Ennio Morricone - L'Uccello Dalle Piume Di Cristallo (aka The Bird With The Crystal Plumage) (1970 - 320kbps)

Update: You can find the soundtracks Ennio Morricone composed to the sequels in Dario Argento's Animal Trilogy below:

Ennio Morricone - The Cat o' Nine Tails (1971)
Ennio Morricone - Four Flies On Grey Velvet (1972)

Since we have posted several soundtracks from both Italian films and composers, I thought we were overdue for a soundtrack from one of the most famous Italian composers of the 20th century, Ennio Morricone. Morricone is perhaps best known for the soundtracks he composed for several Western and Spaghetti Western films, particularly those directed by Sergio Leone, such as For A Few Dollars More (1965), The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966), and Once Upon A Time in the West (1968). However, in the late 1960s and early '70s Morricone would deliver a series of amazing scores for giallo films directed by Dario Argento.

"Giallo", Italian for yellow, generally refers to a genre of crime-fiction with elements of horror and psychological suspense. The genre originated in early 20th century pulp fiction books, which often had yellow covers. Giallo went through a transformation in the 1960s, as a series of talented directors such as Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci and Mario Bava each brought their own unique approach and style to the genre using modern cinematic techniques. Fortunately these directors had a large pool of talented composers to choose from, resulting in numerous amazing soundtracks being produced for the Italian horror and giallo films of the 1960s and '70s.

Dario Argento is frequently cited as being one of the most talented directors within the giallo genre. He made his directorial debut with "The Bird With the Crystal Plumage". He would go on to direct two more films in what has come to be called "Argento's Animal Trilogy", directing "Il gatto a nove code" (aka The Cat O'Nine tails) and "4 mosche di velluto grigio" (aka "Four Flies on Grey Velvet"), both of which were released in 1971. In what would lead to the formation of an amazing collaboration between two legendary Italian artists, Dario Argento would turn to Italian composer Ennio Morricone to compose the score to "The Bird With The Crystal Plumage". Morricone would go on to compose the score to both "The Cat O'Nine Tails" and "Four Flies On Grey Velvet" as well.

While Argento's stylistic cinematographic style enticed one's visual sense, Morricone's unique musical compositions appealed to the aural senses. Just as Argento made use of both bright and mute colors to enhance his scenes, Morricone made us of dynamic and contrasting musical compositions to compliment the on-screen action perfectly. Morricone displays his extraordinary range just as he did with Leon's western films, creating masterpieces that are equally beautiful and disturbing. His experimental style requires the use of a broad array of musical instruments, sound effects and human voices, which he weaves together seamlessly, constructing an extra dimension of depth to the films they appear in.

As I mentioned before, "L'uccello Dall Piume Di Cristallo" (aka "The Bird With The Crystal Plumage") is the first film in Dario Argento's Animal Trilogy. With my next two posts I plan to share the soundtracks Morricone composed for both "Il Gatto a Nove Code" (aka "The Cat O'Nine Tails") and "4 Mosche Di Velluto Grigio" (aka "Four Flies On Grey Velvet") The first 10 tracks on this release make up the original soundtrack. In 2008 Cinevox released this remastered and enhanced version of the soundtrack, which is currently out of print. Tracks 11-20 are bonus tracks consisting of various alternate takes.

Year of Release: 1970
Label: Cinevox
Catalog #: CD MDF 630
Genres: Soundtrack/Score, Giallo, Horror
Bitrate: 320kbps

Track List:
1. Violenza INattesa
2. Non Rimane Piu Nessuno
3. Corsa Sui Tetti
4. Se Sei Stonato
5. Svolta Drammatica
6. Fraseggio Senza Struttura
7. La Citta Si Risveglia
8. L'uccello Dalle Piume Di Cristallo
9. Silenzio Nel Caos
10. Piume Di Cristallo
11. Fraseggio Senza Struttura
12. Piume Di Cristallo (#2)
13. Silenzio Nel Caos (#2)
14. Fraseggio Senza Struttura (#3)
15. Piume Di Cristallo (#3)
16. Svolta Drammatica (#2)
17. Fraseggio Senza Struttura (#3)
18. Piume Di Cristalo (#4)
19. Fraseggio Senza Struttura (#5)
20. Piume Di Cristallo (#5)

Download: Ennio Morricone - The Bird With The Crystal Plumage
Download Size: 143MB

Keith Emerson - Inferno Original Soundtrack (1980 - 320kbps)

Continuing with my Italian horror theme for "Halloween Countdown 2010", I present to you the soundtrack to one of my favorite films from Italian director Dario Argento. When Argento directed a film he often turned to the members of Goblin to create the music for the film. The members of Goblin had a hand in creating the music to all of Argento's films from 1975 to 1987, with the exception of one film, Inferno. Argento chose progressive rocker Keith Emerson to compose Inferno's soundtrack because he "wanted a different sort of score from that by Italian progressive group Goblin on Suspiria, a more delicate one".

The version of the soundtrack I'm presenting today is a CD reissue released in Italy by Cinevox in 2004. It contains Keith Emerson's original score, as well as a bonus track "Inferno (Outtakes Suite)". This version is currently out of print and no longer available to purchase from Cinevox. Cinevox later reissued the soundtrack again with additional bonus tracks in 2006.

Unfortunately that is all I have time to write about this soundtrack right now as I have to leave for work in a few minutes. I had hoped to be able to write a full-length review earlier in the day, but things just didn't work out the way I had planned. The idea behind the Halloween Countdown is to present at least one item each day until October 31st arrives, and I'm simply not going to have time to do that unless I post a review from a different source. Fortunately I was able to find a very well written review by on cinefantastiqueonline.com (damn, that's a long name for a website) which I hope will be enough to satisfy your curiosity.

"Although often compared unfavorably to Goblin’s music for SUSPIRIA, keyboardist Keith Emerson’s score for the sequel, INFERNO, is every bit as in tune with the film, perfectly matching the mood and action. Unlike Goblin’s heavy rhythms, shrieking vocals, and shrill synthesizers of the previous film, Emerson employs a much more subtle approach, weaving a score out of quiet piano motifs supported by orchestral arrangements, only occasionally reaching into his electronic bag of tricks for a more outre effect. The result comes closer to a conventional piece of film scoring, underlining the on-screen action without drawing as much attention to itself.

If there is a failing to the music, it is one seen in several Argento films (though not in SUSPIRIA): a disconnect between the music and the visual. Occasionally, Emerson’s music seems to shrill for the scene it accompanies. In the case of Kazanian’s Tarantella” (in which a man is attacked by rats in Central Park during a lunar eclipse), the music builds to a grandiose climax more appropriate for a heroic rescue than a bloody demise. Fortunately, this (relatively minor) problem does not extend to the soundtrack album, where the music can be enjoyed on its own.

Unlike the album for SUSPIRIA (and indeed for other Goblin soundtracks, which gave the impression that the group had simply performed a series of track that Argento then cut into the film wherever he felt like it), the track listing of the INFERNO album follows the film in chronological order. Most of the music consists of delicate piano instrumentals (enhanced by ominous orchestral arrangements), which thread the recurring “Inferno” main title theme throughout the film; the effect is hypnotic and dreamy rather than overtly horrific. For the major suspense set pieces (e.g., “A Cat Attic Attack”), the orchestra kicks in with all the enthusiasm of Bernard Herrmann as his most intense, and Emerson adopts a more frenetic, perscussive style of playing that will be familiar to fans of his work as a progressive rocker.

Providing a break from the piano-orchestral sound that dominates the music are a handful of other tracks. “Rose Gets It” features an eerie wordless vocal (probably achieved with a synthesizer; the effect sounds much like a theremin). “The Library” is a brief piece for solo church organ that manages to evoke a Gothic ambiance without sounding too cliched. ”Taxi Ride (Rome)” and “Cigarettes, Ices, Etc” recreate the old three-piece line-up of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, with bass and drums laying down the rhythm while Emerson layers various, piano and keyboard sounds on top. ”Cigarettes,” the last track on the original album, was apparently intended as the closing title music; instead, Argento reused the track “Mater Tenebrarum,” a sort of rock-and-roll version of Jerry Goldsmith’s OMEN theme, with a vocalist chanting the Latin names of the “Three Mothers” described in a book by an alchemist: Mater Suspiriorum (the Mother of Sighs), Mater Tenebrarum (the Mother of Darkness), and Mater Lachrymarum (the Mother of Tears). A handful of music cues from the movie did not make it onto the old vinyl soundtrack album. These were mostly brief, droning synthesizer bits, used as transitions. Subsequent CD releases include a suite of outtakes.

Although lacking the outrageous impact of Goblin’s work for SUSPIRIA, the music for INFERNO is excellent in its own right. In fact, Emerson’s debut as a film composer far exceeds his subsequent, much less distinguished work on NIGHT HAWKS and MURDER ROCK (although he did contribute some nice work to GODZILLA: FINAL WARS). Those seeking the progressive rock assault of keyboardist’s group efforts (The Nice, ELP) will be disappointed, but taken in its own terms, the music for INFERNO is as good as anything Emerson ever did." - Steve Biodrowski

Year of Release: Original: 1980 | Reissue: 2004
Label: Cinevox (CD MDF 306)
Genre: Soundtrack/Score, Horror, Electronic
Bitrate: 320kbps

Tracklist:
1. Inferno
2. Rose's Descent Into the Cellar
3. Taxi Ride
4. Library
5. Sarah in the Library Vaults
6. Brookbinder's Delight
7. Rose Leaves the Apartment
8. Rose Gets It
9. Elisa's Story
10. A Cat Attic Attack
11. Kazanian's Tarantella
12. Mark's Discovery
13. Mater Tenebrarum
14. Inferno Finale
15. Cigarretes, Ices, Etc
16. Inferno (Outtakes Suite)

Download: Keith Emerson - Inferno
Download Size: 86MB

VA - Phenomena (OST)

First of all, I would like to thank Zer0_II for extending the invitation for me to contribute to this project. It is a great pleasure for me to provide some wicked sounds to all of Digital Meltd0wn's readership this cheery season.

Phenomena is a 1985 horror/fantasy/thriller from Italian director Dario Argento starring Jennifer Connelly, and with music composed by progressive rock band Goblin. This is not the first time an Argento/Goblin soundtrack has appeared here. I thought it would round out the collection nicely. This is a big contender for my favorite Argento movie. It's full of memorable and disturbing imagery, as well as a variety of atmosphere changing from dreamy and hypnotic to full throttle violence. Like all Argento, it's not for everyone. Some people may not be able to get past how absurd the film is, but the film's silliness is only one aspect, and one I happen to enjoy.

This long out-of-print and impossible to find release is evidence of the film's manic mood changes. Even the rock tracks by Iron Maiden, Motorhead, and Andi Sex Gang are entertaining, but the real gems are the Goblin tracks and the contributions by Bill Wyman/Terry Taylor and Simon Boswell. Goblin's Phenomena, is a pop electronic rocker that makes excellent use of female operatic singing, and it is truly unforgettable in my opinion. Their other tracks range from hypnotic, to dreamy and tender. Most people's favorite track (and I am no exception) is Valley by Wyman/Taylor. It probably is the most haunting piece of music I have ever heard. I try not to listen to it too much, because I don't want to wear it out. Often I will measure my enjoyment of something by whether or not it gives me goosebumps, and Valley never fails.

Year of Release: 1987
Label: Cinevox
Catalog Number: CD-CIA 5062
Genres: Soundtrack, Progressive Rock, Hard Rock
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 320 kbps
FLAC upgrade available upon request.

Tracklist:
1. Goblin - Phenomena (4:25)
2. Iron Maiden - Flash of the Blade (4:09)
3. Goblin - Jennifer (3:51)
4. Andi Sex Gang - The quick and the dead (3:33)
5. Andy sex gang - You don't know me (2:38)
6. Goblin - The wind (1:18)
7. Bill Wyman & Terry Taylor - Valley (4:31)
8. Goblin - Sleepwalking (3:51)
9. Motorhead - Locomotive (3:25)
10. Goblin - Jennifer's Friend (3:28)
11. Simon Boswell - The Maggots (1:38)
12. Andi Sex Gang - The naked and the dead (2:37)

Download: VA - Phenomena (1985)
Download Size: 90MB

Goblin - Suspiria Original Soundtrack (1977 - 264VBR)

This was originally uploaded by Allywonderland for the Halloween Countdown of '08. A few of the Sharebee links were no longer working, so I decided to go ahead and reupload this since it fits in with recent posts devoted to Italian Horror movies. The version provided is the original soundtrack released on vinyl in 1977. This has since been reissued a number of times, usually with bonus tracks included, although the version provided here is currently out of print. - Zer0_II

With a number of cult classic movie soundtracks being posted, I've decided to include one of my own personal favorites that unquestionably should be apart of any "Best Of" horror soundtracks list.

Released in 1977, Suspiria is an Italian horror film directed by Dario Argento as the first installment of his "The Three Mothers" horror trilogy. The film has since become a cult classic and has been referenced many times as residence of some of the "scariest" and "most-violent" movie moments, but arguably eclipsing the film is its unique and preeminent soundtrack. In an age with so many uninspired horror soundtracks that read more like a collage of radio singles that don't advanced the movie in any way; gems like Suspiria are exceptional.

Once again, Italian progressive rock group, Goblin was given the task to pen the soundtrack for the Argento film after previous working in concert on the film, Deep Red. Despite releasing a LP entitled Roller, Goblin would, in the end, be best recognized for the score of Suspiria and Zombi Original Soundtrack (Dawn of the Dead)

Year of Release: 1977
Label: Cinevox (MDF 33.108)
Genre: Soundtrack/Score, Horror, Electronic
Bitrate: 264VBR

Track List:
1. Suspiria
2. Witch
3. Opening To The Sighs
4. Sighs
5. Markos
6. Black Forest
7. Blind Concert
8. Death Valzer

Download: Goblin - Suspiria Original Soundtrack
Download Size: 57.59 MB

Goblin - Zombi (Dawn of the Dead) Original Soundtrack

As with the last post, this album was originally posted by Allywonderland for the Halloween Countdown of '08. Some of the links on the Sharebee page were down so I went ahead and reuploaded the album to Mediafire. I figure its about time for me to move on to other areas of the horror genre, so this is going to be my last Italian horror themed post for the time being. I may or may not post one or two more before the countdown ends, depending on whether or not I finish posting all of the material I had originally planned to post. I hope you all have enjoyed the selections I have presented up to this point, as well as those that I will be posting in the near future.

I was pleased to know that a few of you enjoyed Goblin's Suspiria soundtrack; therefore I am going to post the Zombi (Dawn of the Dead) Original Soundtrack.

Originally released in 1978, the Goblin soundtrack was featured prominently in Dario Argento's international cut of Dawn of the Dead. Argento, himself, is also credited on the Goblin soundtrack. However, in George A. Romero's version, the Goblin soundtrack was used sparingly and mixed with stock music scores.

I am posting the reissue of the 1978 release which includes the ten original tracks with seven bonus tracks.


Track List:
1. L'alba dei morti viventi
2. Zombi
3. Safari
4. Torte in faccia
5. Ai margini della follia
6. Zaratozom
7. La caccia
8. Tirassegno
9. Oblio
10. Risveglio
11. L'alba dei morti viventi (Alternate Take)
12. Ai margini della follia (Alternate Take)
13. Zombi (Sexy)
14. Ai margini della follia (Alternate Take)
15. Zombi (Supermarket)
16. L'alba dei morti viventi (Intro-Alternate Take)
17. Zombi (The Living Dead's Voices!) (Bonus Track)

Download: Goblin-Zombi (Dawn of the Dead)Original Soundtrack
Download Size: 64.49 MB

Fabio Frizzi - Zombie (aka Zombi 2) Original Soundtrack (2000 - 320kbps)

Over the course of the next few days I will be serving up a few soundtracks from some of the greatest Italian horror films ever made, directed by such legends as Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci, and Mario Brava. While I think the music that was composed for these films was typically less horrifying than their American counterparts, they still stand as excellent examples of musical composition in their own right. I also feel that it would be almost blasphemous if I neglected to feature them in the Halloween Countdown, and I realize that there will be a lot of Italian horror fans eager to download these.



First up on the menu is the soundtrack Fabbio Frizzi composed for Lucio Fulci's 1979 film "Zombi 2", also known simply as "Zombie" or "Zombie Flesh Eaters". This is the film that helped to revive Fulci's declining career, and easily tops my list of favorite zombie flicks of all time. For the most part I've avoided writing at any length about the actual films the soundtracks I'm posting were composed for, but I simply can't resist devoting a few paragraphs to one of my favorite horror films of all time.



If you haven't had the chance to experience the sheer awesomeness that is Zombie, you really have no idea what you've been missing out on all these years. The zombies are some of the most realistic, horrifying examples of the living dead to ever grace a motion picture to date. The gore is completely over the top and convincing, as was typical with Fulci's films. The shots of zombie hordes devouring human flesh as if they are at an all you can eat buffet are some of the most memorable in the zombie genre. It also includes one of the most infamous and cringe-worthy scenes in the genre, in which the character Paola gets her eye brutally gouged out by a huge piece of splintered wood.



One of the most epic scenes in horror history also takes place within the film, an underwater fight between a zombie and a shark. Let me run that by you one more time - an underwater fight between a zombie and a fucking shark. Any film that actually has the balls to attempt a "zombie vs shark" fight scene, and actually pull it off without making it look utterly ridiculous is a winner in my book. If that isn't enough to convince you to see this film then you have no right to call yourself a fan of horror films. Again, you owe it to yourself to see this if you haven't already.

There have been many different versions of the soundtrack to Zombi 2 released over the years. I don't think that I've ever come across one that simply just contains the score written by Fabio Frizzi, and the version I'm posting today is no exception, although I'm sure one must exist somewhere. Every version that I have found either contains bonus tracks, or is a split release which includes the score to another horror film. The version I'm posting today is referred to as the "Blackest Heart Media Comic Book Edition", not to be confused with the version released by Blackest Heart Media that included music from Cannibal Ferox It is one of, if not the rarest versions of the soundtrack to Zombi 2 to be released.

In 2000 Blackest Heart Media released a graphic novel adaption of the film, written by Stephen Romano. Unfortunately Blackest Heart Media shut down shop sometime in 2002, and it appears as if we have seen the last of them. As with many who composed scores for Italian horror films, Frizzi did not aim to instill a feeling of complete dread in the listener with his music. Instead he opted for a more minimalistic and highly atmospheric approach. His music often relied on the heavy use of synthesizers and slow repetitive rhythms to create an ominous undertone. In addition to Fabio Frizzi's score for Zombi 2, this release also contains a number of extra features. There are several different radio spots for Zombi 2 and a few other films directed by Fulci, a few remixes of tracks from the original score, as well as several excellent tracks from a group named rokOpera (which I admittedly know nothing about), and one track by a group referred to as Cinema Stage Orchestra. All in all I think this is the best version of the soundtrack to be released. I hope all of you Fulci and Frizzi fans enjoy this as much as I have.

Year of Release: 2000
Label: Blackest Heart Media
Genres: Soundtrack/Score, Horror
Bitrate: 320kbps

Tracklist:
1. Fabio Frizzi - The Boat Can Leave Now
2. Fabio Frizzi - Zombie
3. Fabio Frizzi - Eyeball
4. Fabio Frizzi - Escape From the Flesheaters
5. Fabio Frizzi - Leaving Hell (The Cab Ride)
6. Fabio Frizzi - Menard's Duty
7. Fabio Frizzi - Matool
8. Fabio Frizzi - Ann and Peter
9. Fabio Frizzi - Voodoo Rising
10. Fabio Frizzi - Matool (Version Two)
11. Fabio Frizzi - Escape From the Flesheaters (Version Two)
12. Fabio Frizzi - Maggots/Voodoo Rising (Film Version)
13. Fabio Frizzi - Escape From the Flesheaters (Remix Version)
14. Fabio Frizzi - Matool (Remix Version)
15. Fabio Frizzi - Zombies Everywhere....
16. rokOPERA - Biacando's Fire
17. A Roomfull of Dead Friends (Radio Spot)
18. rokOPERA - Zombie 2000
19. Fabio Frizzi - A Very Bad Experience With Extremely Dangerous Dead People
20. Cinema Strange Orchestra - Zombie (Orchestral)
21. You Are What You Eat (Radio Spot)
22. rokOPERA - Peter West / Danger Seeker (Outtake)
23. A Bloody Hand Rises to Grab You (Radio Spot)
24. rokOPERA - Dead Eyes
25. Fabio Frizzi - Just Dead Enough
26. rokOPERA - Reality Is A Nightmare (Remix Fixx)
27. It's Got My Arm! (Radio Spot)
28. rokOPERA - Eating Lucio
29. The Gates of Hell (Radio Spot)
30. rokOPERA Connexion (Goblin Cover)

Download: Fabio Frizzi - Zombie (Blackest Heart Media Comic Book Edition)
Download Size: 157MB