CiTR -- Exploding Head Movies

As we enter the final month in a bizarre year, we profile Mychael & Jeff Danna's score to the recent Pixar film Onward. 1. Pharoah Overlord: Tomorrow's Sun (6, 2020) Rocket 2. Tom Holkenborg/Junkie XL: Immortan's Citadel [extended] (Mad Max: Fury Road OST, 2015) WaterTower 3. Brian May: Rampage of the Toecutter (Mad Max OST, 1980) Varèse Sarabande 4. Wendy Carlos: Theme from A Clockwork Orange [Be...

Kinnie Starr's soundtrack to the 2018 Haida Gwaii supernatural film Edge of the Knife is finally available, so that'll be our profile along with a wide array of wild music. Huu 'laagan, haala kaats’ii. 1. Quakers: Electrify (Quakers II: The Next Wave, 2020) Stones Throw 2. Quakers: A Myth [w. Sageinfinite] (Quakers II: The Next Wave, 2020) Stones Throw 3. Badge Époque Ensemble: Birds Fly through A...

Actor Sean Connery (1930-2020) and game show host Alex Trebek (1940-2020) leaving our plane of existence so close apart feels cruel, particularly in this bizarre year, so along with some Jeopardy hijinx, we'll profile a mix of James Bond music, focusing primarily on 1971's Diamonds are Forever as scored by the legendary John Barry. 001 Sean Connery & Michael Kamen: Prologue (Highlander OST, 1986)...

Long promised but finally up for inspection: Daniel Lopatin's score to the Safdie Brothers' tense 2019 film Uncut Gems, along with new music from his Oneohtrix Point Never project amongst mostly electronic jams. 1. McFadden & Whitehead: Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now [Klaves edit] (La. Ga. Sta Late Summer Compilation: Volume 5, 2015) Lagasta 2. Automatisme: Transport 1 (Momentform Accumulations, 2016) C...

This will be Part V of our all-ambient series, designed to put pause to frantic stress and allow for deeper reflection. We pay tribute to minimalist composer & performer Jon Gibson (1940-2020) amongst other languid pieces. 1. Shida Shahabi: Prolog (Lake on Fire, 2020) Fat Cat 2. Sea Oleena: Calvisius (Weaving a Basket, 2020) self-released 3. Jessica Moss: Opened Ending (Corona Borealis Longplay Si...

Gladiator screened in theatres in 2020 and in honour of its 20th anniversary, we'll profile Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard's score from that sword & sandals revival. We also big adieu to Spencer Davis, Jerry Jeff Walker, Billy Joe Shaver & JR White upon discussions of elections just passed and looming. I. Sam Spence & John Facenda: The Autumn Wind (The Power & The Glory: NFL Films, 1997) Tommy Boy I...

If there's something strange this All Hallow's Eve, who you gonna call? Elmer Bernstein and his score to the original 1984 Ghostbusters highlights the final lap of our horrible October. 1. Anna Homler & Steve Moshier + F/X: Oo Nu Dah (Breadwoman & Other Tales, 2015) RVNG Intl 2. Ray Parker Jr vs Neil Cicierega: Bustin' (Mouth Moods, 2015) self-released 3. Mark Banning: Lunar Eclipse [excerpt] (I a...

As our annual horror month continues, we'll profile two film scores from independent films that came out in 2020: Carla Patullo's Porno and Jim Williams' Possessor. 1. Suuns: Pray (Fiction EP, 2020) Secret City/Joyful Noise 2. Blakkr Nið: Shadow Jumper (The Shadow Man, 2016) self-released 3. Dhidalah: Neuer Typ (Threshold, 2019) Guruguru Brain 4. Boris: Anti-Gone (NO, 2020) Fangs Anal Satan 5. Jóh...

For Canadian Thanksgiving, have dinner with your neighbour as we profile Damon Albarn & Michael Nyman's score to the 1999 cannibal western Ravenous. We also pay tribute to Eddie Van Halen, Johnny Nash & Mac Davis amongst other horrors. Gobble gobble! 1. Tire Swing Co: Thanksgiving (Time Away, 2015) self-released 2. Loscil: Sea Island Murders (Sea Island, 2014) Kranky 3. Louder than Death: Spicy Ch...

In a horrible year, it's time for our usual horror month in anticipation of Hallowe'en. We'll profile the Canadian composer Paul Zaza and his scores to the 1981 slasher film My Bloody Valentine and the 1988 sci-fi horror The Brain. Be somewhat afraid! 1. Sault: Fearless (untitled [Rise], 2020) Forever Living Originals 2. Xander Harris: I Want More than Just Blood [High Heels mix] (I Want More than...

Actress Linda Manz (1961-2020) had a short varied career but she debuted in Terrence Malick's 1978 film Days of Heaven, so we'll hear selections from the dearly departed Ennio Morricone's score. We also review some of the recent Emmy winners and continue on with a look at the 39th Vancouver International Film Festival. 1. Primal Scream: Kill All Hippies (XTRMNTR, 2000) Creation/Astralwerks/Epic 2....

In light of even stranger times, this episode looks at the songs from the mockumentary Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. We also touch upon the 2nd Record Store Day of 2020 and preview the Vancouver International Film Festival which starts this week in its virtual version. 1. LA Priest: Black Smoke (Gene, 2020) Domino 2. Tangerine Dream: Cold Smoke (Electronic Meditation, 1970) Ohr 3. Thanya Iyer: L...

We profile only some of the music associated with film composer Johnny Mandel (1925-2020), along with paying tribute to actor Chadwick Boseman, Silver Apples' Simeon Coxe, Kool & the Gang's Ronald Bell & jazz bassist Gary Peacock as autumn looms. 1. Ludwig Göransson: A King's Sunset [w. Baaba Maal] (Black Panther OST, 2018) Interscope 2. Ludwig Göransson: Wake Up T'Challa (Black Panther OST, 2018)...

Part four of our all-ambient adventure series, featuring recent quiet music along with a couple West Coast gems from 2011 in the lead-up to what looks like a strange school year. 1. Suzanne Ciani: Denali (Music for Denali EP, 2020) Finders Keepers 2. Joanna Brouk: Golden Cloud Layers (The Space Between, 1981) Hummingbird 3. Channelers: The Depth of Rest (The Depth of Rest, 2019) Inner Islands 4. C...

We profile filmmaker Alan Parker (1944-2020) and music from his wide variety of song-centric films, including Midnight Express, Bugsy Malone, Fame, Birdy, The Commitments & Mississippi Burning. And with the end of summer looming, we also touch upon the 2020 edition of Vancouver's Victory Square Block Party, now a Watch Party in light of Covid-19. 1. Ghia: What's Your Voodoo (You Won't Sleep on My...

Actor Ian Holm (1931-2020) will be our throughline for this episode as we finally tackle The Lord of the Rings with cues from Howard Shore's score from the first film in the trilogy: 2001's The Fellowship of the Ring. We also continue with our Polaris Prize preview, eulogise American politician John Lewis (1940-2020) and look over the first part of the 2020 edition of Record Store Day with an Enni...

Part 3 of our all-ambient adventures here to help counter any anxiety with Covid-19 resurgence, election tampering, port explosions or threats to public & private figures. Let's all step into the forest of our mind and listen to nature anew. 1. Julianna Barwick: Healing is a Miracle (Healing is a Miracle, 2020) Ninja Tune 2. Museum of No Art: Three Years Later [The Formation of a New Animal] (Muse...

With summer in full heat, this episode acts as a reprieve of sorts from current events to include a good portion devoted to surf music! We'll profile The Sandal's score to the seminal 1966 film The Endless Summer, feature some Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet live tracks and covers and other reverb-heavy waveridin' tunes. The first half of the show feels more like the drive out of the city towards...

This encore presentation of what originally aired 2013 June 17 is devoted to two film scores by the now late great composer Ennio Morricone (1928-2020): 1966's The Battle of Algiers and 1967's Death Rides a Horse. Some edits made based on time and relevance but there are bonus 2020 elements bookending this repeat. Full details: https://www.citr.ca/radio/exploding-head-movies/episode/20130617/ 1. W...

It's Pride Week in Vancouver, so amongst other LGBTQ+ gems both new and old, we'll profile Owen Pallett's score to the recent Hulu documentary Spaceship Earth. Raise all the colours! 1. Kym Mazelle: Young Hearts Run Free (Romeo + Juliet OST, 1996) Capitol 2. Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom: Relevée [Carl Craig remix] (Relevée Remixes, 2006) DFA 3. Arca: Nonbinary (KiCK i, 2020) XL 4. Rae Spoon: Do W...

The vast array of films by the director Joel Schumacher (1939-2020) will be our profile for this colourful episode, primarily focusing on St Elmo's Fire & The Lost Boys but we'll touch upon early films he worked costumes on like Car Wash and then latter insanity like the 1990s Batman films. 1. Uilab: St Elmo's Fire [radio edit] (Fires EP, 1997) Duophonic Super 45s 2. Active Surplus: Yaye (Active S...

The moment I've dreaded for years has come to pass: Ennio Morricone è morte (1928-2020). In honour of this prolific composer, this episode revives a lost podcast segment about a concert review from Dublin circa 2017 and some of his famous pieces performed that wondrous night. We also dig into his non-film work involving il Gruppo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza and strange little covers. Mourn...

In light of anxious times, we have another all-ambient episode to help ease your worried soul. I. Nine Inch Nails: Together (Ghosts V: Together, 2020) The Null Corporation II. Tim Hecker: In the Fog II (Ravedeath 1972, 2011) Kranky III. Loscil: Ryou-Un Maru (Adrift, 2020) self-released IV. Code Abi: Carry Effort [w. Light Blending In] (Desperate Cycle, 2018) Downpour Spirit V. Emissive: Ontario Sp...

With Canada Day approaching as British Columbia enters Phase 3 of the Covid-19 pandemic, the idea of a road trip seems more possible. Therefore, we profile the 1996 mockumentary Hard Core Logo and its wild roots tied to Vancouver punk and the Hard Rock Miners. 1. Cygnets: Run with Us (2014) self-released 2. Active Surplus: Ambrosia (Active Surplus 12", 2020) Pacific Rhythm 3. TOPS: Colder & Closer...

In honour of saxophonist, arranger and composer Lennie Niehaus (1929-2020), we'll profile some of his music associated with Clint Eastwood's films, such as City Heat, The Bridges of Madison County and Unforgiven. Plenty of new music abounds too in this summery episode. 1. Bruce Peninsula: Summertime (No Earthly Sound, 2020) self-released 2. Bloto: Mady (Erozje, 2020) Astigmatic 3. Wyatt Waddell: F...