CiTR -- Exploding Head Movies

The return of October means the month long dive into horror film scores! We kick things off with some vintage spooky sounds via Hans Erdmann's partially recovered music from FW Murnau's 1922 classic Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror paired with a metafictional account of that film shoot from Dan Jones' score to 2001's Shadow of the Vampire. We conclude our Vancouver International Film Festival profi...

Change of plans as we dive into the meta-radio found on Quentin Tarantino's 9th film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, harkening back to when the hippie dream ended. We also continue with our Vancouver International Film Festival synopses and other autumn goings-on. 1. Syd Dale: Ready for Action [The Illustrated Man advert] (Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood OST, 2019) Sony/Columbia 2...

Autumn's picking up steam as the Vancouver International Film Festival starts this week, New Forms Festival happens over the weekend and so many acts in town. Main profile will be on PJ Harvey's recent soundtrack work for All About Eve & The Virtues. 1. Haviah Mighty: Bag Up (13th Floor, 2019) self-released 2. Watering: Tall Basser (Songs, 2015) self-released 3. Nitzer Ebb: Let Your Body Learn (Th...

It's been a while since we've had a profile on the seminal film scorer Ennio Morricone. Let's go back fifty years to Sergio Leone's genre-definite Western, 1969's Once Upon a Time in the West. We also pay tribute to Austin's Daniel Johnston (1961-2019) and preview some of the bands playing on UBC campus for free & live on CITR this week. gak thinks you have two horses too many for this show (bang...

The legendary animator Richard Williams (1933-2019) worked on many films during his career but he made his mark with the mixed-live action 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Along with Alan Silvestri's noir yet cartoony score, we'll highlight some acts playing in town this week, including those at the Westward Music Festival, amongst other new songs & end of summer vibes. 1. Mr Merlot: Love's Goin...

The unofficial end to summer ties into Labour Day as the start to a new school year is nigh. Let's pretend it's still a carefree time with jetboats and tropical freedom as we dig into Jan Hammer's glorious synth score to the 1980s Miami Vice series. No Lambos with learners here; gak is a professional grade driver and he'll guide you along these stops this episode: 1. Exposé: Point of No Return (Ex...

In honour of actor Peter Fonda (1940-2019), we hop on our choppers & go back fifty years to his New Hollywood defining film: 1969's Easy Rider. We also touch upon soundtracks from other films of his: The Wild Angels, Race with the Devil, The Trip & The Limey. 1. Aretha Franklin: The Weight (This Girl's in Love with You, 1970) Atlantic 2. Nick Storring: Nothing Seems to Rhyme (Gardens, 2014) Scisso...

With the recent passing of bossa nova pioneer João Gilberto (1931-2019), it's time for our semi-regular Brazilian-theme episode. This time around, we'll go all over the map and amongst the soothing guitars and scorching sambas, we'll share some songs from the Tropa de Elite film series amongst other imaginary movies. gak attempts to isolate all growing disasters to little good. 1. Daphni: Sizzling...

With the recent passing of the Nobel & Pulitzer prize winning author Toni Morrison (1931-2019), we'll profile Rachel Portman's score to the 1999 film adaptation of the novel Beloved. We'll also tip our hats to The Meters' Art Neville (1937-2019) & Silver Jews' David Berman (1967-2019). 1. Beyoncé, Tierra Whack, Moonchild Sanelly & Nija: My Power (The Lion King: The Gift, 2019) Parkwood/Columbia 2....

It’s a civic holiday on Canada, marking the middle of the North American summer. Very appropriate to scare you with Bobby Krlic’s score to Ari Aster’s horror film Midsommar. We also pay tribute to actor Rutger Hauer (1944-2019) and composers Michael Colgrass (1932-2019) & Bob Johnston (1926-2019). gak also comes in hot from Tofino and it shows. 1. Deerhunter: Death in Midsummer (Why Hasn’t Everyth...

For Pride Week in Vancouver, this episode is all LGBTQIA2S+, whether based on performer or subject matter. Main profiles will be on M83's score to the recent French queer thriller Knife + Heart, Coil's rereleased soundtrack to The Gay Man's Guide to Safer Sex, some Wendy Carlos and more. 1. Dusty Springfield: That's The Kind of Love I've Got for You [extended version] (It Begins Again, 1978) Unite...

Prepare for a mystical journey as we listen to Ryuichi Sakamoto's and Richard Horowitz's music from Bernardo Bertolucci's 1990 film The Sheltering Sky, along with other African and freakily ambient sounds. 1. Johnny Clegg & Savuka: Asimbonanga [Mandela] (Third World Child, 1987) Capitol/EMI 2. Loscil: Iona (Sea Island, 2014) Kranky 3. Karen O & Danger Mouse: Turn the Light (Lux Prima, 2019) 30th C...

In honour of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, we'll profile music from recent films, TV series & documentaries tied the first moon landing, primarily focusing on Justin Hurwitz's score to the Neil Armstrong biopic First Man and Matt Morton's music from the documentary Apollo 11 along with many a lunar-inspired song to fuel your moon daze. gak thinks he's a theremin, which makes a lot...

With the recent death of director Franco Zeffirelli (1923-2019), we'll profile Nino Rota's score from the notorious 1968 film adaptation of Romeo & Juliet. gak's back from a week in Nelson BC and brings road tested tunes and makes as much sense as usual. Defy these stars! I. Thom Yorke: Last I Heard [He Was Circling the Drain] (Anima, 2019) XL II. Sarah Davachi: Perfumes II (Pale Bloom, 2019) W.25...

Normally, gak spends Canada Day in Thunder Bay but this year, he brings the sounds of the Lakehead to you! Profile is on Bruce Peninsula's & Chris Thornborrow's score to the 2015 film Sleeping Giant, filmed & set on Lake Superior. Let'er rip, boys. Give'r! 1. Louise Burns: Just Walk Away (2019) Light Organ 2. Pugs & Crows: The Treatment [2016 August 19] (Fishbowl Sessions: Live From CITR/Discorder...

Herbie Hancock performs at this year's Vancouver International Jazz Festival, so amongst other performers, we'll profile his score to the 1966 thriller Blow-Up. We also pay tribute to French Touch musician & producer Philippe "Zdar" Cerboneschi (1967-2019). 1. Cassius: Don't Let Me Be [w. Owlle] (Dreems, 2019) Caroline 2. Motorbass: Ezio (Pansoul, 1996) Different/PIAS France 3. Cassius: La Mouche...

With National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21st, we profile nêhiyawak's score to the 2017 documentary ôtênaw. We also have the 1st Vancouver International Jazz Festival preview and a sportsdesk update. gak's travels caught up with him planning this odd episode. 1. Rascalz: Northern Touch [w. Kardinal Offishall, Thrust, Choclair & Checkmate, A Tribe Called Red Remix w. Black Bear] (Northern Touch...

Super eclectic episode as we profile Colin Stetson's score to the Hulu series The First. Ties into recent interpretations of Henryk Górecki's Symphony No. 3 along with a tribute to Dr John (1941-2019). WOLFMAN GAK sneaks in and there's an update from the Exploding Sports Desk. 1. Holy Data: Everything Changes (2018) self-released 2. Colin Stetson & Sarah Neufeld: The Sun Roars into View (Never Wer...

As summer approaches the northern hemisphere, let's embrace the extracurricular aspect of life by listening to music from Wes Anderson's 1998 breakout film Rushmore. We also pay tribute to Roky Erickson (1947-2019) & Leon Redbone (1949-2019) and profile Vancouver's 25th Music Waste festival. gak saves Latin. 1. Chromatics: Shadow (Shadow 12", 2015) Italians Do It Better 2. Annie Lennox: Parnassius...

With a Criterion remaster out imminently, it's time to get back into the world of David Lynch and his first collaboration with composer Angelo Badalamenti for the 1986 classic Blue Velvet. 1. Yu Su: Little Birds, Moonbath [w. Michelle Helene Mackenzie] (Roll with the Punches EP, 2019) Second Circle 2. Project Pablo: Without Knowing (Low Wings EP, 2018) Verdicchio Music Publishing 3. Jon Spencer: T...

For your Victoria Day programming, we offer James Holden's electronic score to the recent documentary A Cambodian Spring -- a story about a protest against eviction and the destruction of a lake in Phnom Penh. 1. RIAA: Holiday Inn Cambodia (Sounds for the Sun-Set, 2005) self-released 2. Marja Ahti: Coastal Inversion (Vegetal Negatives, 2019) Hallow Ground 3. Death: You're a Prisoner (For the Whole...

In honour of the director John Singleton (1968-2019), the back half of this episode will go hip hop as we profile music from his two biggest films: 1991's Boyz N the Hood and 1993's Poetic Justice. The front half covers the usual mish-mash of new tunes and people playing music live in front of other people. 1. Grey Reverend & The Cinematic Orchestra: Zero One/This Fantasy (To Believe, 2019) Ni...

To pay tribute to the actor Bruno Ganz (1941-2019), it's high time to profile a favourite film he appears in: Wim Wender's 1987 classic Wings of Desire. Score by Jürgen Knieper & music from a lot of the then-Berlin scene. gak also wails on behalf of Peter Mayhew (1944-2019). Punch it Chewie! 1. Minimal Violence: InDreams (InDreams, 2019) Technicolour/Ninja Tune 2. Sarah Davachi: Untitled [live in...

gak's back as he profiles the directory Stanley Donen (1924-2019). Primary focus will be on his 1963 film Charade, scored by the legendary Henry Mancini, but we'll have songs from musicals On the Town, Singin' in the Rain, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Damn Yankees! gak also momentarily thinks he's a preacher, repeatedly. Now open up your hymnal. 1. Sound Ideas: French City Ambience with Not...

As everyone gears up for Easter and then Avengers: Endgame, it's time to profile Pinar Toprak's score to the most recent Marvel film, Captain Marvel. gak starts out soothing before the usual mischief creeps back in like a cat. 1. The Chemical Brothers: Free Yourself (No Geography, 2019) Virgin EMI 2. Joseph Shabason: 1517 (Anne EP, 2019) Western Vinyl 3. Jayda G: Sunshine in the Valley [w. Alexa D...