CiTR -- Exploding Head Movies

From a numerical perspective, we bid adieu to the 2010s with a modest selection of some of the defining songs from the decade about to pass. Though attempts were made to wedge in multiple previously unprofiled soundtracks, we'll focus mostly on one: Jonny Greenwood's score to the 2018 film You Were Never Really Here. 1. Robyn: Dancing on My Own (Body Talk Pt. 1, 2010) Konichiwa 2. Kalte: Vostok St...

This Christmas episode originally aired 2014 December 15, devoted to the then-rerelease of Ryuichi Sakamoto's score to the 1983 film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, starring David Bowie before his far-too-sudden death. Full details: https://www.citr.ca/radio/exploding-head-movies/episode/20141215/ radiofreegak@gmail.com twitter.com/hundredaire https://www.citr.ca/radio/exploding-head-movies

As per tradition, it's time for our annual alternative Yuletide episode! Consider this your festival prescription to escape the carols that you are being bludgeoned to senselessness elsewhere. Our counter-Christmas programming primarily focuses on John Debney & Leon Redbone's music from the 2003 modern holiday classic Elf, so now you can know Santa too. 1. Ray Conniff: Holiday Greetings 1 (Holiday...

With the year drawing to a close, it's time to summarize the past twelve months; in lieu of a best-of/festive playlist, consider this simply a review. Main soundtrack profile will be on Emile Mosseri's The Last Black Man in San Francisco but we also tackle unprofiled music from Motherless Brooklyn and Us amongst other recent faves. 1. Matias Aguayo: 2019 (Support Alien Invasion, 2019) Cómeme/Cramm...

As winter sets in the northern hemisphere, it's time to think of colder places, like space. James Gray's film Ad Astra will be profiled, scored primarily by Max Richter with some assistance from Lorne Balfe. We also try to tackle as much of the Vancouver concert scene in advance of Christmas, the end of the year and the end of the decade (for some). 1. Blue Hawaii: Prepare for Flight (Tenderness,...

Batten down the hatches, crew! This boat lists towards Mark Korven's score to the 2019 film The Lighthouse so all hands on deck as we weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen! O and there are sports updates, cap'n. 1. Spirit of the West: Save This House (Save This House, 1990) WEA 2. Jacques Greene: Say Nothing (3024 FYE3 12", 2019) 3024 3. Sudan Archives: Iceland Moss (Athena, 2019) Stones Throw 4. Moon...

Cellist & composer Hildur Guðnadóttir has had a busy 2019, so we'll profile some of her recent scorework, primarily from the recent Batman film Joker and the HBO historical drama Chernobyl. 1. Ellis Drane & His Jazz Orchestra: The Live! with Murray Franklin Theme (Songs from Live! with Murray Franklin EP [from 'Joker'], 2019) WaterTower 2. Negativland: Limbo (True False, 2019) Seeland 3. LOUVER: C...

In honour of Remembrance Day, we go back to 1993 to cover the stark effects of war as we profile John Williams' score to Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Schindler's List. 1. The Avalanches: Saturday Night Inside Out [w. David Berman & Father John Misty] (Wildflower, 2016) Astralwerks 2. Devours: Avalon (Avalon EP, 2015) self-released 3. Lightning Dust: 3AM/100 Degrees (Spectre, 2019) Western Viny...

gak's back from Europe and quite jetlagged. In honour of one of the countries he visited, we profile the music from the German television series Babylon Berlin. Let the music be awesome for you as your host learns to get out of the damn way. 1. The Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra: Stars and Rockets [David Holmes mix] (Come Get It I Got It, 2002) 13 Amp 2. Kim Gordon: Air Bnb (No Home Record, 2019) Ma...

As a bonus to recent podcast listeners, this Hallowe'en episode from 2016, set to re-air in 2019 but didn't due to technical issues, is available. "WOLFMAN GAK guesthosts this All Hallowed Eve episode as regular host gak is asleep somewhere. All manners of spooky sounds from this raspy-voiced legend of radio as he overpowers all procedures, though he ran low on whiskey and throat lozenges." Full d...

gak's on the road for work so this prerecorded episode features Mica Levi's eerie score to the 2019 South American film Sonos. Not horror in concept but totally in sound. Plenty of Thom Yorke here too since he plays in Vancouver the night this airs on the radio. 1. Sloan: Money City Maniacs (Navy Blues, 1998) Murderecords 2. Concubine: Decenter (2018, 2018) self-released 3. Thom Yorke: Not the New...

On this Canadian Thanksgiving episode, we continue with our October horror theme by delving into some of the music tied to the teenage werewolf film series Ginger Snaps. Keep your turkeys safe outdoors; gobble gobble! 1. Stereolab: Brakhage (Dots and Loops: Expanded Edition, 2019) Duophonic 2. Yu Su: Words without Sound (Roll with the Punches 12", 2019) Second Circle 3. Little Eva: Let's Turkey Tr...

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...