As partners of London Electronic Arts Festival and its programmes of film screenings and performances and since the launch of our new Music For Media online course this month (free course sample HERE), we’ve been particularly inspired by the medium of film of late. If you’re interested in taking a step into the world of composing for film, or just want some cinematic playlists guaranteed to expand your mind, then look no further than our guide to five of electronic music’s great sound to film moments….
1. Tykwer, Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil – Run Lola Run (1998)
Gone to Berlin for a rave-up and can’t get into Panorama bar? Turn that gurn upside down, put this soundtrack on your headphones and run like a crazed beast around the streets of Berlin for two hours to this electrifying soundtrack of pumping techno for the real experience of the Berlin underground. Full soundtrack HERE
2. Vangelis – Bladerunner (1994)
A cinematically perfect soundtrack to LA on a bad day, the score to Ridley Scott’s sci-fi thriller is every bit as epic as the film. Consistently cited as a definitive inspiration from godfathers of techno such as Derrick May and famously inspired by none other than Middleborough’s own dystopian vision of the future ‘Teeside’, it’s one to listen to alone and on headphones and be inspired. Full soundtrack HERE
3. Georgio Moroder – Midnight Express (1978)
Featuring the Italo classic ‘The Chase’, Georgio Moroder’s Academy Award winning soundtrack was a dance floor magnet, and a particularly groovy soundtrack to a film that was about an American college student trying to smuggle hashish out of Turkey in the 70’s. Despite director Oliver Stone subsequently having to apologise to all Turkish people for his unfavourable portrayal in the film, the soundtrack rocks. Full soundtrack HERE
3. Cliff Martinez – Drive (2011)
The soundtrack to millions of ‘Gos’ fans erotic fantasies the world over, Cliff Martinez didn’t hold back on the vintage keyboards to create this intoxicatingly seductive electro pop soundtrack. Kavinsky’s ‘Nightcall’ was drafted in for the opening credits, topping off the perfect accompaniment to this evocative, intense crime thriller. Full soundtrack HERE
4. Matthew Herbert – Life In A Day
From having produced tracks for the likes of Bjork and Roisen Murphy to making sweet music with pigs and vegetables, Matthew Herbert seemed destined to be brilliant at composing for film. Having contributed to several films including Human Traffic, he also contributed to the score of ‘Life In A Day’, the YouTube-sourced film distributed by National Geographic, along with prominent composer Harry Gregson-Williams. Full soundtrack HERE
5. Jon Hopkins – Monsters (2011)
Electronic wunderkind Jon Hopkins composed and performed the complete score of Monsters, a British Sci Fi film, directed by Gareth Edwards. The soundtrack was nominated for an Ivor Novello and it’s a pretty epic body of music to say the least. Full soundtrack HERE.
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Editor’s Note: This is an old article and things have moved on considerably since the original publication date 🙂
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