imperfection is perfection
Sporadic film reviews by a wanna-be filmmaker
MONDAY @ THE MUSIC – IT FOLLOWS OST
When I saw this film, it didn’t take long for me to decide that I was going to buy the soundtrack. As the film continued this decision was only further cemented, and by the time the credits rolled I stayed in my chair, waiting to see who was behind these jarring, grating sounds.
Disasterpeace is an outfit I am not too familiar with, though I do know they scored The Guest with a less-abrasive but still retro sound. Here the proverbial knob is turned to eleven as they create a soundtrack that is almost as unsettling as the movie. As I mentioned briefly in my review of the film, this approach to creating a soundtrack for a horror film reminded me of the score for the horror classic Suspiria – created by the extremely unconventional prog-rock band, Goblin.
Compare that to the recurring motif of Disasterpeace’s effort:
For two soundtracks almost 40 years apart, they sound quite similar, wouldn’t you say? The most notable difference to my ears is the time periods they were released in, as the Goblin track sounds like some other more experimental prog-rock of the ’70s, while this soundtrack benefits from some great, modern production that makes every different synth very clear. But both I feel succeed in intentionally making you feel uncomfortable and tense.
Disasterpeace have created something special here, as since I first saw Suspiria, I have never heard another soundtrack quite like that Goblin-created mind-trip. This not only succeeds in matching the Goblin album, it supersedes the classic soundtrack. Every track causes me to close my eyes and drift away, sometimes seeing images from the movie in my mind’s eye, sometimes drifting away into a place created solely by the music. It is that strong that it doesn’t remind me of the movie for every second of its runtime, even though I know where it all comes from originally, which to me signals that this is an album strong enough for people to enjoy if they haven’t even heard of the film.
Now this may sound odd, but this is such powerful music that I actually use it to meditate to. Many parts send pleasant chills up my spine if I do this, and not because I am reminded of the movie. A high-end home-theatre set-up helps tremendously in achieving this and the desired effect for this album, as abrasive synthesisers attack from all directions and the floor rumbles with bass, as the album puts on a physical show to go with the audio, sending bass waves pulsating through your body. The best track that illustrates this, although every song possesses this quality really, is track 12, ‘Doppel’. Again I have no idea what scene this relates to, as it doesn’t take long for this album to take on a personality of its own not related at all to the film. This is not something that can be said about many soundtracks. Every song is able to stand strong as its own entity, its own song, rather than simply being a piece of music made only to accompany a film.
The best is saved for last, my favourite track from the album comes from (I assume) the climax of the movie, as it is the second to last track. It combines all the elements of each track previous, while also using the recurring noise motif to perfect effect, creating one monster of a track that sounds unlike anything I have ever heard.
As you can hear, the music is a big part of how the movie manages to make you feel uncomfortable. As I alluded to in my review, I can’t wait to buy the Blu-ray release of this film, as I look forward to watching it with only this OST playing rather than any of the dialogue, which I found to be the movie’s weak point. I might throw in some Goblin tracks to fill the entire runtime of the movie. Now that will be an intense experience!
Anyone who is a fan of noise-rock, heavy music or any abrasive style in general needs to give this at least one listen. Play it, turn it up to eleven, and close your eyes as the synthesisers and drum machines take you into another world. This soundtrack is a big reason why the atmosphere of It Follows is so incredibly thick, and is easily one of the best pieces of music I have ever had the pleasure of listening to, soundtrack or otherwise.
40 Comments on “MONDAY @ THE MUSIC – IT FOLLOWS OST”
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imperfection is perfection 
I really need to see It Follows after reading this.
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Its gonna be in my top 3 for this year for sure, unless three PERFECT movies come out. But regarding soundtracks, this one is just mental. The entire thing can be listened to on Youtube
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That’s high praise indeed, need to get my peachy ass up and go watch it.
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haha!!!
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I’m just repeating what I’ve been told buddy, peachy all the way.
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Life is peachy, eh?
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You could definitely say that.
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This score is up there with Whiplash for me – it’s hard to choose between them for favourite of the year so far. The score is very atmospheric and there’s something very retro about It Follows as a whole that really appealed to me. The whole film could have been an X-File, especially with that open ending.
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indeed, agree with everything you say. The atmosphere is unbelievable, and I love that retro sound. At some points it sounds like they have layered ten synths on top of each other, the sound is just so…. huge!
thanks for reading 🙂
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Yeah this one really does benefit from a cinema viewing just to hear those big synths at full volume!
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Great post, Bro!! I never really even notice music in movies but the score in this is fucking fantastic!
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Mikey I haven’t seen it either!!!!!!! 🙂
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I still need to see It Follows. I think I’m the only person who hasn’t!
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Its never too late 😉
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Fucking oath man! I love it, can’t get enough. I’ve invested in my home-theatre set-up over the years so it seriously sounds like the fuckin’ cinemas in here, this soundtrack makes EVERYTHING vibrate, shit is falling off shelves all over the place. Its awesome 😀
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I NEED THIS SOUNDTRACK ON CD!!!!!!!!!!!
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Great review mate. Some really interesting insights here. I utterly love this soundtrack as well. Will be looking to pick it up on vinyl at some stage. Though I think they were only doing a pretty limited run.
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Thanks mate! A copy of this on vinyl would just be utterly awesome!! I wish I had a record player!!
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Pingback: MONDAY @ THE MUSIC: EX MACHINA | epileptic moondancer
What an incredible soundtrack review Jordan!!!!! I’m jealous 🙂
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Haha, jealous of what? I loved this score so much, I need to start writing about them again. I started and kinda stopped
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Jealous of how good your write up is!!! I still need to review this soundtrack, mine will pale in comparison with yours 🙂
Ah that’s okay, wait until you feel ready to write again! It’s hard keeping up with a blog and other hobbies too.
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Indeed, I need to juggle part time work, a band, and a blog, all while having epilepsy, which doesn’t make things any easier!
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I completely sympathise! And you still need to sleep and relax!!! 🙂
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Indeed. Relaxing is very hard for me, hence I am on anti-anxiety meds, along with the anti-epileptics and everything else I’m on. I have been practising meditation for five years and I’m still pretty crap at it. I have mastered breathing exercises though, which is a type of meditation I guess (‘mindfullness’) and they get me through anxiety often, when my heart starts palpitating or whatever. Its good cos that way my anti-anxiety meds last a lot longer if I can calm myself down without the meds
Sorry I’m rambling, I’m a tad drunk 😀
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That’s okay Jordan! I love talking to you and I don’t care if you’re drunk though I’m a bit jealous HA!
It makes sense to me, it’s far better to calm yourself down naturally – if you can – so that you save on the meds and also it’s great to learn natural techniques to calm you down.
Just the old ‘breathe in through your nose, breathe out through your mouth’ can help me sometimes.
You drink camomile tea at all? It’s a natural sedative and I SWEAR by it, it always makes me feel less anxious when I drink 1 or 2 cups a day. Helps me sleep better too!
Some random guy on the street walked up to me once and gave me a book on Buddhism. So odd, I always kept it in case it was sign. I have tried doing a bit of the old ‘hare krishna’ chants (seriously!) but I just don’t have the right mind for it, I find it VERY hard to relax properly. So I completely understand 🙂
Now I’m rambling and I’m not even drunk lol! No, I’m not stoned either before you ask ha ha ha 🙂
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‘breathe in through your nose, breathe out through your mouth’ – yup, that is the one. I close my eyes and count, while picturing a ladder. Climb up 8 steps, breathe, climb down 8 steps, breathe. I visualise it. But my mind gets distracted soooo easily, its hard to really get into the zone. It certainly helps for anxiety though, as it saves meds like u said. Its a pity that a lot of people with anxiety just aren’t willing to put the effort in. You gotta want to get better, y’know? It takes effort! So many of my friends suffer from it and I suggest meditation, keeping a diary, exercise… and it just goes through one ear and out the other.
Never drunk camomile tea, I’ll have to look it up. I think my mum knows of it.
I’m not all that drunk, just a little tipsy. I’ve learned how to pace myself 😉 And hey I loved talking to you too, its so cool to find someone on my wavelength. If only we could meet up and have a smoke while watching Minions!
I consider myself a buddhist, I believe in its teachings, that god is inside all of us, and that we are all one. That life is this moment, not the past that you can’t change, or the future that you can’t change. My tattoo means that, to always been in the moment, not letting my thoughts stray to worrying about something that happened in the past, or something coming up that I’m nervous about. That’s what meditation is all about, being in the moment and only that. Its hard but I’m slowly getting better. Meditation guides help a lot, I downloaded a ton. They help me focus more.
Phew that’s a long-arse reply, I’ll stop there!
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Ahh you are too kind Em 🙂 Though now I’ve gone back and read this post, I want to write another one now. I think I’ll do The Witch, or High-Rise…. hopefully the tracks are on YouTube
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I just bought The Witch soundtrack!!!! Still waiting for it to arrive though 🙂 High Rise I still need to see, DVD I reckon!
I’ts all true Jordy, I LOVE reading all of your posts because they’re interesting and well written but YOU yourself always shine though and you’re such a nice guy 🙂 that It Follows review was just so awesome!!!!!!!
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You are much too kind Em, I just hope I can finish my book and actually get it printed… or even made as an e-book that costs two bucks. I don’t care about money.
Thank you again for the kind words EmmK, it means a lot to a guy like me 🙂
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I mean every word mmmmmm’kay 🙂 you’re such a nice guy, it shines through and you’re very interesting and creative too. And empathetic and kind – which I always pick up on.
I have no doubt that you’ll get your book printed when the time is right for you 🙂 and I’ll be queuing up to buy it!!! Saying “that’s my friend Jordan!!”
🙂 🙂 🙂
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Hehe, you are a good friend Emmm’kay 🙂 I really really appreciate the kind words, you’ve given me some inspiration to get back into my book
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P.S I love this soundtrack too and often listen to it driving around 🙂
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Hell yeah! I love cranking it up on my home theatre system, the bass sounds amazing
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I bet it sounds electrifying!!!!! Goosebumps etc 🙂
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Yup, totally. It is pure awesome on a good sound system. I could listen to it on repeat for hours!
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When you’re listening to something you love, sometimes you want to blow your ears off don’t you!
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hell yeah! just today I was cruising around a shopping mall car-park with the windows down, with Hendrix at full volume. Everything was rattling, and I bet the entire car-park could hear it, haha! I’m sure they appreciated some good music coming loud out of a car, instead of DOOF DOOF DOOF crap
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DOOF DOOF DOOF, oh my god I can hear that right now. Not literally but I know what you mean. And I always want to say “no-one thinks you’re cool by the way, we all just think you’re annoying!”
Hendrix – legend!!!! I was listening to some Jefferson Airplane this morning on the way to work, so we’ve both been listening to a bit of classic stuff 🙂
DOOF DOOF! Lol.
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I live next to a highway so I constantly hear the goddamn DOOF DOOF. I mean, if I can hear it, how the hell can the driver be enjoying the music?! That’s what I always wonder.
Hahaha and YES, you aren’t cool, you’re a douchebag! Jefferson Airplane, NICE!!! I love CRANKING up old music, the looks I get are so funny cos people are so used to shitty music coming out of cars. And of course when I’m listening to Hendrix I’m banging my head, playing air guitar, drumming on the steering wheel… a friend told me once that he was driving behind me and he could see the car shaking from me enjoying the tunes, hehe 😀
I actually got pulled over once cos I was going so apeshit to a Slayer song. And I was STONED AS FUCK, and I knew it, yet their drug test said all clear. HAHA! Fuck you coppers!!
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