Criterion Channel Trailer for ‘Synth Soundtracks’ Collection of Films

by Alex Billington
June 2, 2024
Source: YouTube

“Once the sound of the future, now awesomely retro…” Every month, the Criterion Channel streaming service (one of the best in cinema) debuts a series of programming collections. Each one features a batch of films with a particular theme or connection by actor / director / composer. This is one of the best sets that I need to feature! One of June’s latest offerings is Synth Soundtracks – a collection of 20 films featuring synthesizer scores, ranging from classics like Forbidden Planet (1956) and Thief (1981) to more obscure titles like Space Is the Place (1974) and Cat People (1982). Everyone knows Vangelis’ iconic synth score for Blade Runner, but this selection went with Vangelis’ other film Missing (1982). I enjoy this kind of curation because there’s such a range of unique movies, not only expected classics. This also includes: A Clockwork Orange (1971), Shogun Assassin (1980), The Legend of Hell House (1973), Liquid Sky (1982), Tenebrae (1982), For All Mankind (1989), Delta Space Mission (1984), Assault on Precinct 13 (1976). Enjoy them all.

Here’s the Criterion Channel teaser trailer for the Synth Soundtracks collection, direct from YouTube:

Now available to watch on Criterion Channel. Here’s the full intro right from Criterion: “Once the sound of the future, now awesomely retro, synth soundtracks add a splash of otherworldly atmosphere to some of the coolest movies ever made. Using state-of-the-art analog and digital technologies, pioneering musicians like Bebe & Louis Barron (Forbidden Planet), Wendy Carlos (Clockwork Orange), Sun Ra (Space Is the Place), Tangerine Dream (Thief), Vangelis (Missing), and Ryuichi Sakamoto (Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence) created immersive soundscapes that expanded cinematic storytelling and forever changed the art of movie soundtracking. Alternately eerie, icy, pulse-pounding, thrillingly emotional, these scores tunnel into your eardrums at ecstatic frequencies hitherto unexplored.” This collection is co-programmed by Synth History (official site) / Danz CM (official site). Start watching any of these now! If you’re wanting more synthesizer score recommendations, check out this list by MusicRadar or this Reddit thread. Which score is your fave?