Joy of Synths #20 Synth Soundtracks

Spotlight Criterion's Synth Soundtracks in this non-musicians guide to creating sounds for podcasts, videos, and sampling for music using analog synthesizers.

Jun 02, 2024

Invisible Art of Movie Soundtracks

My awareness of and interest in modular synths comes from movies, not dance music. This came front and center in Blade Runner 2049, despite seeing a live Modular Synth performance accompanying an orchestra with composer Hans Zimmer and Interstellar.

A lot of my favorite 1982 films had music scores performed on synthesizers. Composers of those soundtracks are regarded today- Wendy Carlos (Tron, though more of a non-synth score), John Carpenter (The Thing), Vangelis (Blade Runner). These weren’t cheesy or schlocky soundtracks. They carried scenes- the technology of the instrumentation was invisible.

Criterion Channel + Synth History

Criterion Channel has a free week promo for new subs. Google that. I used up my free promo years ago so I just subbed. For June 2024, they’re spotlighting films with synth soundtracks. This was co-programmed with Synth History/Danz CM. (site/store link). Issue #3 of Synth History is still available for $25 + shipping, so order a copy and look through their website.

The complete list is: FORBIDDEN PLANET (1956)
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)
SOLARIS (1972)
THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE (1973)
MESSIAH OF EVIL (1973)
SPACE IS THE PLACE (1974)
ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (1976)
THE LAST WAVE (1977)
STALKER (1979)
SHOGUN ASSASSIN (1980)
SCANNERS (1981)
THIEF (1981)
LIQUID SKY (1982)
MISSING (1982)*
NEXT OF KIN (1982)
TENEBRAE (1982)
MERRY CHRISTMAS MR. LAWRENCE (1983)
DELTA SPACE MISSION (1984)
MANHUNTER (1986)
FOR ALL MANKIND (1989)

Criterion Collection

The link from the Synth Soundtracks page is not displaying all the bonus features. A number of above titles have the Criterion Collection special features available for streaming. For example, composer Eduard Artemyev speaks on Stalker. Tangerine Dream on Thief is another feature.

Scroll down the interface for Criterion Editions offerings to find the full features.

Though not synth related, I would suggest looking at composer Angelo Badalamenti interviews on Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive, plus watch the documentary Pretty as a Picture, a bonus feature for Lost Highway.

Alright. I’m going start watching Lost Highway.

Wires that form the words "Joy of Synths"

END NOTE

Next issue of Joy of Synths releases on June 15, 2024. Enjoy Summer 2024!