Suspiria (Dario Argento - 1977)

Album review

Goblin's score to Dario Argento's Suspiria is a timeless, horrifying ride into crazed vibes and buzzing progressive rock. Billed as The Complete Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, this edition goes a bit overboard in its four redundant extra tracks. Before those final additions, Goblin kicks out the jazz-rock jams with cool aplomb and creates a number of genuinely unnerving compositions. Argento fans will swoon being able to hear Suspiria's terror centerpieces "Suspiria," "Witch," and "Sighs." "Suspiria" might contain some dated keyboard work, but the music rings like a demonic version of the score to The Exorcist. A wicked voice chants and hums along to the melody, before the song takes a prog rock departure nearly three minutes in. The song turns into something that Trans Am or their contemporaries might concoct on a better day; in that sense, Goblin's music is ahead of its time. "Witch" is equally creepy; it's the song that acts as the background to the movie's demented opening sequence. The song is as cinematic in its scope as Argento's brutal visuals. "Sighs" might one of the scariest songs ever recorded. Sounding like a throbbing didgeridoo nightmare, it's a monument to tension and suspense. On the remainder of the album, Goblin mostly strives for a cool jazz-rock hybrid. Suspiria works best for fans of the film, who will appreciate the terror of the songs more than newcomers who haven't experienced Argento's darkest creation. The score is as enjoyable removed from the movie as it is attached. Suspiria is quite an achievement, as a scary soundtrack and as a vibe-heavy rock album.
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