There are times when projects just seemed doomed from the start. Ideas, however grand they may be, sometimes never quite make it due to unforeseen forces. You may even start to wonder if what you envisioned was somehow never meant to be - cursed, if you will. I was beginning to believe my latest comp was vexed…
Lo, and behold, after much sweat and some bloodshed, I am proud to release 2011’s Halloween mix entitled - “My Dearest Killer” - featuring 15 exclusive tracks by some of my favorite artists of 2011 (and 2010). For this comp, I asked artists to either compose a giallo soundtrack inspired tune or cover/rework their favorite horror film song. What I received was more than what I ever could hope for.
From The North Sea’s horror/drone opening, “Broken Bats”, to the amazingly lush reworking of a track from the film “Jacob’s Ladder” by ∆AIMON - those that did reworks/covers are entirely atmospheric, down right spine tingling and fresh. Dream Boat contributed with an eerie rendition of the “Rosemary’s Baby” theme song and CVLT CLASSICS churned out a super funky track entitled “Tropico”. Inspired by “Let The Right One In,” Running In The Fog delivers a sweetly seductive ode to a vampire in “Let It In”.
For the original songs, I worked with some people again and some first timers. From the ever prolific Ʌ (Arc) that appeared on “Abraded Ghosts” in 2010 - once again serving up an ominous nebulous/goblinic composition. Basketball Camp executed a pulsating paranoia tune, “Fuhhly,” and GOSTS supplied sublime giallo-disco in “Knife Couture”. Others delve into conjuring the ethereal/supernatural being - such as Kidcity’s remorseful “What Have You Done“ and Majical Cloudz - to bit of a playful search for apparitions from Poor Spirits. Not to forget the atmospheric “look over your shoulder” pieces from Magic Fades and Moon Mirror. Lastly, I’m extremely grateful to Lust for his “Night Voyeur” tune since I reached out to him somewhat last minute and, like a champ, created a funky erotic-giallo piece.
Also honored to be FINALLY working with one of my favorite people ever - Ghibli turns in an exploitation-disco tune entitled “Patrick”. And, like all good horror films that leave you wanting for more, you don’t know if the good guy or villain prevailed.
I want to give my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who took time out of your busy schedules to create this extremely wonderful body of work. Words alone cannot express enough gratitude to each and everyone one of you involved. And without further ado - “My Dearest Killer…“
My Dearest Killer… - Unholy Rhythms Halloween Mix 2011
- The North Sea - Broken Bats
- Ʌ (Arc) - URIEL (AT KARNAK)
- Dream Boat - Rosemary
- CVLT CLASSICS - Tropico (Instrumental Mix)
- Basketball Camp - Fuhhly
- GOSTS - KNIFE COUTURE
- Kidcity - What Have You Done
- Majical Cloudz - Love From The Loon
- Poor Spirits - Where Is That Ghost?
- Running In The Fog - Let It In
- Magic Fades - DONTHANGUP(GURLIMSCARED4U)
- Moon Mirror - The Music Box Portal
- LUST - Night Voyeur
- Ghibli - Patrick
- ∆AIMON - Jacob’s Ladder (SONNYBOY)
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♪ File under: halloween, halloween 2011, unholy rhythms comp, giallo, giallo inspired, giallo disco, erotic disco, exploitation funk, dark, drone, atmospheric, imaginary horror film, instrumental, swamp-fi, murky, chilling, ethereal, love song to vampires, keep telling yourself - this is only a soundtrack, this is only a soundtrack…
♫ Lust - Dark Water
♫ Lust - Dark Water
Fueled by wanton and rampant fantasies, you became preoccupied. Obsessed with the repugnant fables, you began to grow more and more distracted. At night, when the air was stagnant, you would rest your racing, throbbing head in your makeshift bed. Your night time stories - horrific and grotesque tales - were your extension of your suffocating adoration. Arms would bind and twirl, bones would splinter and shatter, teeth would clack and grind, and flesh would flower and fragment. Giddy, you would imagine sundered organs, cleaved and atrophied - exposed and exploding. Shriveled tongues would travel across parched and parted lips - lipsticked in liquid gore. Ecstatic, your head roll back and forth, creaking and cracking, as your small, eyes rolled back - swallowed and engulfed. Startled, you would jolt to back to consciousness - disappointed in your reclusive, ordinary reality. Secluded. Alienated. Woeful, fictional exterminator - drowning in your extirpating fabrication.
Lust, from Colorado, is dark, sensuous giallo-disco. Atmospheric, impeding doom intertwines with alluring, enticing, atramentous rhythms - delving into near-engulfing sense of debauchery. Whether it is the arousal of the senses in a non-horrific state or pure lascivious terror, there is an underlying hint of hedonism that envelops the constant sighing, exhaling instrumentation. Gruesome and persuasive apex - the pinnacle of panic - rising in a foreboding swell of sinister synths.
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♪ File under: electronic, giallo disco
At the darkest hour of night, I could sense a transformation about to take place. The smell of boiled flesh lingered through the corridor as I began to utter the invocation. Those words of protection, divine torture for the sake of my sanity. If the cleansing ritual worked, I would no longer be haunted by the ghosts of your affection. Your stinging, burning, tortuous adoration which abused my very spirit. My lower lip bled from the stress my teeth caused it - ripping the red flesh from atop - dripping into the mixture. Ecstatic, I began to weave back in forth to an invisible melody. Swaying side to side, head snapping back nearly off my spine, my entire body shaking - I soon recognized my state as a transfixed seizure. Profane undoing. Unrighteous resolution - a demonic divination my salvation.
† ▇ G ▇ O ▇ S ▇ T ▇ S ▇ † is giallo disco - frantic, trance rave for ravenous goblins at twilight. Bombastic yet vexing, the tracks pulsate and throb - like a heart beat or a brain beating out of the boundaries of its own skull. Wanting a release, to grow larger than the confinements of its own shell, the beats vibrate manically with zeal. Simply amazing.
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♫Bonus: † ▇ G ▇ O ▇ S ▇ T ▇ S ▇ † - ▇ L ▇ I ▇ E ▇ (Yes, that is a Papa Roach sample!)
♪ File under: electronic, italo, giallo disco
As I descended further down the hall, I felt the paintings and sculptures slowly become animated. I convinced myself I was crazy, repeating constantly that it was the jet lag that created this late night trickery. When I retired to my chambers, I noticed the walls starting to heave - like lungs slowly inhaling and exhaling. Trembling, I made my way to the dorm master. Her eyes, grey and accusing, glared right through me. When she opened her mouth, sing-song reassurances escaped her lips. An icy hand rested on my back as if to shoo me to my doom. Was I expected to give in so easily? Could I even think about sleeping? Instead of giving in to slumber, I decided to investigate - only to discover monstrosities and horrors unknown to any human before. Intrepid investigator of this gristly castle - my abode of atrocities.
“Kaledioscope”, from Bulgaria’s 1000names, plays out almost like a slow-disco soundtrack to a funky giallo film. Funky synth lines, head bobbing loops, and those repetitive claps paints an atmosphere fit for a disco-laden Argento film. You can envision the groovy goblins conjured up to dance the night away.
♪ File under: electronic, slow-disco, giallo gone funky