Customer Reviews

Music for Imaginary Films

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I just got this CD and was surprised to see the above review which calls it "exhilerating, irresistable house electronica!". There are in fact strains of electronica here, but that is only a small part of the menagarie of styles coming together here. Furthermore, it is quite definitely not house music. This is not a dance album. Its a laid back Jet-Set style lava lamp music album. I really like it, but don't buy it if what you are looking for is an album that "uplifts and maintains a tight beat at the same time!" The album is a delicately crafted post-modern exploration of music and cinema; each song explores the depth (or sometimes, lack thereof) of movie music by creating soundtracks for movies that don't exist. Every song corresponds to a fictional movie poster in the liner notes and is meant to forces you to question just what is it about cinema that evokes so many emmotions and what role the vehicle of music plays in that evocation. "Very creative" - yes; "very dancable" - no, my friend. You are mistaken, this is in fact NOT "a must for house lovers!".

The second full-length CD (after All-In) of Dutch duo Arling & Cameron is filled with songs from imaginary film-scores. Ranging from a French policier to German existentialist drama and 70's sci-fi picture, this CD brings you the best songs from movies that never existed. This quite ambitious project is to a certain extent extremely succesful: some of the songs (most notably Le Flic et la Fille, Spacebeach and Shiva's Daughters) succeed in conjuring up a complete picture. The question is: when will someone actually make these pictures! The most audience-friendly song on this CD is Let's get higher: Dutch Daft Punk and a potential (minor or major) hit. However, some tracks are considerably weaker: New Day, W.E.E.K.E.N.D. and Zona Sul sound like The Carpenters with a rather tedious and repetitive sounding drum 'n' bass beat. But the major point of criticism must be the liner notes in the booklet. All the tracks are accompanied by a very nice-looking poster of the imaginary film (or tv-pilot) but also with some painfully unfunny comments about the movie which the songs are supposed to be part of. So, just look at the booklet (but don't read it) and enjoy the many excellent tracks on this CD (and skip the few bombs), although I think Arling & Cameron are capable of much more

This is the perfect album for those times when you're so frustrated about what to listen and can only settle on a couple of songs from one artist and maybe a couple from another. Covering a wide breadth of cinematic scoring, Arling and Cameron have crafted a a perfect tribute to soundtrack legends like Bernard Herrmann and Angelo Badalamenti. Haunting, lush, dark, airy-no base is left untouched in this record.

Absolutely excellent feel good and funny album.. i have it waking me up in the morning.. :-) Beautifull loungy easytuney music..

This one will take you to an uplifting journey through the 60's, 70's, 80's, a dreamy hour of smooth and groovy music. You will be longing those days even if you haven't been borne then yet.

Another great release from Arling and Cameron. "Music for Imaginary Films" combines disco, lounge, and 60's easy listening with modern drum tracks.

The booklet that comes with the cd is just as interesting and quirky as the album itself. Each track has a small synopsis giving info on the "story" behind the track and some insight on the imaginary film.

I wouldn't excatly call it a dance oriented album, but it dose have some nifty beats, especially on "Lets Get Higher," that song makes no bones about being disco funk. It is not as abstract as "ALL IN," but if you loved "ALL IN" you will enjoy this release.

This music just makes me smile. You gotta love it! Open up your heart, soul, and ears. Let yourself grin. This music makes it easy.

When Arling & Cameron say MUSIC FOR IMAGINARY FILMS, they mean it. These tracks seem to be pre-made for soundtrack-readiness, and a wide range of movies as well. "Le Flic et La Fille" is a swingin' 60's French party, while "1999 Spaceclub" is a jazz bumper on the moon (or somewhere thereabouts). "W.E.E.K.E.N.D." and "Spacebeach" are summery celebrations (both with hints of Brazilian samba), complete with guitar and graceful vocal harmonies. Sure, there's plenty of cheeky cheesiness ("Hashi," "Let's Get Higher," "The Only Guy") but it's balanced by the more serious tracks like the smooth "Milano Cool" or the uplifting "New Day." The rhythms tend towards simple patterns, but fit the tracks' mood well -- witness, for example, the two versions of "Zona Sul." "Hermann" is a theremin-induced homage to Bernard Hermann, who composed several soundtracks for Hitchcock (including the famous strings for the "shower scene" in Psycho). Overall, an enormously fun album.

Buy this record ! Gorgeous music - you won't regret it ! Listen for yourself....

Good amount of songs like 1999 Spaceclub, W.E.E.K.E.N.D., Milano Cool, New Day, both Zona Sul mixes and Spacebeach. These song make this album worth getting. I hope they stick to music like these songs here and not jump off too far into the just plain weird.