From Jóhann Jóhannsson to Clint Mansell: Hot Corn’s playlist

RESURRECTION – Hildur Guðnadóttir & Jóhann Jóhannsson. From Mary Magdalene. The outstanding score to Mary Magdalene was composed by Icelandic duo Hildur Guðnadóttir & Jóhann Jóhannsson, tragically departed last month at the top of his game. He recorded incredible neo-classical albums published by Deutsche Grammophon along as monumental film scores (Prisoners,Sicario, Arrival). Cellist Hildur Guðnadóttir counts many collaborations such as Throbbing Gristle and Múm. She also toured with Animal Collective and Sunn O))). This highly awaited album is one of the best things we’ve heard from legendary Jóhann Jóhannsson – assisted by Hildur Guðnadóttir –, as moving as innovative.

MAIN THEME – Alan Silvestri. From Avengers Infinity War. An unprecedented cinematic journey ten years in the making and spanning the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinite War brings to the screen the ultimate deadliest showdown of all time. The album features the film’s original music composed by Alan Silvestri (Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, Ready Player One) who has previously scored the original 2012 Avengers movie, as well as Captain America: The First Avenger.

BETWEEN THE BREATHS – Mitski feat. Xiu Xiu. From How to Talk to Girls at Parties – From the raucous dual imaginations of fantasy laureate Neil Gaiman and glam-rock multi-hyphenate John Cameron Mitchell comes the electrifying and singular pop extravaganza film, How To Talk To Girls At Parties. The British-American science fiction romantic comedy stars  had its world premiere at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival and stars Elle Fanning, Alex Sharp, Nicole Kidman, Ruth Wilson, and Matt Lucas. Nico Muhly e James Stewart wrote the movie score but the soundtrack also includes many songs. One of theme is Between the Breaths by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Mitski and American experimental band Xiu Xiu formed in 2002 by Stewart himself.

THE KING’S CHOICE – Johan Söderqvist. From The King’s Choice – Quartet Records presents the soundtrack album of The King’s Choice, Erik Poppe’s historical drama about Norway’s involvement in World War II. Norway’s official submission for Best Foreign Language Film features Jesper Christensen as King Haakon VII. Johan Söderqvist builds his film on a handful of memorable themes. One of the key ideas is urgency – since the events take place in only three days, the sense of urgency is represented by a ticking clock effect. The dark shadow of fascism looms over with a theme written for low-register brass,electronics and low drums.

MATHILDE AND THE BALLON RIDE – Marco Beltrami. From Mathilde – Quartet Records presents the soundtrack album of Marco Beltrami’s music for the controversial Russian historical film Mathilde, directed by Aleksey Uchitel. The movie tells the story of the supposed romantic relationship between the heir to the Russian throne, Nicholas Romanov, and the ballerina of the Imperial Theater, Matilda Kshesinskaya. Beltrami uses handful of themes to underscore the forbidden affair. The other major thematic elements include a lively chase theme written around a violin solo and a sinister theme for the proto-Rasputin mystic Dr. Fishel and some chase sequences.

THE NIGHT CAFE – Clint Mansell. From Loving Vincent – Loving Vincent is the biographical animated film from newcomer directors Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman. A film unlike any other, the movie is entirely hand painted using the same techniques as Vincent van Gogh. In addition to being a wonder for the eyes, Loving Vincent is a treat for the ears. Scoring duties fell to English composer Clint Mansell (Requiem For A Dream, Black Swan), who has crafted a masterpiece. Somber yet driven, Mansell’s compositions are filled the swell of mournful strings pocked with delicate, deliberate notes in countermelodies. Thanks to Milan Records Loving Vincent‘s score is now available on vinyl with packaging designed by director Dorota Kobiela.

HEARTH-SHAPED BOX – Ramin Djawadi. From Westworld 2 – Chaos takes control in a new narrative of the series that explores the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin. The HBO American science fiction western thriller television series created by Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy and based on the 1973 film of the same name has returned for a ten-episode second season. Ramin Djawadi (Game of Thrones, Iron Man) is once again the theme music composer. One of the tracks chosen for Westworld 2 is Heart Shaped Box by Nirvana. The song, written by Kurt Cobain, released in 1993 as the first single from the group’s third and final studio album, In Utero.

MOBY DICK – Christopher Lennertz. From Lost in Space Christopher Lennertz, best know for his work in Horrible Bosses, Galavant and Agent Carter, wrote the score for Lost in Space. Written by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless, the American science fiction television series is based on the 1965 series of the same name and follows the adventures of a family of pioneering space colonists whose ship veers off-course. The tv series stars Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins and Mina Sundwall.

DOCTOR JORDAN – Mychael and Jeff Danna. From Alias Grace Previewing at Toronto International Film Festival, the mini-series is directed by Mary Harron and Sarah Gadon and based on the historical fictional novel by Margaret Atwood. The series traces the true-life story of Grace Marks, a young poor Irish immigrant servant and James McDermott, a stable hand, who were both convicted of murdering their employers in Upper Canada during 1843. Marks who was vindicated after three decades behind bars went on to become a notorious figure while McDermott was hung. Mychael’s inspiration for the score was to create something that mirrored “the formal rigidity of British Colonial 19th Century society”. Earth Recordings and Lakeshore Records release Alias Grace for the first time on limited edition double LP.

BARBARELLA – Charles Fox. From Barbarella – The classic 1968 science fiction film directed by Roger Vadim and starring Jane Fonda celebrates its 50th anniversary with a limited edition repress of the classic soundtrack on LP. The album includes the legendary song Barbarella with a vocal by The Glitterhouse, as well as the song An Angel Is Love with a vocal by Bob Crewe, The score was composed by Charles Fox. The packaging mimic’s the original release, but the LP appears for the first time on heavyweight 180 gram black vinyl. Limited to 500 copies and hand numbered. Available only on VareseSarabande.com.