ANGELO BADALAMENTI Vinyl & CDs

Review: Before Twin Peaks and all that followed, director David Lynch and composer Angelo Badalamenti had worked together just once: on the former's 1986 mystery noir movie Blue Velvet. Lynch asked Badalamenti to create an original score inspired by both the works of Shostakovich and the smoky, clandestine atmosphere found at blues and jazz clubs. These two musical threads are explored on side A and B respectively. So, while the first side contains numerous sweeping, dark and moody orchestral compositions, turn the record over and you'll find classics from Roy Orbison and Bill Doggett, as well as Badalamenti's spine-tingling interpretation of pop standard "Blue Velvet". Featuring a mixture of simmering strings, breathy female vocals and atmospheric field recordings, it's as creepy a version of the much-covered song as you'll hear.

Review: As an ode to the upcoming remake of David Lynch's infamous Twin Peaks, there is a flurry of Angelo Badalamenti reissues at the moment. In fact, both this original soundtrack, which is the official music as heard in the 1992 film, and the Fire Walk With Me spin-off have both resurfaced as reissues this week. Unsurprisingly, we recommend for you to snap up both because they have been something of a rarity over the last 10 years. Timeless and iconic from start to finish, this soundtrack is not for the faint of heart, and will likely stir some feelings upon initial listen. This will be all the more palpable if you were shocked and eternally intrigued by the movie. We were, of course, and we absolutely cannot wait for the new series either!

Review: Angelo Badalamenti is to noir thrillers what Ennio Morricone is to the spaghetti Western scene. The Italo-American composer has been a pivotal part of the Hollywood soundtrack scene since the 70s and, among many cult-like figures, he's collaborated extensively with the great David Lynch on projects such as Blue Velvet and, of course, the present Twin Peaks, a film which has reached a God-like status over the last two decades. The music from the motion picture is as vivid and dream-like as the film itself; Badalalementi immerses you in a world of Neo-gothic trance and bizarre, fairy-like dances that instantly recall the movie's infamous dance scene concerning two horses. What is most notable about it is his use of subtle jazz nuances and the man's pioneering downtempo style. NB: this particular release, Fire Walk With Me, features additional music and acts as a companion to the official soundtrack as heard in the movie. What a soundtrack. Totally essential.