Get the latest score from Howlin' Wolf Records “DON'T GO IN THE HOUSE”, “HOLIDAY HELL” and “GOOD TID

Walt Disney Records: "THE MANDALORIAN: CHAPTER 8" music by Ludwig Göransson


Walt Disney Records releases the digital soundtrack from “The Mandalorian,” Lucasfilm’s first-ever, live-action series, streaming exclusively on Disney+. The Mandalorian: Chapter 8 digital album features score by Oscar® and Grammy®-winning composer Ludwig Göransson (Black Panther, Creed) and is available HERE.
 
The Swedish-born composer’s approach to “The Mandalorian” score and character themes was to combine organic elements from recorders, pianos and guitars in different ways and infuse tech sounds with a cinematic orchestra. Göransson said, "Working on something so fresh and original as ‘The Mandalorian,’ I knew I had to compose something just as exciting. I wanted the score for each episode to be unique so I had to create a big sound world to draw inspiration from. I started my compositional journey away from the computer in the woods and at my small home studio playing live instruments such as recorders, piano and guitar. I took that material back into the computer and added tech elements to make the organic instruments take new shapes. Lastly, I added the cinematic sweep of an 70-piece orchestra to make my compositions breathe and come to life. Working with Jon and the entire team involved in the making of this series was incredibly humbling and collaborative. I’m so excited to share this soundtrack with fans around the world.”
 
“The Mandalorian” album titles and episode release dates follow:

The Mandalorian: Chapter 8 from #108- December 27 (season finale)

This was one of my favorites this year and my last post this year, please look for my top lists for 2019!
Jeremy [Six Strings]

Fox Music/Hollywood Records: "SPIES IN DISGUISE" music by Theodore Shapiro

 
Fox Music/Hollywood Records release the digital original motion picture soundtrack to the animated spy comedy adventure “Spies in Disguise” directed by Troy Quane and Nick Bruno. Emmy®- nominated composer, Theodore Shapiro (“Bombshell,” “Destroyer”) composed the score, which was recorded at the Newman Scoring Stage. The Spies in Disguise score album is available today, as the film opens in U.S. theatres.

To create the score for “Spies in Disguise,” the filmmakers turned to composer Shapiro, whose credits also include “Spy,” “Central Intelligence” and “Tropic Thunder.” Bruno and Quane’s first challenge to Shapiro was to compose a hero theme that would immediately evoke Lance Sterling, “Spies in Disguise,” in the same way you immediately know you’re seeing a James Bond film or a “Mission Impossible” film.

Bruno said, “Teddy has this amazing ability to sort of thread that line of drama and comedy. He’s able to find comedy without undercutting the seriousness of the scene. One of my favorite things that he’s done is the theme for Walter’s mother, who we only show at the beginning of the film, but somehow you can feel her presence throughout the film.”

Commenting on his score, Shapiro said, “’Spies In Disguise’ is a very funny movie. Its score is not funny at all. The music of this film plays to its danger, its high stakes, and above all, to the opposing world views represented by its principal characters, Lance and Walter. Lance, the world’s coolest spy, has come to believe that the world is a dangerous place and requires people like him, ready to fight in the cause of good. His theme is a sly, descending four-note motif. Walter, a brilliant gadget designer, lives in the belief instilled by his late mother that he might just save the world by embracing his deep belief in peoples’ goodness. His theme recalls the sweetness of his relationship with his mother. Then Walter accidentally turns Lance into a pigeon, and things get weird. And while this turn in the story does bring bird sounds into the fabric of the score, the music has an epic spy adventure scope that helps tell the story of these characters’ journey and emerging friendship.

Jeremy [Six Strings]

Caldera Records... Gets NAKED and More!


Caldera Records is proud to present a selection of Andrew Dickson’s music for Mike Leigh’s films, most notably “Naked” from 1993.  Mike Leigh is one of the most revered film-makers in British cinema. Over a span of nearly 50 years, he has garnered 7 Oscar nominations, 14 BAFTA nominations (winning four), a Palme d’Or, a Golden Lion, and countless other prestigious awards. He had already shot “Bleak Moments” and several BBC productions when, in 1981, he met Andrew Dickson. Their collaboration would become one of the most fruitful ones between composers and directors: For “Meantime,” broadcast in 1983, Dickson chose to use a tack piano and a saxophone. The composer has always liked the idea of different instruments representing different people, and piano and saxophone somehow seemed perfect for a film about two brothers in a housing project. [http://caldera-records.com/]

As we head to the end of the year, we get this treat and what I call a musical project that we needed from Mike Leigh's collective works by composer Andrew Dickson. As the music tells a story from each project, I am finding a pleasant jazz feel into strong guitar that is only built up by the rest of the instruments. Then towards the end of the music, it's subtle yet memorable to the ears and this serves as a solid collection of music.
Jeremy [Six Strings]

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment: "OVERCOMER" [BLU-RAY/DVD]


Award-winning director Alex Kendrick (WAR ROOM, COURAGEOUS) delivers an inspirational, edge-of-your-seat experience in the family-friendly sports drama OVERCOMER debuting on digital November 26 and coming to Blu-ray™ and DVD December 17, from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, AFFIRM Films and Provident Films.

The third Kendrick Brothers film to earn a rare A+ CinemaScore®, OVERCOMER also stars Priscilla Shirer (WAR ROOM, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE), Shari Rigby (OCTOBER BABY, WILDFLOWER), Cameron Arnett (MEET THE BROWNS, STAND YOUR GROUND) and newcomer Aryn Wright-Thompson.

OVERCOMER is from the creators of the #1 box-office hit War Room. Life changes overnight for coach John Harrison (Kendrick) after he loses his basketball team and is challenged by the school’s principal, Olivia (Shirer), to coach a new sport he doesn’t know or like. As John questions his own worth, he dares to help the least likely runner take on the biggest race of the year. Filled with a powerful mix of faith, humor and heart, this inspirational story will have you on the edge of your seat. 


The Blu-ray, DVD and digital release come with an extensive array of bonus material, including 10 minutes of extended and deleted scenes, fun bloopers, exclusive commentary by the Kendrick Brothers, and a moving in-depth looks at the power of forgiveness, identity and more.
Church site licenses are available for pre-purchase November 4 and will begin shipping the week of December 9.

A special Kendrick Brothers Six Movie DVD Gift Set will also be available exclusively at Walmart beginning December 17. The set will contain fan-favorite films OVERCOMER, WAR ROOM, COURAGEOUS, FIREPROOF, FACING THE GIANTS, and FLYWHEEL.

OVERCOMER has a runtime of approximately 119 minutes and is rated PG for some thematic elements.  

Jeremy [Six Strings]

RLJE FILMS PRESENTS: "THE SHED" [DVD]


RLJE Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, will release THE SHED on January 7, 2020 on DVD and Blu-ray.  Written and Directed by Frank Sabatella (Blood Night), the film stars Jay Jay Warren (“Bosch”), Cody Kostro (“City on a Hill”), Sofia Happonen (Woman of a Certain Age), Frank Whaley (Pulp Fiction), Siobhan Fallon Hogan (Men in Black) and Timothy Bottoms (The Last Picture Show). RLJE Films will release THE SHED on DVD and on Blu-ray.


In THE SHED, Stan and his best friend Dommer have put up with bullies their entire lives. All of that changes when Stan discovers he has a murderous vampire living in his shed. Seeing the bloodshed and destruction the monster is capable of, Stan knows he has to find a way to destroy it. But Dommer has a much more sinister plan in mind.

Check out the trailer: [CLICK HERE]

She Shed, not this time...
Jeremy [Six Strings]

Tor Books: "Burn the Dark" Malus Domestica (Volume 1) - S. A. Hunt


Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets Stranger Things in award-winning author S. A. Hunt’s Burn the Dark, first in the Malus Domestica horror action-adventure series about a punk YouTuber on a mission to bring down witches, one vid at a time.

Robin is a YouTube celebrity gone-viral with her intensely-realistic witch hunter series. But even her millions of followers don't know the truth: her series isn’t fiction.

Her ultimate goal is to seek revenge against the coven of witches who wronged her mother long ago. Returning home to the rural town of Blackfield, Robin meets friends new and old on her quest for justice. But then, a mysterious threat known as the Red Lord interferes with her plans….

S. A. HUNT is a U.S. veteran, speculative fiction author, and Winner of Reddit.com/r/Fantasy's "Independent Novel of the Year" Award. They live in Petoskey, Michigan. Burn the Dark is the first volume in the Malus Domestica series.
 
Jeremy [Six Strings]

Walt Disney Records: "STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER" Music by John Williams


Walt Disney Records releases the original motion picture soundtrack for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The album features a new score conducted and composed by five-time Academy Award®-winning composer John Williams. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker digital soundtrack is available now and the physical album is set for release on December 20 as the film opens in U.S. theaters nationwide. From the physical album’s liner notes, director J.J. Abrams said, “Once again, John has come up with an utterly stunning soundtrack, creating brand new, gorgeous, frightening, mysterious, epic and intimate themes while also revisiting some of his greatest, classic melodies. My gratitude toward John Williams cannot be overstated — not just for elevating every scene in this film, but for providing us all with soundtracks that elevate our lives.”
 
John Williams stated in the album’s liner notes, “More than 40 years ago, George Lucas introduced to the world his singular imagination, his ingenuity and his creative genius. He also gave me an opportunity never before enjoyed by an operatic or film composer…the chance to work continually for four decades on a single project, and with each film, to add to a collection of musical themes which I hope will be seen as parts of a singular, organic whole.”
 
“This experience has been one of the highlights of my professional life, bringing me so much joy in working with some of the world’s greatest orchestras and musicians. I stand before the now completed nine Star Wars films with pride and gratitude for the gift of this extraordinary journey.”
 
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Original Motion Picture soundtrack is available to stream and download HERE. The physical album is set for release on December 20 and is available for pre-order

About John Williams... Legendary composer Williams is well known for scoring all nine of the Star Wars saga films to date, beginning with 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope for which he earned an Academy Award for Best Original Score. His scores for The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi were each nominated for Best Original Score. 

Williams has won five Academy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, seven British Academy Film Awards, five Emmys and 24 Grammy Awards. With 51 Academy Award nominations, Williams is the Academy’s most nominated living person and the second most-nominated individual in history, after Walt Disney. In 2005, the American Film Institute selected Williams' score to 1977's Star Wars: A New Hope as the greatest American film score of all time. The soundtrack to A New Hope also was preserved by the Library of Congress in the National Recording Registry, for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Williams was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl's Hall of Fame in 2000, and he received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2004, the National Medal of Arts in 2009, and the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2016. Williams has composed the scores for eight of the top 20 highest-grossing films at the U.S. box office (adjusted for inflation). 

Just Yes!
Jeremy [Six Strings]

Walt Disney Records: "THE MANDALORIAN: CHAPTER 7" music by Ludwig Göransson

 
Walt Disney Records releases the digital soundtrack from “The Mandalorian,” Lucasfilm’s first-ever, live-action series, streaming exclusively on Disney+. The Mandalorian: Chapter 7 digital album features score by Oscar® and Grammy®-winning composer Ludwig Göransson (Black Panther, Creed) and is available HERE.

The Swedish-born composer’s approach to “The Mandalorian” score and character themes was to combine organic elements from recorders, pianos and guitars in different ways and infuse tech sounds with a cinematic orchestra. Göransson said, "Working on something so fresh and original as ‘The Mandalorian,’ I knew I had to compose something just as exciting. I wanted the score for each episode to be unique so I had to create a big sound world to draw inspiration from. I started my compositional journey away from the computer in the woods and at my small home studio playing live instruments such as recorders, piano and guitar. I took that material back into the computer and added tech elements to make the organic instruments take new shapes. Lastly, I added the cinematic sweep of an 70-piece orchestra to make my compositions breathe and come to life. Working with Jon and the entire team involved in the making of this series was incredibly humbling and collaborative. I’m so excited to share this soundtrack with fans around the world.”

“The Mandalorian” album titles and episode release dates follow:

The Mandalorian: Chapter 7 from #107- December 18
The Mandalorian: Chapter 8 from #108- December 27 (season finale)

It's great to be a STAR WARS...
Jeremy [Six Strings]

Walt Disney Records: "TOGO" music by Mark Isham


Walt Disney Records releases the Togo digital soundtrack, streaming exclusively on Disney+ today.  The album features score composed by Mark Isham and is available here.

Starring Willem Dafoe and Julianne Nicholson, “Togo” is the untold true story set in the winter of 1925 that treks across the treacherous terrain of the Alaskan tundra for an exhilarating and uplifting adventure that will test the strength, courage and determination of one man, Leonhard Seppala, and his lead sled dog, Togo. The poignant and emotional adventure debuts today on Disney+.

Watch trailer: [CLICK HERE]

About “Togo” ... When a deadly epidemic strikes the town of Nome, Alaska, and the only cure is more than 600 miles away, the town looks to champion dogsled trainer Leonhard Seppala (Willem Dafoe) to help transport an antitoxin serum. Seppala turns to Togo, an unassuming, undersized and aging Siberian husky, to be his lead. His wife (Julianne Nicholson) has championed Togo since his days as a mischievous puppy who could dig himself out of any situation—literally and figuratively—and Seppala, having observed Togo’s loyalty and tenacious spirit, knows Togo offers his only chance of surviving this mission. Undaunted by the massive storm heading their way or his wife’s urging him not to go, Seppala and Togo set out on the deadliest leg of what becomes a larger relay involving multiple mushers and gale-force winds and a wind chill factor dipping to 70 degrees below zero with little to no visibility. It is a harrowing journey on which Togo saves Seppala from certain death, causing the veteran musher to grasp the depth and intensity of his feelings for his lead dog, even as he risks running him to his death. They complete the task in time with Togo going down in history as one of the greatest sled dogs ever, but it is this unbreakable bond between man and dog which is the ultimate prize—and which truly saves Seppala. An untold true story starring four-time Oscar® nominee Willem Dafoe as Leonhard Seppala, “Togo” is directed by Ericson Core and written by Tom Flynn and produced by Kim Zubick, with Douglas S. Jones serving as executive producer. The film also stars Christopher Heyerdahl, Richard Dormer, Michael Greyeyes, Michael McElhatton and Michael Gaston.

About Mark Isham...  He is an electronic music innovator, jazz artist and prolific film composer. Mark Isham’s ability to create unforgettable melodies combined with his willingness to experiment with innovative musical palettes have earned him accolades including Grammy and Emmy awards, and Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.

Isham’s inimitable musical voice is evident in his memorable scores for award-winning features including the Oscar-winning Crash and A River Runs Through It (Oscar Nomination) along with Golden Globe winning Bobby, and The Black Dahlia. For The Black Dahlia, Isham was awarded “Best Score” by the International Film Music Critics Association. Other credits include Men of Honor (Grammy nomination), Eight Below, The Cooler, cult-classic Blade, Nell, The Accountant, ABC’s hit series Once Upon a Time (Emmy nomination), and Oscar-winner John Ridley’s ABC drama American Crime. Recent projects include the EPIX series The Godfather of Harlem and A Dog’s Journey, whilst upcoming for Isham includes the forthcoming Bill & Ted Face The Music.

Mark Isham’s collective contributions to the film music community was recognized by his peers when he was awarded the highest honor for a composer by The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), the prestigious Henry Mancini Career Achievement Award for musical excellence.
 
Jeremy [Six Strings]

Silva Screen Records: "HIS DARK MATERIALS" music by Lorne Balfe


Award-winning composer Lorne Balfe’s dramatic soundtrack to the BBC’s adaptation of Philip Pullman’s fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials released digitally today from Silva Screen Records and will be available on CD in January 2020.

The main themes from His Dark Materials have already been introduced to the listeners through The Musical Anthology of His Dark Materials, released on Silva Screen Records in November 2019. For this concept album the principal themes were reworked, moulded and explored as each character’s theme is on a separate musical journey throughout the series. The themes are never fixed, there are no rules and they are constantly evolving. His Dark Materials original score provides a musical narrative drive across all 8 episodes. The album presents the music, including main character themes, as they appear through the series.

The score is performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Matt Dunkley. The leading cast for His Dark Materials includes Dafne Keen as Lyra, Ruth Wilson as Mrs Coulter, Lin Manuel Miranda as Lee Scoresby, James McAvoy as Lord Asriel, Clarke Peters as The Master of Jordan College, James Cosmo as Farder Coram and Anne-Marie Duff as Ma Costa, with Will Keen as Father McPhail and Ariyon Bakare as Lord Boreal.

Lorne Balfe (Mission Impossible: Fallout, The Lego Batman Movie, Churchill) is a Grammy Award winning, EMMY and BAFTA nominated composer. Whether on an impossible mission, the heartbreak of the Queen, the perils of the cape crusade or the soul of a genius, Lorne Balfe creates a musical voice that reflects the characters and the stories that embody them. Originally from Inverness, Scotland, Balfe has created music in virtually all genres and for all visual media with projects ranging from major studio to independent films, tentpole video game franchises, beloved animated feature films, critically acclaimed television series, and documentary features.

His Dark Materials is produced by Bad Wolf and New Line Cinema for BBC One and HBO. The series’ global premiere was on Sunday 3rd November on BBC One and on Monday 4th November on HBO.
 
Jeremy [Six Strings]

Howlin’ Wolf Records: a film by TOBE HOOPER “DJINN” Music by BC Smith... RETIRES DECEMBER 17TH!

Renowned genre master Tobe Hooper returns to form with DJINN, a powerful story of a young Emirati couple who return home only to discover that their new apartment in a luxury high-rise is also home to the malevolent beings known as Djinn. A unique new take on the haunted house tale, DJINN explores demonic possession and uncovers the dark, nightmarish truth behind what lurks in this high rise building. [http://howlinwolfrecords.com/]


Composer BC SMITH: From the powerful groundbreaking music of his first film score SMOKE SIGNALS (Sundance Film Festival’s Audience Award and Filmmakers Trophy winner), to the minimalist electronic textures of the upcoming Mandalay Pictures / Netflix film AMATEUR, BC Smith is one of those rare composers firmly entrenched in a world of diverse and eclectic musical styles.

Whether working with modular synthesizers, multifarious ensembles, large orchestras, peyote singers, aleatorics or electronics, BC believes that film scoring is an evolving art form and he approaches every film from its own unique perspective. A multi-instrumentalist, he is known for his unique collection of bespoke instruments and electronics. He believes that audiences crave new sounds and he’s passionate about creating an original sonic pallet and score that is truly born from the story, psychology and aesthetic of each film. 

IT'S RETIRING ON DECEMBER 17TH, WON'T BE AVAILABLE ANYMORE!
Jeremy [Six Strings]

Intrada: "PARIS UNDER THE STARS: BALLET MUSIC FOR ALBERTINA RASCH" music by Dimitri Tiomkin


As a companion piece to Intrada's new recording of Dial M for Murder, conductor William Stromberg joined forces with the Slovak National Symphony Orchestra last summer to record this new album – Paris Under the Stars: Ballet Music for Albertina Rasch. All of the selections on this 2-CD set were composed by Dimitri Tiomkin between 1927 and 1932 and performed as ballets choreographed by Albertina Rasch for her dance troupe, the Albertina Rasch Dancers.
 
Before becoming the Oscar-winning composer of more than 100 film scores, Tiomkin started as a pianist. He arrived in the United States in 1924 as one half of a duo piano act to accompany the Albertina Rasch Dancers in vaudeville shows. At Tiomkin’s suggestion, in 1926 Rasch conceived and executed the first staging of a ballet to the music of George Gershwin—and Tiomkin was at one of the two pianos on stage. Rasch’s abstract choreography for Rhapsody in Blue brought form and movement in place of storytelling. She viewed it as art, like a Chopin nocturne. After that she developed a new concept for ballet, what she referred to as New World Ballet or American Ballet. She combined traits found in ballets set to classical music with rhythms integral to modern American dance music, primarily jazz and syncopated popular music. This became her signature sound.


This dynamic new recording presents a selection of the best and most dramatic music Tiomkin composed for Albertina Rasch for vaudeville, concerts and filmed ballets. Interestingly in his autobiography, he only refers to the Mars Ballet in a lengthy story, but the remaining "truckload of ballet music," as liner-note writer Warren M. Sherk calls it, is essentially ignored. No longer ignored, this set brings to light the brilliance of Tiomkin's music, including his Snow Ballet, Mars Ballet, Suite Choreographic, In the Land of the Narcissus, Fiesta Suite, The Heart of the Dancing Doll, Toe Dance, Paris Under the Stars – Moulin Rouge, and much more. This release offers listeners a generous glimpse into the non-film side of Tiomkin and a chest filled with treasures waiting to be discovered.


For track listing and sound samples, please visit the Paris Under the Stars [CLICK HERE]


Another great release, just in the end of 2019!
Jeremy [Six Strings]

Intrada: "DIAL M FOR MURDER" Music by DIMITRI TIOMKIN Conducted by WILLIAM STROMBERG

 
In the fall of 2018, Intrada launched its first Kickstarter campaign in the hopes of finding a new model in which to support the Rolls Royce of film music releases – the complete restoration and recording of a classic film score. Intrada selected a popular and well-respected Alfred Hitchcock film for this foray into crowd sourcing, the 1954 Warner Bros. film Dial M for Murder. After months of intricate restoration work by Anna Stromberg, the production team congregated in Glasgow in the brand new recording studio of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. The excellent orchestra was up to the challenge of composer DImitri Tiomkin's challenging notes, and conductor William Stromberg deftly channeled the style of the composer, bringing to life what the original sessions recording must have been like.

Since the story is essentially a one-room drama, Tiomkin's score provided some scope while underlining the tension as Margot Wendice's (Grace Kelly) life falls apart when first she is the victim of attempted murder and then framed for murder when the murder goes awry and the murderer becomes the victim. All so that Ray Milland's greedy, slithery Tony could inherit Margo's wealth and assuage his jealousy of Margot's friendship/romance with Robert Cummings' Mark Halliday. At one point Tiomkin's music evokes the sense of a great ticking clock during the murder sequence, not unlike his High Noon clock device.

With Simon Rhodes behind the console to record and mix the recording, this new recording of Dial M is perhaps one of the finest recordings in the Intrada Excalibur Collection. Included on this new album is music never heard before, including music that was dialed out of the finished film, an alternate intermission card, the original main title, and "Dial M for Me," an arrangement of the film's love theme in a lush, big band style.

For those who supported the Kickstarter campaign to bring this project to life, Intrada is extremely grateful. Special thanks to Pat Russ and Olivia Tiomkin for their gracious support and attending the sessions. Since the original soundtrack recording is long lost, Intrada along with its supporters has brought Tiomkin's passionate and tense score back to life for generations to come to study and enjoy.

SHIPPING NOW
For track listing and sound samples, please visit the Dial M for Murder [CLICK HERE]

Just YES!
Jeremy [Six Strings]

Howlin' Wolf Records: Our 43 Release... "GANJA & HESS" music by Sam Waymon


Howlin' Wolf Records is very proud to present GANJA & HESS by award-winning composer and musician extraordinaire Sam Waymon. Dr. Sam Waymon, well-known for his collaborations with legendary screenwriter, actor, and director Bill Gunn, formed a creative partnership and brotherhood with the late director in the 60's that lasted until Bill Gunn's death in 1989. Sam Waymon is also internationally recognized for performances with his sister, Eunice Waymon, better known as the "High Priestess of Soul" Nina Simone.


As always, thrilled about this release, bringing something to the music world and glad to be part of the label "Howlin' Wolf Records.
Jeremy [Six Strings]

Walt Disney Records: "THE MANDALORIAN: CHAPTER 6" music by Ludwig Göransson

 
Walt Disney Records releases the digital soundtrack from “The Mandalorian,” Lucasfilm’s first-ever, live-action series, streaming exclusively on Disney+. The Mandalorian: Chapter 6 digital album features score by Oscar® and Grammy®-winning composer Ludwig Göransson (Black Panther, Creed) and is available HERE.

The Swedish-born composer’s approach to “The Mandalorian” score and character themes was to combine organic elements from recorders, pianos and guitars in different ways and infuse tech sounds with a cinematic orchestra. Göransson said, "Working on something so fresh and original as ‘The Mandalorian,’ I knew I had to compose something just as exciting. I wanted the score for each episode to be unique so I had to create a big sound world to draw inspiration from. I started my compositional journey away from the computer in the woods and at my small home studio playing live instruments such as recorders, piano and guitar. I took that material back into the computer and added tech elements to make the organic instruments take new shapes. Lastly, I added the cinematic sweep of an 70-piece orchestra to make my compositions breathe and come to life. Working with Jon and the entire team involved in the making of this series was incredibly humbling and collaborative. I’m so excited to share this soundtrack with fans around the world.”

“The Mandalorian” album titles and episode release dates follow:

The Mandalorian: Chapter 6 from #106- December 13
The Mandalorian: Chapter 7 from #107- December 18
The Mandalorian: Chapter 8 from #108- December 27 (season finale)

JUST YES!
Jeremy [Six Strings]

Varese Sarabande: "ANNE WITH AN “E”" music by Amin Bhatia and Ari Posner


Original Music from the CBC and Netflix series Anne with an “E” will be released digitally on December 27th, 2019 exclusively from Varèse Sarabande Records. A CD version of the soundtrack to Northwood Entertainment’s series will release on January 24th, 2020, and is now available for pre-order on VareseSarabande.com and other retailers. The soundtrack includes the theme song “Ahead by a Century” by The Tragically Hip and score from the composing duo of Amin Bhatia and Ari Posner. Season 3 of the program returns in January 2020.

“Doing a soundtrack felt natural because much like an orchestra, the series Anne with an “E” contains a great many components that are all moving in the same direction to tell beautiful and inspiring stories contained within. There were certain instruments and styles of music that we decided on quite early in the process. The Celtic flavor was a natural choice from the very beginning, and this informed the instrumentation that usually includes fiddle, tin whistle, accordion and mandolin. However, we were encouraged to experiment and expand those parameters wherever it felt right for the story, so that brought in other woodwinds and strings, ambient and percussive textures, solo cello and of course piano”. – Amin Bhatia & Ari Posner, composers.

The series, a re-imagining of the classic book Anne of Green Gables, is a coming-of-age story about a young orphan who is seeking love, acceptance and her place in the world. Amybeth McNulty stars as Anne, who has endured an abusive childhood in orphanages and the homes of strangers. Set in the late 1890s, Anne is mistakenly sent to live with aging siblings, Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert (played by Geraldine James and R.H. Thomson), who reside on Prince Edward Island. Anne, who proves to be uniquely spirited, imaginative and smart, transforms the lives of Marilla, Matthew and everyone else in their small town. While Anne with an “E” honors the foundation of L. M. Montgomery’s novel, the series explores contemporary issues of identity, racism, feminism, friendship, bullying, gender parity, and empowerment through the lens of its fierce, starry-eyed, irrepressible protagonist.

“A period piece though it may be, the stories in Anne with an “E” are universal and timeless. Every detail, including the costumes and sets, the writing, the acting and even the live instruments in our score are incredibly accurate to the time. Yet a contemporary light shines on the issues that these characters would have faced back then, issues that are old as time and still as true and meaningful today. In that sense, much like the Tragically Hip’s main title song “Ahead by a Century”, we have always felt that the whole concept behind the show was exactly that”. – Amin Bhatia & Ari Posner, composers.

“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Varèse Sarabande on a soundtrack release for Anne with an “E”. Varèse is a label known for impeccable taste and savvy distribution – and we couldn’t be in better hands. The Anne with an “E” fans have been asking for this since the show launched so we’re grateful to finally be able to give them access to this gorgeous music by the brilliant Ari & Amin prior to the launch of our moving final season on Netflix. I’m also grateful to The Tragically Hip for lending their important and seminal song, “Ahead By A Century” to our credit sequence and to this stunning soundtrack”. – Miranda de Pencier, Executive Producer, Anne with an “E” and President, Northwood Entertainment.

ABOUT AMIN BHATIA... With nearly 50 scores to his credit, Emmy nominated composer Amin Bhatia has written music for film, TV and album projects for over 30 years. Versatile in both orchestral and electronic music, Amin’s television projects in addition to the CBC/Netflix/Northwood series Anne with an “E”, include internationally acclaimed series Flashpoint and X Company, the docudrama series Blood and Fury: America’s Civil War, as well as guest compositions on The Handmaid’s Tale. Feature films include Storm, Iron Eagle II, Rescue Heroes: The Movie, John Woo's Once a Thief and many IMAX large format documentaries for award winning filmmaker David Lickley.

Amin’s prizes in the Roland International Synthesizer competitions won him international fame in his youth, leading to projects with David Foster and Steve Porcaro. His solo albums “The Interstellar Suite” and “Virtuality” have garnered rave reviews for Amin’s signature neo-classical style and huge dynamic range.

Among other awards and nominations, Amin Bhatia and longtime friend and collaborator Ari Posner share a Canadian Screen Award for their work on Flashpoint, and an Emmy nomination for the Disney series Get Ed.

ABOUT ARI POSNER... He is a fixture in Canadian film and television, in addition to scoring Netflix/CBC/Northwood’s Anne with an “E”, Posner’s series scoring credits include X Company, Blood and Fury: America’s Civil War, and the critically acclaimed TV series Flashpoint, as well as the feature films All the Wrong Reasons, Borealis, and the romantic comedy My Awkward Sexual Adventure. The music composer’s repertoire spans from long-format work to ads to animated series, and everything in between.

Originally from Winnipeg, Ari is a proud alumnus of York University’s Fine Arts Program where he studied composition and improvisation. Through his traditional music background and experience collaborating with live musicians and orchestras, Posner has developed a rich compositional skill set. His studio is currently located at Pirate Radio and Television in downtown Toronto.
 
Jeremy [Six Strings]

Music.Film Recordings: "SEBERG" music by Jed Kurzel


The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack for the anticipated biographical drama SEBERG will be released digitally on December 13, 2019, exclusively from Music.Film Recordings. The 25-track album consists of captivating and breathtaking melodies by Australian composer Jed Kurzel.

Seberg is inspired by true events about the French New Wave icon and Breathless film star, Jean Seberg (Kristen Stewart), who in the late 1960s was targeted by the FBI, because of her support of the civil rights movement and romantic involvement with activist (and cousin of Malcolm X) Hakim Jamal (Anthony Mackie). In Benedict Andrews' political thriller, Seberg's life and career are destroyed by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover's overreaching surveillance and harassment in an effort to suppress and discredit Seberg's activism. The Amazon Studios film received a standing ovation at the 2019 Venice Film Festival. Seberg hits US theaters on December 13.

“Jean Seberg's story is fascinating and multifaceted. The question was how do we capture it while maintaining the pulse of the narrative? Jean goes from someone who seemingly has the world at her feet to someone who is pushed to the brink and ultimately finds herself isolated and alone. Tracing this journey while also capturing the FBI's unrelenting obsession with her was the most challenging part of the musical process. There was also an underlying intimacy residing in the relationship between Jack and Jean which the music also hints at, a relationship through surveillance. On top of this, we were aware of grounding the film in a time and place, coloring it with subtle musical flavors from the period. We used a String Quintet with piano, horns, percussion, guitar and electronic elements. Benedict talked about a shimmering fragility in the playing, therefore we used a smaller section with the strings, being able to hear individual textures in the playing felt a little more personal and highlighted Jeans growing anxiety. We also talked about the strings having this fragile beauty being corrupted by something darker underneath so often the double bass pulses away underneath or electronic elements are there to unsettle things. The simple piano motifs are singular to Jean, sparse and private, but along with the horns give a subtle nod to the era and mood of the film.” – Jed Kurzel, composer.

ABOUT JED KURZEL... His feature film debut for the critically-acclaimed Australian movie Snowtown was named Feature Film Score of the Year at Australia’s 2011 Screen Music Awards and Kurzel has since gone on to score feature films including The Babadook (Dir: Jennifer Kent), which William Friedkin, director of The Exorcist, described as the most “terrifying film” he had ever seen; Slow West (Dir: John Maclean), which won Jed his second Screen Music Award for Feature Film Score of the Year; and Macbeth (Dir: Justin Kurzel), starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, which premiered in competition at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.

In 2016, Jed scored the film adaptation of Assassin’s Creed (Dir: Justin Kurzel) followed by Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant in 2017. Recent projects include The Nightingale, a reunion with Jennifer Kent; 2018’s WWII zombie action thriller Overlord; Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre’s The Mustang; and forthcoming True History Of The Kelly Gang, a further collaboration with Justin Kurzel.

Before shifting his focus to composing, Jed was best known as the front man and songwriter for Australian duo The Mess Hall. Their 2006 album “Devil’s Elbow” was awarded the prestigious 2007 Australian Music Prize.
 
Jeremy [Six Strings]

Lakeshore Records: "LIMETOWN" music by Ronit Kirchman


Lakeshore Records announces today’s digital release of the soundtrack for the Facebook Watch Original Series Limetown by composer  (The Sinner, Now You See Me). The acclaimed series is adapted from the widely-known podcast of the same name and all 10-episodes of Limetown season one are available now on Facebook Watch. The album is now available for streaming and purchase on all digital platforms.

Ronit Kirchman’s perspective on the series: “Even though Limetown plays as a thriller, it also creates a believable reality similar to ours with all of the complexity one might find – love, gentleness, curiosity, and hope, as well as dissociation, horror, dread, and menace. It comes to life through nuanced and powerful performances from Jessica Biel, Stanley Tucci, Kelly Jenrette, John Beasley, Janet Kidder, and many others. Since Limetown originated as a podcast, the series also offers a great opportunity for sonic innovation. When I was asked to join the Limetown team, it was an easy ‘yes.’”

“Limetown is filled with resonant themes that I loved working with as a composer. What happens to empathy as we humans continue to push the boundaries of technology? What happens to cruelty? The technology amplifies all of our core human struggles. In certain places, the score quite literally represents the imagined sonic measurements of human and animal emotion. The ambitious scope of Limetown’s ideas allowed me to incorporate a wide musical palette, ranging from machine sounds and modulations, to heartfelt melody, to the sounds of the orchestra unleashed in a new way. I hope that the score provides you with a sonic journey through all of the fascinating and often disturbing spaces of Limetown,” says Kirchman.

RONIT KIRCHMAN is a pioneer on the frontier of film and television music. Her mind-bending innerspace score for The Sinner—the acclaimed, Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated anthology series executive produced by Jessica Biel—has deepened the psychoanalytic mystery behind catastrophic crimes for two seasons and counting. Season 3, starring Matt Bomer and Bill Pullman, will premiere in Winter 2020.

Recognized in the press as "an extremely original voice" with "a virtuoso touch," and "a truly unique force in the entertainment industry," Ronit has also recently completed the score for the new series Limetown (based on the hit podcast of the same name) on Facebook Watch. Her Limetown score album will be available from Lakeshore Records in December 2019.

Ronit has brought an exploratory spirit to a wide-ranging trail of films and documentaries, while drawing on her musical experiences in styles all across the map. In the laboratory of her studio, Kirchman cultivates an ever-growing ecosystem of instruments and coaxes exotic, even alien sounds from electronics and the farther reaches of her acoustic and electric 7-string violins. She’s also a prolific songwriter, music producer, conductor, and singer, and continues to compose original scores for the theater, dance, multimedia installations, and the concert stage. She has performed and recorded internationally in many contexts, including free improvisation, classical, live electronica, rock, pop, jazz, world, blues, and country. As a storyteller beyond music, she’s also a poet, author, and accomplished painter with a degree in fine arts.

Growing up in New York City, Kirchman started playing violin at age four. Her teachers included Erick Friedman, a protégé of the legendary Jascha Heifetz. She garnered her BA at Yale with high honors and her MFA in composition at California Institute of the Arts before leaping into film music, earning fellowships at the Sundance Composers Lab and the Sundance Institute Time Warner Foundation—bringing a classical virtuosity as well as an innovative, genre-blurring adventurousness into the realm of composing for narrative.

Equally at home writing for large acoustic ensembles, minting a pop hook, programming electronics, and working with master improvisers, Ronit brings great versatility, imagination, and precision to all of her projects.

“What I love about film scoring,” she says, “is that each story really requires its own language on some level, and so each time I dive into a new story, I discover and develop new modes of expression.” 
 
Jeremy [Six Strings]

Lakeshore Records: "WE BELIEVE IN DINOSAURS" music by Kate Simko


Lakeshore Records will release the Original Score to the critically-acclaimed documentary We Believe in Dinosaurs, written by DJ, music producer and London Electronic Orchestra leader Kate Simko (20 Weeks, BananaLand). The album is now available for pre-order and will be released digitally on December 13th. The documentary was released by 1091 on November 19th and is available on digital platforms and On Demand. Additionally, We Believe in Dinosaurs will air on PBS’s Independent Lens on Monday, February 17, 2020.

“We Believe in Dinosaurs is a film about creationism, conflicting ideologies, and America’s troubled relationship with science. The score uses analog synthesizers, like the Moog Voyager, to symbolize modern science and technology, alongside delicate synth tones, strings, and live violin to underscore the sometimes heated emotions the film. We are living in a highly polarized moment in American politics and culture. This is a soundtrack to these times—exciting and fast-paced, yet challenging and conflicted. If you haven’t seen the film, I hope the music still reflects this underlying feeling,” says Kate Simko.

The composer worked closely with the director to bring the score to life: “Working with the director, Clayton Brown, on a second feature was a truly collaborative process that pushed me as a composer. Clayton’s vision is crystal clear and he understands the power of music in film. We communicated scene-by-scene about the emotions and deeper meaning to be reflected through the music.”

Kate Simko is a composer, leader of her ensemble London Electronic Orchestra, and an internationally touring live performer and DJ. Lyrical, driving and funky, her music is influenced by her Chicago roots and her background in piano and jazz music. Kate’s hybrid electronic-orchestral sound with London Electronic Orchestra blends synthesizer and live instruments, complemented by deep bass, sound design and classic analog drums.  

She completed a Masters in Composition for Screen at the Royal College of Music in London in 2014 and received her Bachelors in Music from Northwestern University. Upon graduation, Simko moved to Los Angeles where she worked with Academy Award-winning sound designer Stephen Flick, gaining her first experience in feature film composition. She has released multiple albums and soundtracks, reaching the Top 100 in the Billboard Classical chart, as well as the Top 10 in house music charts worldwide. Her music has been licensed by ABC Television, Victorinox, and Giorgio Armani, and she has written original music for films, commercials and shows featured on the BBC, Netflix and PBS.

Kate launched her innovative ensemble London Electronic Orchestra in 2014, with the core touring group featuring harp, strings and Kate on keys and electronics. LEO has performed at venues and festivals worldwide - including the Royal Albert Hall twice - releasing their debut ‘Kate Simko & London Electronic Orchestra’ album on The Vinyl Factory in 2016. Kate and LEO teamed up with UK DJ Jamie Jones to create a full-orchestra hybrid collaboration ‘Opus 1’. The duo sold out the Barbican Centre in London in November 2018, with 90 minutes of music arranged for a 28-piece LEO orchestra by Kate. 

Simko scored her first feature documentary, The Atom Smashers, in 2008. The score was released by Ghostly International and received recognition as a standalone ambient-electronic score. Since then, Kate has gone on two score a number of projects, including the feature-length documentary BananaLand and an indie drama 20 Weeks.

Kate’s distinctive sound continues to inspire listeners across the globe. 

Jeremy [Six Strings]

Milan Records: "6 UNDERGROUND" music by Lorne Balfe


Milan Records today releases 6 UNDERGROUND (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK) with music by award-winning film, television and game composer LORNE BALFE (Mission Impossible: Fallout, The LEGO Batman Movie, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations).  Available everywhere now, the soundtrack features music from Netflix’s forthcoming action thriller starring Ryan Reynolds.  Directed by Michael Bay, 6 Underground makes its debut Friday, December 13 on Netflix.

Of the soundtrack, composer LORNE BALFE says, “Michael Bay is one of the reasons I wanted to get into the film industry. Bad Boys, The Rock, Armageddon, to name from a few, are films that I would watch constantly. Michael wanted a score that musically represented the adrenaline, fast pace, and crazy world of the 6 Underground. This is our fifth collaboration so far.  No one else shoots like Michael Bay and it is an honor to score every scene.”

Meet a new kind of action hero in 6 Underground. Six untraceable agents, totally off the grid. They’ve buried their pasts so they can change the future. Ryan Reynolds stars in this gritty globe-trotting action adventure from director Michael Bay.
 
Jeremy [Six Strings]

Sony Music: "JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL" music by Henry Jackman


Sony Music today releases Jumanji: The Next Level (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) with music by award-winning composer Henry Jackman.  Available everywhere now, the album features music written by Jackman for the newest installment in the Jumanji franchise, following his 2017 score for Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.  Directed by Jake Kasdan and starring Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan, Jumanji: The Next Level makes its theatrical debut Friday, December 13 from Sony Pictures.

“Composing the score for Jumanji: The Next Level was as adventurous as the movie itself,” says composer Henry Jackman about the project.  “It was a great privilege to return to the themes that worked in the previous movie, and to combine them with brand new musical ideas for the whole new world this film encompasses.  The Director, Jake Kasdan, has a great feel for music; his encouragement and insight helped me enormously."

In Jumanji: The Next Level, the gang is back but the game has changed. As they return to Jumanji to rescue one of their own, they discover that nothing is as they expect. The players will have to brave parts unknown and unexplored, from the arid deserts to the snowy mountains, in order to escape the world’s most dangerous game.
 
Jeremy [Six Strings]

Milan Records: "EUPHORIA" music by Labrinth on 2-LP

 
Milan Records shares details of the forthcoming vinyl release of EUPHORIA (ORIGINAL SCORE FROM THE HBO SERIES) with music by chart-topping, multiplatinum-selling artist and producer LABRINTH. After making its hugely-anticipated wide release this fall, the score will be available in vinyl format on Friday, January 10 – pre-order now. Inspired by the show’s vivid color palette, the album’s vinyl edition features purple and pink splatter vinyl and arrives as a 2-LP deluxe gatefold set. Watch an exclusive unboxing video of the score’s vinyl edition for an inside look at the forthcoming set here.

Available now in digital and CD formats, EUPHORIA (ORIGINAL SCORE FROM THE HBO SERIES) features score music from the first season of the hit HBO series and marks Labrinth’s first-ever project as lead composer. Written and recorded in close collaboration with the show’s executive producer Sam Levinson, Labrinth’s original compositions feature prominently throughout Euphoria as a sonic companion to the show’s angst-driven narrative. The resulting 26-track collection is a genre blending mix of gospel, soul and electronic influences, indicative both of Labrinth’s imitable style as well as the show’s deeply moving storyline.

Of the album, LABRINTH says, “My experience with Euphoria has made me a better musician. It was a dream come true to give wings and add magic to the different storylines. It was a collaborative effort among Sam Levinson, the crew and the cast - I only added texture to an already phenomenal show. I hope that anyone who listens to the music embraces feeling something.”

Euphoria follows a group of high school students as they navigate love and friendships in a world of drugs, sex, trauma and social media. The ensemble cast of Euphoria includes actor and singer Zendaya, Maude Apatow (Girls), Angus Cloud, Eric Dane, Alexa Demie, Jacob Elordi, Barbie Ferreira, Nika King, Storm Reid, Hunter Schafer, Algee Smith and Sydney Sweeney (Sharp Objects).

Euphoria is an American adaptation of an Israeli show of the same name, and all episodes are written by Sam Levinson (Assassination Nation), who also serves as executive producer. The series is produced in partnership with A24 (Lady Bird, Random Acts of Flyness, 2 Dope Queens, Pod Save America) and includes executive producers Drake, Future the Prince, Ravi Nandan, Kevin Turen, Hadas Mozes Lichtenstein, Tmira Yardeni, Mirit Toovi, Yoram Mokadi and Gary Lennon. Ron Leshem and Daphna Levin, who created the Israeli series, are also executive producers.

Jeremy [Six Strings]

Interview with Composer SAM WAYMON on Howlin' Wolf Records release "GANJA & HESS" [Part: One]


Welcome into the Howlin' Wolf Records family and we welcome you!

HWR: What kind of impact do you believe the film had in 1973, how it's received in today near 2020 and what would you like to see the listener to take away from the soundtrack "GANJA & HESS"? 


SAM WAYMON: In 1973 no one had ever seen a film like this.  No one had ever heard a soundtrack like this being it was not a blaxploitation film like Hollywood was making - it was different. it was original . and it was not a gangster/shoot'em up cop movie. The impact was substantial and exciting. But not in America.  It was hailed more in Europe. It took Europe by a storm.  That's why it was chosen as one of the best films of the decade at the Cannes Film Festival.  But back here in the U.S. well, that's another story. After it opened on 57th street in NYC at the Playboy theater, with a lot of famous Hollywood starts attending the Premier with fog lights on the street and police closing off 57th street.. the press didn't understand the film and most people had to see it twice to understand the seduction and metaphor of the film Bill Gunn had written.  The music however, was liked from the  beginning. I was thrilled and perplexed at the same time.  I thought and knew you could not separate the two. The black community loved it. the black music industry folks and musicians loved my music and called it "before it's time" and called it a masterpiece for a young black composer such as myself. The Black writer's and filmmaker's community hailed Bill as a genius with language. I agree. That man could write language. That also helped translate my music into sounds.


I must say for 2020 the world is different now than then.  A new generation of people with new exciting challenges and visions and dreams and opportunities before them when it comes to creativity and sounds. and music. Technology has a great deal to do with that. But most importantly, the world can now see what Bill and I went thru to make this film back then. It was a struggle and big struggle. But we had to do what our dream commanded us to do otherwise we would be ourselves. Our theme was to always be TRUE TO YOURSELF.

I'm so thrilled Jeremy that people, you, Howlin' Wolf and Wall Crumpler love and appreciate the blood, sweat and tears that went into making this film. All i wanted people to know was you must do what you can to fulfill your dream at any cost. When it comes to Art, hey, nothing should ever get in your way. I'm hoping this film and my music is an inspiration and motivation to other young composers and musicians to follow their vision as I did. Old or young. Doesn't matter your age...just stay inspired and be around other creative positive people to keep you grounded. Period. If you have a gift be true to it and respect  it as I did and still do to this day and will till I'm under the grass.
 

HWR: Please share a story or memory working on the film soundtrack for "GANJA & HESS" and do you feel the film has a "cult" status?

SAM WAYMON: I don't know the answer to that. I guess it's because the  music is "raw and acoustic" and not complicated with too much technology - i kept it simple yet spiritually connected to the script and the story.  Remember, no one has ever seen a film like this, so maybe that's why it has a "cult" following.  You tell me.

End of Part I... THANK YOU. Please find more information on "GANJA & HESS" soundtrack here at "HOWLIN' WOLF RECORDS".

Jeremy [Six Strings]

RLJ Entertainment: "ADOPT A HIGHWAY" [DVD/BLU-RAY]


RLJE Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, will release ADOPT A HIGHWAY on December 24, 2019 on DVD and Blu-ray. ADOPT A HIGHWAY stars Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke (Boyhood), Elaine Hendrix (“Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll”), Diane Gaeta (Other People's Children), Mo McRae ("Pitch"), Chris Sullivan ("This Is Us"), and Betty Gabriel (Get Out).  The film is written and directed by Logan Marshall-Green in his feature filmmaking debut which had its World Premiere at the 2019 SXSW Film Festival. RLJE Films will release ADOPT A HIGHWAY on DVD and on Blu-ray.


In ADOPT A HIGHWAY, Russ Millings has just been released from prison after serving 21 years for a 3rd strike conviction for possessing an ounce of marijuana. As he tries to adapt to a world he doesn’t recognize – including trying to learn how to use the internet – he finds an abandoned baby in a dumpster behind the fast food restaurant where he works as a dishwasher. Unsure of what to do, and caught between impulses of kindness and panic, Russ soon realizes this could be his chance at redemption.

Check out the trailer: [CLICK HERE]
 
Jeremy [Six Strings]

RLJ Entertainment: "TRICK" [DVD/BLU-RAY]


RLJE Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, will release TRICK on December 17, 2019 on DVD and Blu-ray. TRICK features Omar Epps ("House"), Ellen Adair (“Homeland”), Kristina Reyes (“Blindspot”), Jamie Kennedy (Scream franchise), and Tom Atkins (Escape From New York). Directed by Patrick Lussier (My Bloody Valentine, Drive Angry), he co-wrote the film with Todd Farmer (My Bloody Valentine, Jason X). RLJE Films will release TRICK on DVD and on Blu-ray.


On Halloween night in 2015, Patrick “Trick” Weaver massacred his classmates at a costume party. After being arrested, he managed to escape police custody, but not before being shot five times by Detective Mike Denver (Epps). Everyone believes Trick must be dead, but when a masked killer reappears the following Halloween, and every Halloween after that, they realize the nightmare is not over. With Trick wreaking havoc and killing innocent people in increasingly terrifying ways, Denver will stop at nothing to finish what he started and bring the carnage to an end.
 
Jeremy [Six Strings]

MVD Entertainment Group: "The Limits Of Control" (2009) [BLU-RAY/DVD]


When it comes to American independent cinema, there's no one quite like Jim Jarmusch, the celebrated auteur behind such classics as Stranger Than Paradise and Only Lovers Left Alive. Eschewing his usual American landscapes in favor of a variety of locations throughout urban and rural Spain, his 2009 anti-thriller The Limits of Control remains one of his most alluring and multi-layered creations. An enigmatic loner (Isaach de Bankolé, Black Panther, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai) arrives in Spain, instructed to make contact with a series of strangers in different locations throughout the country, each of whom provides a cryptic clue which propels him further towards his mysterious goal. But who is the Lone Man? Why is he here? And how does the recurring figure of an alluring femme fatale (Paz de la Huerta, Enter the Void) fit into the puzzle? Boasting stunning cinematography by the award-winning Christopher Doyle (In the Mood for Love) and featuring cameos from an array of celebrated character actors, including Tilda Swinton (The Grand Budapest Hotel), Gael García Bernal (Y Tu Mamá También) and the late John Hurt (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), The Limits of Control is a languid, hauntingly beautiful film that combines the best of American and European arthouse sensibilities.
 
Jeremy [Six Strings]

Universal Studios Home Entertainment: "HUSTLERS" [BLU-RAY/DVD]


Hustlers is a 2019 American crime drama film written and directed by Lorene Scafaria, based on New York magazine's 2015 article The Hustlers at Scores: The Ex-Strippers Who Stole From (Mostly) Rich Men and Gave to, Well, Themselves by Jessica Pressler.[5] The film stars Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Stiles, Keke Palmer, Lili Reinhart, Lizzo, and Cardi B. The plot follows a crew of strippers in New York City who begin to steal money by drugging stock traders and CEOs who visit their club, then running up their credit cards. Lopez is also a producer on the film through Nuyorican Productions, alongside Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell, and Adam McKay through their Gloria Sanchez banner.


First announced in February 2016, the film was originally set to be financed and distributed by Annapurna Pictures. But amid financial trouble, Annapurna dropped the rights in October 2018. After STX Entertainment picked them up, much of the cast joined that fall through the following spring, and filming took place in New York City from March to May 2019.

Hustlers had its world premiere on September 7, 2019, at the Toronto International Film Festival, and was theatrically released in the United States on September 13, 2019. The film has grossed $150 million worldwide and received positive reviews from critics, with Lopez's performance singled out for praise.  

Jeremy [Six Strings]

Universal Studios Home Entertainment: "DOWNTON ABBEY" [BLU-RAY/DVD]


DOWNTON ABBEY, the global sensation hailed as “a grand, cinematic experience” (Mike Reyes, Cinemablend) welcomes fans back for a spectacular homecoming on Digital November 26, 2019 and on Blu-ray™, DVD and On Demand on December 17, 2019 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Earning an “A” CinemaScore, the film, which is celebrated by critics as “a true love letter to the fans” (Catalina Combs, Black Girl Nerds), arrives just in time for the holiday season with a broad variety of bonus features, including exclusive conversations with the cast, deleted scenes and a series recap that whisks audiences away to a world of grandeur.

Based on Carnival Films’ Emmy® award-winning television series, the feature DOWNTON ABBEY sees the original cast return, alongside a host of newcomers. The incredible ensemble cast been applauded by critics as “funny and charming as ever” (Caroline Siede, The A.V. Club). The film chronicles the Crawley family one year after the conclusion of the series, as they prepare for the most important moment of their lives: an impending visit from the Royal Family. Join the glitz, glamour and spectacle as the special visit unleashes scandal, romance and intrigue on the fan-favorite family and its staff members. Lauded as “a delight” (Stephanie Zacharek, TIME), the film comes from the series screenwriter and producer Julian Fellowes, and producers Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge.


The motion picture will also be available in a Deluxe Limited Edition, featuring the Blu-ray Disc, DVD, and Digital Code, presented in exclusive packaging along with a collectible photo book and recipe cards. Available only while supplies last, this special offering is the must-own gift for any Downton Abbey fan or to add to your own collection.
 
Tea is ready... 
Jeremy [Six Strings]

Bedroom Community: "THE COUNTY" music by Valgeir Sigurðsson


The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to The County, with music by Valgeir Sigurðsson, will be released on January 10th, 2020, exclusively from Bedroom Community. The 15-track album features eerily beautiful and scene-setting melodies created by the Icelandic musician.

The drama had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section. The County is the follow-up to Grímur Hákonarson’s Festival de Cannes Award-winning debut Rams and stars actors Arndís Hrönn Egilsdóttir, Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson, as well as Þorsteinn Bachmann.

“Director Grímur Hákonarson and I have worked together a few times in the past, so it helped that we already had a dialog and a fluidity in the way we work together. First I watched the film a few times, and then I turned off the screen and just wrote music in response to what I had seen. I often do this because I want to make a score that flows with its own narrative. On Grímur’s suggestion, we used a lot of synths and electronic textures, and also used some of the real sounds from the film for the score. There is an obnoxious milking-robot that features quite heavily, as well as other sounds from around the farm and the environments that I also managed to incorporate into the score. Then, I also recorded a lot of solo strings that I was really excited about, but mostly didn’t need to be in the film once the images were turned back on. In the final mix I think we cut about 50% of the score that I had completed, or more even, we agreed fully on all the cuts. But, on the soundtrack release I keep many of these elements because they informed my process and I feel that they are integral to the music and necessary when it is stripped of the images it was created for.” – Valgeir Sigurðsson, composer.

Coming up in 2020, Valgeir will perform his captivating music at the famous Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN featuring acts like Patti Smith, A Winged Victory for the Sullen, Kronos Quartet, amongst others. The singular festival experience explores connections between musicians and artists, effortlessly crossing the boundaries of musical genres as well as artistic disciplines.

In addition to The County, Sigurðsson’s Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to An Acceptable Loss will become available on December 20th, 2019.

ABOUT THE COUNTY.. The co-op system in Iceland arose in the early 20th century as a response to Denmark's centuries-old monopoly on trade; however, in many instances, these supposed mutual-aid societies grew to be as exploitative as the system that preceded them. In The County, Grímur Hákonarson tells a powerful David-and-Goliath tale about an independent farmer whose defiance of her local co-op brings her face to face with its sinister underside.

Inga (Arndís Hrönn Egilsdóttir) has always questioned the slavish devotion of her husband, Reynir (Hinrik Ólafsson), to the co-op, even as the co-op's debt has spiraled out of control and their prices remain much higher than those of their competition. When disaster strikes, Inga decides to openly take action against the co-op via social media. As her campaign progresses, she soon finds out just how low her adversary is willing to go.

As in Rams, Hákonarson illustrates how the harsh conditions that rural Icelanders face have bred an innate conservatism and a fealty to the status quo, which some hold true to even as it threatens their own well-being. Driven by Egilsdóttir's gritty and moving performance (and featuring a fine turn from Rams star Sigurður Sigurjónsson as the co-op's sleazy, self-assured director), and subtly directed by Hákonarson — one of the region's finest filmmakers — The County brilliantly explores how Iceland's cherished myth that all its citizens are equal can blind some of its hardiest and most independent people to their own exploitation.

ABOUT VALGEIR SIGURÐSSON... Reykjavík-based composer and producer Valgeir Sigurðsson is known for his immersive sound-world, often blurring the lines between contemporary classical writing and electronic production. Recent film projects include Valgeir’s first U.S. feature An Acceptable Loss, a political thriller by Joe Chappell, starring Jamie Lee Curtis, as well as Grímur Hákonarson’s Little Moscow and The County.

Valgeir’s 4th LP DISSONANCE won ‘Album of The Year’ at the 2018 Iceland Music Awards. He has performed his work internationally at festivals, concert halls and clubs, and The New York Times named Dissonance Live among the top shows of the 2017 Sónar Barcelona Festival.

His scores for the environmental documentary Dreamland and Reykjavík City Theatre’s production of MEDEA were nominated for best score at the Edda Awards (also known as the “Icelandic Oscars”), and the Iceland Theatre Awards, respectively. Dust received a special jury mention at the International Rostrum of Composers in 2019.

ABOUT BEDROOM COMMUNITY... Bedroom Community is an Icelandic record label/collective formed in 2006 by Valgeir Sigurðsson, with Nico Muhly and Ben Frost. The collective’s roster is made up of creatively diverse artists across fields ranging from art house cinema, to opera, theatre, fine art, Hollywood and beyond. Founded by Valgeir in 1997, Greenhouse Studios functions as the creative home of the Bedroom Community label, and it has independently built a diverse and exceptional list of clients from all corners of the globe. The studio is a hub of activity and a facility that has the infrastructure of a world-class residential recording studio in a scaled down, intimate package.
 
As the new 2020 music starts to roll in, this one is a pretty solid release and worth your time to hear it and it's great to hear music from around the globe. 
Jeremy [Six Strings]