SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN CARPENTER – ANTHOLOGY II (MOVIE THEMES 1976-1988)

JOHN CARPENTER
ANTHOLOGY II (MOVIE THEMES 1976-1988)
SACRED BONES

Following up on legendary cinema mastermind John Carpenter’s 2017 excellent album Anthology: Movie Themes 1974-1998, Carpenter brings us the aptly named soundtrack album Anthology II (Movie Themes 1976-1988).

John Carpenter is widely known as a movie-maker and composer for some of the best science fiction, action and horror movies of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Film tracks included on Anthology II include Escape From New York, Big Trouble In Little China, Prince of Darkness, The Thing, The Fog, They Live, Assault on Precinct 13, and the first three Halloween movies, including the truly bizarre and under-rated Halloween III.

Carpenter has teamed with longtime collaborators Daniel Davies and his son Cody Carpenter to newly record these instrumental themes from the above noted box-office hit and cult classic movies. The movie soundtrack use of synthesizers is synonymous with John Carpenter and his distinctive movie music style. One listen, and each song transports the listener back in time to the theatre or at home on late-night television or on VHS cassette, to the joy of being witness to a Carpenter flick and his vivid music. Carpenter’s electronic music vision is contagious in its evocative ability in concert with the partnered movie scene.

Highlights include “Chariots of Pumpkins” (Halloween III), “69th St. Bridge” (Escape From New York), “The Alley (War)” (Big Trouble In Little China), “Wake Up” (They Live), and “Walk To The Lighthouse” (The Fog). Also included in the album are three previously unreleased and now re-recorded tracks for the movie The Thing.

Anthology II (Movie Themes 1976-1988) is a great re-visit to some of Carpenter’s best films and is highly recommended. Of course, the haunting nature of much of John Carpenter’s music make it especially fitting that it’s been released in October, during the “Season Of The Witch”.

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