ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK : el topo
While not an electronic music release per se, Alexandro Jodorowsky's 1970 soundtrack to the film of the same name has always been viewed by me, and certainly many others, as a fascinating mixture of heartfelt circus sentimentalism, and clattering percussion, along with hints of the bizarre. Seen by many as pretentious even in the context of the late 60's and early 70's, I have always been of the opinion that the film El Topo was the work of a renaissance man who was willing to take creative chances that while not always successful more often than not resulted in images of great evocative beauty. The soundtrack, though indebted to Ennio Moricone, curiously points the way to Moricones' Mission soundtrack. Part spagetti-western, part morality play and zen parable, El Topo has proven to be an influence on many artists from Dennis Hopper to David Lynch. The piece that ends the soundtrack, La Primera Flor Despues Del Diluvio(The First Flower After the Flood) is breath-taking; starting with what sounds like heavily distorted electronic noise/instruments morphs into the sounds of a crying baby after which Master Musicians of Joujouka-like trance horn sounds joyously appear followed by the flute theme with swelling orchestration that started the film/soundtrack. A distant wind quietly proclaims the end. Mystic/madman/artist, Jodorowsky is a man to watch and listen to.
While not an electronic music release per se, Alexandro Jodorowsky's 1970 soundtrack to the film of the same name has always been viewed by me, and certainly many others, as a fascinating mixture of heartfelt circus sentimentalism, and clattering percussion, along with hints of the bizarre. Seen by many as pretentious even in the context of the late 60's and early 70's, I have always been of the opinion that the film El Topo was the work of a renaissance man who was willing to take creative chances that while not always successful more often than not resulted in images of great evocative beauty. The soundtrack, though indebted to Ennio Moricone, curiously points the way to Moricones' Mission soundtrack. Part spagetti-western, part morality play and zen parable, El Topo has proven to be an influence on many artists from Dennis Hopper to David Lynch. The piece that ends the soundtrack, La Primera Flor Despues Del Diluvio(The First Flower After the Flood) is breath-taking; starting with what sounds like heavily distorted electronic noise/instruments morphs into the sounds of a crying baby after which Master Musicians of Joujouka-like trance horn sounds joyously appear followed by the flute theme with swelling orchestration that started the film/soundtrack. A distant wind quietly proclaims the end. Mystic/madman/artist, Jodorowsky is a man to watch and listen to.
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