If I Could Dress Like Clive Owen
Music for Films Not Yet Made
ALBUM OF THE WEEK: IF I COULD DRESS LIKE CLIVE OWEN (MUSIC FOR FILMS NOT YET MADE)
—Movie soundtracks have a language of their own. Composers and musicians supply the allure to support the atmospherics of the script and the photography. The genre known as “spy movie music” conveys intrigue, secrets, living on the edge, cheeky humor, fighting against wickedness in high places, and saving the world from terrible fates. Whether it’s James Bond or vintage film noir, one can expect an exotic template of chords and orchestrations: Like the ironic zither of THE THIRD MAN, the Anglofied harpsichord bumpers in THE AVENGERS TV show, or the staccato cello in the BOURNE movies.
“Spy movie music” is often dark but scintillating, detached but empathetic to the character, even if you’ve never been “a spy.”
Over the years I’ve drawn from the “spy movie music” template, with cross-overs into surf guitar rock, classical, jazz, psychedelia, techno, and world music. Every other song on this compilation is instrumental, so it flows like a soundtrack (or one of those old Eno records—you decide). Guest artists include Bret Alexander, John Bechdel, Bil Bryant, Davy Jones (Monkees), Dan Rielly, Ron Simasek, Felipe Torres, and Chris von Sneidern. Thanks for listening—and watch your back.
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