I am truly fortunate that I enjoy the music I do, as it allows me to experience levels of nerdvana I would never otherwise come across, and given I work in IT I can be a geek at work and sometimes feel the same when I am sat writing. I cannot imagine there being many musicians apart from Phil Hargreaves who would want to his fellow improvisors on a year-long project to record a new soundtrack to the 1973 animated movie ‘Planete Sauvage’ (also titled ‘Fantastic Planet’). As well as this version, which was compiled from two takes to form 13 discreet tracks, there is also available a full 70-minute OST, which has slightly different material.
I confess I had not previously come across the movie, but having read about it, it certainly sounds interesting. Based on the 1957 novel ‘Oms en série’ by French writer Stefan Wul, it is about an alien planet where giant humanoid aliens (Draags) treat humans (Oms) as animals and is often viewed to be statement on animal rights, although this is argued and can also be considered as being about racism. What I can say is that the film must be quite abrupt and jagged as the music is highly dynamic, sharp and brutal, and there are times I almost wonder for my safety in that it is strident, unsettling, and could be used by the USA as a weapon.
Just because it can often be unpleasant never means it is not a compelling piece of work, and I found myself being drawn into this world, even if it meant I was endangering myself in the process, such is the power of what I was hearing. Undoubtedly this music will be highly offputting to the vast majority of music listeners, but if you want to feel what it is like when the musicians are obviously insane, yet have purpose, then this is it.
Rating: 8/10
Links:
https://www.whi-music.co.uk/