Search - David Lynch, Chrysta Bell, Beck :: Inland Empire (Original Soundtrack)

A great soundtrack despite the absence of Angelo Badalamenti

Steward Willons | Illinois | 01/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Whether you believe "Inland Empire" is a great film filled with mystery, or a meaningless assemblage of unsettling scenes, you can't deny that it has a great soundtrack. Sound design has become so important to Lynch that all of his films since "Lost Highway" feature a constant extra-diegetic sound source of some sort. In "Lost Highway", there were obvious musical selections separated by ominous rumblings and barely audible industrial sounds. Now in IE, the distinction between what is "music" in the traditional sense and what is ambient sound is almost totally blurred. Not all music has melody, and not all ambient sound is without melody - even if only in an abstract sense. While I'm disappointed that Angelo Badalamenti didn't collaborate, Lynch seems to have taken on the task himself with great success.



In many ways, this is an interesting companion to the film. It appears that Lynch created lengthy selections, which he subsequently cut and arranged to work with the editing and flow of the film. Now, we're able to hear them in their entirety, as Lynch originally conceived them. To me, it's a fascinating window into his creative mind.



Beyond Lynch's original material, there are some interesting selections ranging from Beck to Penderecki's intense modernist works. The big disappointment for me was the curious omission of the music from the burlesque club scene. It was a great subversion of sleazy stripper jazz into something atonal, but still groovy.



Finally, many speculate that a lot of the film is explained in the lyrics of "Polish Poem", and this is an easy way to hear it. There do seem to be some answers, but as is typical for Lynch, they're clouded in vague, poetic language and end up raising more questions than they answer.



This is an excellent soundtrack. Even if you were not a fan of the film itself, the music stands on its own. It's different from the popular "Lost Highway" soundtrack, but I think it's equally good."

Strange What Lynch Does

Ronnie Epley | 11/02/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I recently purchased this soundtrack after seeing the movie and becoming mesmerized by the score, which runs the spectrum from haunting and ethereal to pulsating and id driven. A hallmark of Lynch's roaring and howling soundtracks is his evocative/suggestive 1950's electric guitar--sort of Jody Rynolds performing in the Twilight Zone. The first cut, Strange What Love Does, is hypnotic in its rhythmic bump and grind insistence. I bought it for this piece alone, but found other equally enjoyable cuts--the Montavani, or is that Mancini, string piece evocative of all the old 101 Strings we remember from the 1950s and 60s. Oh, you will love the beautiful Polish Poem sung by Chrysta Bell. If you find yourself drawn to Lynch's sound by way of his other movies and projects, you'll be more than happy with this purchase. Strange what Lynch Does."

Disturbing...

Javier Aranguiz | Santiago, Chile | 09/03/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In almost 79 minutes, this soundtrack leads you through a very-dark, psycotic and frightening places: Probably all of them allocated in our own hearts and minds. Awesome soundtrack!"