includes a handsome booklet of photos and text housed beside the cd's
jewel case in a cardboard slipcover.
And if you haven't ever seen the movie, it's on DVD now, go rent it!!
RealAudio: http://aquariusrecords.org/audio/wickergently.rm
RealAudio: http://aquariusrecords.org/audio/wickermaypole.rm
RealAudio: http://aquariusrecords.org/audio/wickermasks.rm
RealAudio: http://aquariusrecords.org/audio/wickerwillow.rm

read a review on the sunday times yesterday...inetresting, i think.

Candidate have just released a set of interpretations and cover versions of the Wickerman soundtrack called 'Nuada'.

hmmmm ... maybe my recording of the "Corn Riggs" song could be added to later editions of that album (when I am recording regularly, obv).

it's a wonderful movie. probably the best english 'horror'/'suspense' film of the period. word is that there's going to be a hollywood remake, possibly involving/starring nicholas cage. i'm choking back vomit.

the movie and the soundtrack are an article of faith in the 'wyrdfolk' community (check out the bruton town list on yahoogroups), and it's easy to see why.

RZA's score to "Ghost Dog" needs a domestic release, so I can actually listen to it.

now if rza did the soundtrack to a wickerman remake...

actually, it'd still be a pretty bad idea.

rza's supposed to be scoring the new tarantino though, but i apparently that metallica bloke is also involved, which doesn't bode especially well

uh, is it just a silly joke that i read the Arcade Fire are gonna do the soundtrack to the remake?