Customer Reviews

Mysterious Skin / O.S.T

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Harold Budd and Robun Guthrie created magic with the score to the film Mysterious Skin. Listened on its own, this soundtrack is the perfect complement to the chilling film. Each track stunning on its own works seamlessly into one another to form a gorgeous collage of emotionally-charged instrumentals that amazingly reflects the mood of the poignant film then re-creates every scene in your mind. At times, the songs leave you feeling chilly and distant like the way it felt in the film.

One of the best scores of the year!

Some pretty gorgeous melodies here, and they all seem achingly sad. Doubly so since Budd has decided to retire from music. Some of them seem cribbed from earlier works (one sounds like a note-for-note remake of a tune from The Pearl), but it's not so much a repeat as a variation on a theme. Very much like Moon and the Melodies, minus the vocals, and much in the vein of The Serpent (In Quicksilver). Lots of piano sustain, wide synth washes, minor keys. Perfect mood music for lazy Sunday afternoons, solo hikes in dark forests, and floating adrift at sea in a life raft.

I feel like I've been living inside this record the last few days. It is that wonderful and rich a musical experience. I don't plan on seeing the film to which this is incidentally a soundtrack, but I am an enormous fan of Guthrie (Cocteau Twins fan) and Budd, so finally hearing them do a full-on duet album is just fantastic.

It's hard to believe they hadn't done one like this until now, seeing as how they've occasionally worked together at intervals since at least 1986's monumentally gorgeous _The Moon and the Melodies_, but better late than never! They go together perfectly because the two of them do very comparable things with their respective instruments: they both have a ginger, intimately familiar touch on their instruments as regards the actual physical contact of musician-on-instrument, as well as a uniquely compelling and visionary feel for the possibilities of sonic space unique to their own instrument. There's a phrase that comes to mind to describe this same thing that they both do: tangible ether.

It's a good mix of material here, which seems to be split among Guthrie-type songs that Budd plays on and Budd-type songs that Guthrie plays on. There's your shorter, atmospheric interlude pieces, and somewhat longer, more fully-developed compositions. Many of these, such as "Neil's Theme," "Snowfall," "Halloween," and "Twilight" are among the most gorgeous pieces of music you'll ever hear, and are alone worth the price of the disc. Beg, borrow, or steal (Better yet, just BUY the thing! And NOW!) this record, and soak in it. Yes indeed, music fan, you now have in front of you a record in addition to The Pearl, Victorialand, and Imperial with which you can do that. Thank you, guys, for this magnificent music, and, although I specifically don't want to see the movie this is a soundtrack to, thank you, Gregg Araki, for putting Robin and Harold to it.

To be quite honest, I never heard of this film or its score until about a month ago.The two reasons I sought it out: Robin Guthrie and Harold Budd.I was not surprised at the the beautiful work these two have created here and though it is different than their other colaborations the quality of the work never changes, they are the best at what they do.If you like what you hear on this score then I very much recommend Guthrie's and Budd's other works as well. You will find that your adventure that began with the music youve heard here will continue to take you down many other paths in their other works!
This disc will remain in my collection permanently.

I'll admit up front I'm not a big Greg Araki fan and have no intention of seeing this movie. I could not pass up another collaboration between Harold Budd and Robin Guthrie and bought this soundtrack without even having heard anything from it, though. I was not disappointed. In the three days I've owned this disc, I've listened to it numerous times. It is some of the best work either of these artists have done and they bring out the best in each other. It is very emotional music that remains dark and haunting while somehow still being light and beautfiul at the same time. It is never overwhelming and some of it's textures and emotions gently drift to the surface throughout the disc. Again, fans of either of these artists or of the field they work in should buy this immediately.

Do yourself a favour and order this CD now! Go on... stop reading now and just buy it.
This collaboration is absolutely fabulous. Short shimmering pieces of sonic beauty. If you love "The Pearl" by Budd/Eno you will find this recording essential as well.
The album of 2005.

I nearly melted down in shock when I learned that Harold Budd and Robin Guthrie reunited to produce music again - the first time since 1986' THE MOON AND THE MELODIES. But it is true, and the results are once again, stellar. I have no idea if this film is any good, but Araki is to be praised for choosing them to score his film. Like any Budd recording, it is best suited for listening in a calm, quiet, isolated surrounding. This is such perfect music for sitting inside watching rain, or with the all the lights out in the presence of a lusted one. Relax and let your mind space out...

The movie Mysterious Skin is often a harsh unflinching look at male prostitution and child molestation but it was so well made and offset by such a beautiful score it worked.Here on it's own the score by Robin Guthrie and Harold Budd turns out to be extremely good on it's own.Back in the 80's Harold Budd and Brian Eno turned ambient music into an art and this is a welcome return for Budd which will hopefully introduce a whole new generation to his music.The soundtrack not only works as soothing background music but if you listen to it in it's entirety it's hypnotically satisfying.It's a measure of greatness of ambient music if it's as interesting in the foreground as it is in the background and Mysterious Skin succeeds in that aspect.Also because there are no big John Williams type numbers that totally belong to certain movie scenes you can enjoy this soundtrack without ever having to see the movie.(though you ought to see the great film)

When I saw Mysterious Skin I fell in love with the musical score. The soundtrack is as powerful and moving as the film. Neil's Theme is one of the most bittersweet melodies I have ever heard. It is aching and beautiful at the same time. This CD is on constant rotation in my stereo. The soundtrack to Mysterious Skin is a must-have for anyone who was enraptured with the film.

Now this is the kind of music you can soothe your soul to after having viewed this brutal film (and believe me you just might need to!) These songs remind me of paradise and snoozing on clouds while angels snuggle up next to you (with the exception of the halloween track). The one thing I wasn't to happy with was I missed the mixed array of bands that are a signature to Gregg Araki's other soundtracks. I really liked the beggining song to the movie "Golden Hair" from Slowdive. Just fabulous. If anything I will be hunting down Slowdive albums for a while. Nonetheless this soundtrack will provide great background for a night of relaxing, no matter how your day went (or how turbulent your life has been)