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Anthology: The Classic Scores Of John Carpenter All In One Place

Alex Sievers
Originally Appeared In

You know you want this.

You know you want this. 

John Carpenter is a living legend of modern cinema, that much is indisputable. Halloween, They Live, The Thing, Escape From New York - the list of classic movies that the U.S. director has guided and created is impressive to say the very least. For me, personally, his 1982 take on The Thing remains one of my favorites movies of all time, and I know I'm not alone in that sentiment.

However, it's not just the now 69-year-olds directing abilities that have won him such revered praise over the decades, so too was it due to his grand compositional efforts off-screen as well. Whether it was the minimal, synthesizer-driven 80's-as-all-hell soundscapes that underpinned the likes of Halloween, Escape From New York, and Assault on Precinct 13 or even his sound work for the 1998 supernatural Western flick, Vampires (work which also awarded him a Saturn Award for Best Music as well) all acting as fitting scores to their on-screen scenes; the cult film icon's musical work is also highly regarded.

Now, the esteemed "Master Of Horror" actually performed many of his old scores live in a string of internationally sold-out concert dates last year, but you won't have to worry about waiting for the next time he tours Australia, as ‘Anthology: Movie Themes 1974-1998’ will scratch that itch for you. This new compilation record collects 13 classic themes (a fitting number) from Carpenter’s illustrious career.

'Anthology…’ is a near-comprehensive survey of Carpenter’s greatest scores, from his no-budget debut film, the sci-fi Dark Star, to Halloween’s iconic 5/4 piano riff, those eerie as fuck synths in The Fog, to covering Ennio Morricone’s depressively bleak soundtrack for The Thing, and going right on through to Vampires. Also included on this record are new takes on the classic fan-faves, from the incredibly campy Big Trouble in Little China (a movie that's as ridiculous as it is good, and it's pretty goddamn ridiculous), Escape From New York, and the ass-kicking of They Live, along with the slightly lesser-known romantic romp, Starman, which also earned the ineffable Jeff Bridges his first ever Oscar nomination as a lead actor. Nice one, Carpenter!

This new collection begins with the 80's synths meets rocking, heavy themes of 'In the Mouth of Madness' (the director's 1994 film adaptation of HP Lovecraft's classic literary work of the same name). It's a track that sounds unmistakenly like an old Metallica tune, just with some bright 80's synths thrown in for good measure, and you can stream it in full below.

‘Anthology: Movie Themes 1974-1998’ will be released in Australia and New Zealand via Sacred Bones/EVP Recordings on October 20th. Movie buffs, get your shit ready!

Pre-orders for 'Anthology...' can be snatched up right here.