Touching Indigo - The Soundtrack

[rj_anderson]

I forgot the main bit! [/Mr. Bean]

I am compiling a soundtrack to help me get into the right headspace for writing Indigo. Peter Himmelman's Synesthesia album came first to mind, as did various selections from Talk Talk and David Sylvian. Are there any other artists or songs my f-list can recommend that have the right feel to them? I'm looking for stuff that's atmospheric, complex and slightly dark; experimental yet still melodic; nothing too angry or dissonant, but nothing too fluffy and simplistic, either.

Suggestions, links etc. welcomed in comments.

Comments

[annechen-melo.livejournal.com]

Would experimental instrumentals interest you? Have you heard any of the recent Blue Man Group (http://www.blueman.com/) recordings? The Complex is my most recent aquisition, which ranges from sinister to silly.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Instrumentals are fine -- thanks for the rec!

[necessaryspace.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if you're looking for songs that have lyrics to them (I'm not familiar with), but Celtic music might work. Loreena McKennitt has both lyric and non-lyric songs. 'The Last of the Mohicans' soundtrack might also work.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I know the Mohicans soundtrack well -- used to own it -- and you can't throw a brick in this town without hitting a Loreena McKennitt album, so I'm fairly familiar with her as well. Thanks.

[kerravonsen]

Another obvious suggestion in this class would be Clannad and Enya.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

All these suggestions are a bit too folksy and/or epic, actually -- I'd like something a bit less Celtic and a bit more techno, if that makes any sense...

[kerravonsen]

Christopher Franke? He did the Babylon 5 soundtrack, I haven't heard anything else by him, but that soundtrack was awesome. And more techno.

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

The Changelings, particularly their first album (which is called Debut). They were a Atlanta-area band and are now ended; very ethereal and Gothy (though not in a gloom and doom way). Synth, violin, wavering high vocals that are more musical instrument than vocal delivery (although they do have complex, lovely lyrics). If you're interested, I will send some sample tracks your way.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Yes please! I would love that. They sound fascinating.

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

I'll give you links in a few minutes...

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

My favorite is "Solitude" (http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=05D401241A8ED049).

Their record company, Middle Pillar, has a free download of part of "Earthquake at Versailles" (http://www.middlepillar.com/mpp/mpp981/Earthquake_at_Versaille.mp3).

Also, two other favorites ("Season of Mist" and "Veils of Gold") are available through a fan-kept MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/thechangelings2006) ("Veils" is from their last album, "Astronomica").

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Alas, I couldn't get to the relevant MySpace page, but I liked the "Earthquake" sample very much. Also, you said "Solitude" but the song you sent is actually labelled "Awakening" -- which is it?

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

Ergh, I typed the wrong title -- it is "Awakening", and still my favorite, it's just that I never think of them by the titles, see. In my head it's the ergot eyes song.

[kerravonsen]

Karma by Delirium is very ethereal, atmospheric and dark.

[harriet-wimsey.livejournal.com]

Well, there's a cd I have called Black Snow which features viola music by three different Russian composers, and it's very atmospheric and seems to fit what you're looking for. However, I can't seem to find it on Amazon and as I'm home for break and we only have dial-up, I can't really look any more or upload a sample.

[kerravonsen]

A few more suggestions:

David Arkenstone does some very evocative thematic intrumental albums; I first found his stuff when I got his "Middle Earth" album, then "The Celtic Book of Days", though oddly enough, my favourite of his is "Atlantis - A Symphonic Journey".

Philip Glass: Koyaanisqatsi (again, not songs as such; the vocals are more for atmosphere)

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I'll try to check those out -- thanks!

[kizmet-42.livejournal.com]

I get on http://www.live365.com and put on random music, usually international because English lyrics will distract me from writing. I find that the Impressionist stations are best for me, but there's plenty to choose from.

[kizmet-42.livejournal.com]

And having said that, Erik Satie just came to mind. Get a piano solo collection - I like this (http://www.amazon.com/Satie-Gymnop%C3%A9dies-No1-3-Gnossiennes-No1-6/dp/B00004R95Q/sr=8-2/qid=1167744648/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/002-6780009-7417660?ie=UTF8&s=music) album a lot, but I have others. The orchestrated versions are too fluffy, I find.

[infiniteviking]

Time to prepare for preparing to write the book! *grin* I know how that feels....

Oooh, tall order. The closest I can think of are 'Solitude Standing' by Suzanne Vega (for the lyrics: double-edged and eerie), Sting's 'A Thousand Years', and 'Navras' and 'Neodammerung' from the Matrix Revolutions soundtrack. (I like choral soundtracks because, as kizmet_42 said, the lyrics don't distract me from the words in my head.)

Good luck!

IS THAT A RECORDER THE FIFTH DOCTOR'S GOT IN YOUR MOOD ICON??

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

WHY YES IT IS!!

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

These might not be at all what you are looking for, but I love "How to Disappear Completely" by Radiohead - it strikes me as melodic, dark (but not too dark!) and techno, and Thom Yorke has a lovely voice. I also thought of some avant-garde classical stuff my dad introduced me to as a teen, and which I still love:

First, "Cing Rechants", by Olivier Messaien. You can get this on iTunes! It's five retellings of Tristan and Isolde, for 12 voices a cappela, and it's amazing, but it might, perhaps, be too strident and weird? (BTW, not sure if you knew this already, but Messaien was a synaesthete.) Also by him, the "Quartet for the End of Time". The clarinet solo, which is called "The Abyss of Birds", is gorgeous.

I also actually like Stockhausen's song of the youths in the fiery furnace. But I can well understand someone being off Stockhausen after his extremely insensitive comments post 9/11. Still, it is an interesting piece of music.

So those are mine. I thought of the Smiths, too; Morrissey does drone on, but I think he's got a wicked sense of humor. He wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, though; my sister finds him monotonous. And the music isn't as demanding as the others I've mentioned.