Yes, it’s been a while since the last soundtrack release tally, but it never fails that once you hit December, time actually gets folded in half, causing days to go by in half their normal time until roughly January 4 when we’re back at work (unless one serves within the service industry, provides an essential service, or is in utter servitude, and Xmas is just another surprise holiday that somehow showed up before you could book time off and have a vacation, leaving co-workers to toil in your place).

The result of this time-folding phenomenon is your metabolism goes out of whack. Half a chicken breast is consumed so fast, you’re convinced you just ate a plum tomato instead, so you eat another chicken breast.

Dessert is processed so fast by your wonky metabolism that you must have seconds. Seeing friends and family stoned on turkey, resting all placid and smiley-faced on the couch, chairs and carpet makes you say “Yes” to another glass of Glurg because the pickled fruit apparently has anti-cancer agents, anti-hangover elements and an ancient anti-burp formula that will come in handy during the car trip home.

Perhaps the best way to start 2011 is with the kind of eclectic material reflective of the collective mental state, weary from the holidays, and confounded by the need to show up to a familiar but annoying place and do something called Work.

First off, the AV Club has an interview with Udo Kier. The reason this is important is because it’s Udo. If you know not who Udo is, you are nothing.

Secondly, the spirit of Norman Bates is alive and well in one Jean Stevens, 91, who had the embalmed cadavers of her husband and twin sister dug up and brought home so she could see them again. This story is weirdly touching, but then there’s that mental image of her sitting on the sofa with her husband in the garage, talking about Benny Goodman like the old days, while a funky odor manages to break through the scent of oil and break fluid. Somewhat unsettling.

Thirdly, although he wasn’t able to use real human bones again, composer Daniel Licht made use of cow bones (some with tissue), saws, and various surgical utensils to create various rhythmic sounds for Season 5 of Dexter. Filmmaker Barbara Rothenborg recently completed a 4.5 minute documentary (likely to appear on a future DVD release) where Licht shows off his new musical instruments, and performs them with orchestra in a sound booth as scenes play on a nearby monitor.

It’s all tongue-in-cheek, but Licht’s knack for rhythms and colours again reinforce why he’s such an asset to the show, and why his music is just so good. It’s logical he would build a resonating chamber so the sound of bowed surgical knives would screech a little louder. Warped and demented, but logical for the needs of the series.

Licht’s own website contains a related video, and he spoke recently to Fangoria regarding his use of unconventional instruments and the lonely job of composing.

Lastly, here’s a quick tally of current and upcoming horror-ish scores. (A full, multi-genre tally is also available.)

Film Score Monthly (FSM) (USA)
Poltergeist (Jerry Goldsmith ) – 2 CDs, ltd. 10,000 copies

Intrada (USA)
Clash of the Titans (1981) (Laurence Rosenthal) – 2 CDs, ltd. 3000 copies

Kritzerland Records (USA)
Dead of Winter (Richard Einhorn)
Sadismo (Les Baxter)

La-La Land Records (USA)
Batman Returns (Danny Elfman) – 2 CDs, ltd. 3500 copies
Haunted Honeymoon (John Morris) – ltd. 1200 copies

MovieScore Media (Sweden)
Cuckoo (Andrew Hewitt)

Perseverance Records (USA)
Puppet Master (John Massari, Peter Bernstein, Richard Band) – 5 CDs

Sony (USA)
Black Swan (Clint Mansell)

SPV (Germany)
Popol Vuh: The Werner Herzog Soundtrack + Book – 5 CDs + book, ltd. 5000 copies, Jan. 25 [this release includes Nosferatu]

Toho (Japan)
Rodan / Yog, Monster from Space (Akira Ifukube) – 2 CDs, late Jan.

Varese Sarabande (USA)
Sanctum (David Hirschfelder) – Feb. 1
The Way Back (Burkhard Dallwitz) – Jan. 18

Warner Bros. Records (USA)
The Danny Elfman & Tim Burton Anniversary Music Box – 16-CD deluxe set + 1 DVD + book, Feb. 15
[Note: the non-limited set for sale on Amazon.com does not incl. 17th bonus disc that was mailed separately to those who pre-order the “limited” set around Dec. 2010. For more info on the bonus CD – details, attitude, whining, jealousy, and pictures – skim the pages at the Film Score Monthly Message Board]

For a lengthy, windy view on the concept of “limited” soundtrack releases, do check out my other blog, although be patient, as there’s much blather.

- MRH (2011)