Album Review: Various - The Mule: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Mikey Young’s first foray into curating and scoring a film might surprise; this isn’t a who’s who of the Australian downer-rock underground.

Young’s themed contributions with composer Cornel Wilczek are apocryphal synth bleeds, coloured by the hum and hubris of the film’s 1983 setting. Elsewhere there’s a welcome inclusion from much-missed Young project Eddy Current Suppression Ring (the perennial Colour Television), along with cuts from ‘superband’ Nothin’ Suss that pay homage to Young’s punk roots. Yet the majority of the tracks are synth-driven Australian pop diversions (The Lonely Sailor, Monte Video).