CiTR -- Exploding Head Movies

Summer is soon upon us so let's finally listen to Colin Stetson's score to the recent HP Lovecraft adaptation Colour Out of Space as we get unsettled with unspeakable horrors amongst plenty of saxophones, pianos and other newish music. We also touch upon the virtual 2020 edition of the Vancouver DOXA Documentary Film Festival, running June 18-26 (https://www.doxafestival.ca/) when not pretending t...

As humanity's true face reveals itself anew, this riotous episode profiles El-P's score from the 2020 film Capone as we then dip back to 1987 with a classic companion: Ennio Morricone's soundtrack to The Untouchables. Support everyone's right to protest and rest in peace, Big Floyd. 1. The Dears: Summer of Protest (Protest EP, 2002) MapleMusic 2. AceMoMa: Start the Riot (A New Dawn, 2020) Haus of...

With the recent death of drummer Tony Allen (1940-2020), this episode will mostly focus on the genre closely associated with him and the legendary Fela Kuti: Afrobeat. We'll hop around parts of Africa for this pretty funky show, eulogizing also jazz drummer James Cobb & singer Betty Wright. 1. The Souljazz Orchestra: Serve & Protect (Solidarity, 2012) Strut 2. Patrick Holland: Simstim (Simstim EP,...

In honour of Kraftwerk's Florian Schneider (1947-2020), we'll provide a mostly German rock-inspired episode featuring more of their earlier psych-out jams before the robots took over. Call it krautrock, kosmische musik, what-you-will...this is the late-1960s/early-1970s sound from West Germany that had the driving motorik beat. 1. Joy Division: Isolation (Closer, 1980) Factory 2. Local Talent: Hig...

For an irregular Victoria Day long weekend in the midst of a pandemic, it's all ambient episode to help soothe your souls with an immersive impulse of long-form drones. Relax and let the gentle sounds wash all over you. 1. 1-CV Rhythms: Scanlon Frog (2020) self-released 2. Roger & Brian Eno: Rose Quartz (Mixing Colours, 2020) Deutsche Grammophon 3. Stars of the Lid: The Lonely People [are Getting...

With Mother's Day in mind, we profile music associated with the DC superhero Wonder Woman, including Rupert Gregson-Williams' score to the 2017 film adaptation. We also pay tribute to Kraftwerk's Florian Schneider, disco pioneer Hamilton Bohannon and actor Irrfan Khan. 1. Bon Iver: Hey, Ma (i,i, 2019) Jagjaguwar 2. Quiet Orchestra: The Pandemic Has a Woman's Face (Quiet Orchestra, 2007) Vosotros 3...

After some more high-concept episodes, this low-key affair features some of the music from the AMC horror series The Terror, primarily by Marcus Fjellström. We also touch upon Jedi Day, Nova Scotia and recently deceased musicians including Vaughan Mason, Mike Huckaby & Tony Allen as quarantine time continues. 1. John Williams & The London Symphony Orchestra: 20th Century Fox Fanfare (Star Wars OST...

In tribute to Krzysztof Penderecki (1933-2020), this episode is mostly classical as we profile some of the best known works the Polish composer wrote that also appeared in films like The Exorcist, The Shining & Twin Peaks to name only a few. We other eulogize actress Honor Blackman (1925-2020), actor Brian Dennehy (1938-2020) and musician Ryo Kawasaki (1947-2020) with selections from Rachel Mahon'...

Though Adam Schlesinger (1967-2020) was best known as being a member of Fountains of Wayne, he parlayed his songwriting prowess into film & television routinely. In his honour, we'll profile his music from the TV series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and films like that Thing You Do and Music & Lyrics. It's also 420/2020 so we'll start under a green cloud. 1. Frank Ocean: Dear April [Justice remix] (Dear Apr...

With Easter in the unorthodox tradition this weekend, this rogue gospel episode profiles music from the film adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar along with excerpts from Monty Python's The Life of Brian. Now please rise for our opening hymn. 1:1 Yves Tumor: Gospel for a New Century (Heaven to a Tortured Mind, 2020) Warp 1:2 Joseph Shabason: West of Heaven (Anne EP, 2019) Western Vinyl 2:1 Priests...

Quarantine time continues as the pandemic persists, so this odd bifurcated episode goes acoustic at first with a profile on William Tyler's score to the 2020 film First Cow, then goes into the usual sprawl before settling on Blanck Mass' soundtrack to Calm with Horses. We also eulogize Kenny Rogers, Jan Howard, Cirstina, Manu Dibango and Bill Withers. Stay safe & sane, y'all! 1. Constantines & Fei...

Self-isolation continues, so this prerecorded episode focuses on the late Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson with his score to the 2013 film Prisoners and then the posthumous score to his own directoral film Last and First Men with Yair Elazar Glatman. 1. Björk: Jóga (Homogenic, 1997) One Little Indian 2. Khotin: Piano Theme (Rhythms of the Pacific: Volume 4, 2020) Pacific Rhythm 3. Harley Small...

As the reality of Covid-19 forces CITR to move away from live programming, this prerecorded episode profiles the actor Max von Sydow (1929-2010) and scores from the two films he received Oscar nominations for: Pelle the Conqueror and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. 1. The Chemical Brothers: We've Got to Try (No Geography, 2019) Virgin EMI 2. Kalte: Offworld (2019) self-released 3. Zero 7: The C...

For the final live episode of Exploding Head Movies -- at least for the next little while as the Covid-19 pandemic takes hold and self-isolation is finally explored in North America -- we profile the Brazilian producer Amon Tobin and his early + recent techno work, including some video game music and art installation pieces. 1. Deltron 3030: Virus (Deltron 3030, 2000) 75 Ark 2. Marja Ahti: Chora (...

With the recent death of the actor Kirk Douglas, we profile Alex North's score to the 1960 epic Spartacus along with some songs from the 1954 film adaptation of 20 000 Leagues Under the Sea. We also pay tribute to legendary producer Andrew Weatherall & upcoming rapper Pop Smoke amongst other material as gak gets older and occasionally wiser. 1. Primal Scream: Movin' on Up (Screamadelica, 1991) Cre...

With International Women's Day coming this Sunday, this all-female episode has a profile on Fatima Al Qadiri's score to the 2019 film Atlantics. 1. Basia Bulat: Your Girl (Are You in Love?, 2020) Secret City 2. Cherushii: In Defence of Colours (Queen of Cups 12", 2013) 100% Silk 3. Forever: Blur (Close to the Flame EP, 2020) Cascine 4. Biawanna: Partner in Crime (2019) self-released 5. CEP: Pupil...

Break out the pancakes and beads; we finally have a Mardi Gras episode for y'all! After a little summary of live music in Vancouver, we dive deep into Cajun country with a festive time out based on the sounds of Louisiana, winding up with a profile on some of the tunes from the 1986 film The Big Easy. Laissez les bon temps rouler! 1. Bob James: Take Me to the Mardi Gras (Two, 1975) CTI 2. Éric Nor...

It's Black History Month, so with the film award season ending earlier that usual this year, we can finally have a timely funky episode with a long overdue profile on Isaac Hayes' score to the 1971 blaxploitation classic Shaft! Can you dig it? 1. Red Circle: Red Blood Blues (Petrified, 2019) self-released 2. Ted Quinlan: Cheticamp (Absolutely Dreaming, 2019) self-released 3. Sudan Archives: Glorio...

Fundrive 2020 is here at CITR, as is our Oscar recap! After weeks of profiling the nominated scores & songs, we listen to the winners along with Jung Jae Il's soundtrack to the 92nd Academy Awards best picture Parasite. 1. Ellis Drane & His Jazz Orchestra: Smile (Songs from Live! with Murray Franklin EP [from 'Joker'], 2019) WaterTower 2. Jung Jae Il: Conciliation I (Parasite OST, 2019) Milan 3. S...

The 92nd Academy Awards will be handed out next Sunday, so for our fourth chapter on the 2020 Oscars, we have profiles on nominated scores that we've profiled already: Hildur Guðnadóttir's Joker & John Williams' The Rise of Skywalker. We also share a nominated song from Breakthrough and pay tribute to composer Joel Vandroogenbroeck, guitarist Andy Gill, actor Danny Aiello & basketball player Kobe...

It's Week 3 of our annual Oscar profiles as we hear Randy Newman's nominated score to Marriage Story. Newman also has a nomination for best original song for Toy Story 4, so we'll hear that along with a nominated song from Frozen 2. We also music from Parasite & Motherless Brooklyn and eulogize actress Anna Karina (1940-2019), singer-songwriter Norma Tanega (1939-2019) & comedian Terry Jones (1942...

Part 2 of our 92nd Academy Awards profile looks at Thomas Newman's nominated score from 1917 along with Cynthia Erivo's nominated song from Harriet. We also pay tribute to trumpeter Jack Sheldon (1931-2019) amongst old & new tunes. 1. Holy Fuck: Luxe [w. Alexis Taylor] (Deleter, 2020) Last Gang 2. Jayda G: Stanley's Got Down [No Parking on the DF, Honey Dijon remix instrumental] (Significant Chang...

With the recent death of poet John Giorno, gak returns to 24 Hours of Radio Art with a tribute to his landmark yet accessible Dial-a-Poem service. In lieu of having a series of landlines connected to answering machines, we will parallelize the experience by having multiple poems read simultaneously as additional orders are barked via megaphone. "A circus of verse for the normal adverse!" Prepare f...

The nominees for the 92nd Academy Awards were announced this morning so gak celebrates his twelfth anniversary on air at CITR, Oscar season begins proper. We'll profile Alexander Desplat's nominated score to Greta Gerwig's adaptation of Little Women along with a nominated song from Rocketman. We'll also have tributes to Carroll Spinney, René Auberjonois & Neil Peart. 1. Hans Zimmer: Main Title (12...

For our first profile for the year 2020, we'll re-enter the Lucasfilm universe by listening to John Williams' final score for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. We'll also hear cues from Ludwig Göransson's recent work from the Disney+ series The Mandalorian and pay tribute to Diahann Carroll, Neil Innes, Allee Willis, Kelly Fraser & Gershon Kingsley. MMXX begins! 1. Christophe Beck: Angel of Verdun...