Off The Tracks

Off The Tracks
  • Blog
    • Interviews
    • Miscellany
    • Special Guests
    • Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • The Vinyl Countdown
  • Back Catalogue
  • About
    • About
    • About the banner image
    • On Song
    • Advertise

Blog

Archive

January 26, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Sly & The Family Drone: Walk It Dry

Sly & The Family Drone

Walk It Dry

Love Love Records

It didn’t take long for these cheeky upstarts calling themselves Sly & The Family Drone to nab a following. The legend of punishing live shows where bits of drum-kit ended up all over the place and audience members were dragged in as ad-hoc percussionists meant that the band’s barely controlled chaos was something special – and different – each time. Lightning Bolt – with tribal-stomp. Read More »

Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Album Review, Drums, Electronics, Love Love Records, Saxophone, Sly & The Family Drone, Sly & The Family Drone: Walk It Dry, Walk It Dry, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

Archive

January 25, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Poem: A Better Score

The music is almost always
the first thing I notice about
a film – it wasn’t always this
way, and I can’t quite remember
when it changed – obviously there
are so many iconic themes we instantly
think of from Star Wars and Jaws to ET
and anything by Ennio Morricone, everything
Quentin Tarantino chooses – which is different,
that’s usually source-music though sometimes
he picks an old song and uses it newly as score.

Some time ago when I was 10 or 11 or 12 the
music hit me and I’m glad it did. I felt no pain, only
joy, and sorrow when it was meant to be the emotion I
felt – thanks to Mark Knopfler’s soundtracks for Last Exit
to Brooklyn and Local Hero and Cal, thanks to Danny
Elfman and Wendy Carlos and Bill Conti and so
many others (Thomas and Randy Newman, Hans
Zimmer, John Barry, Howard Shore, James
Horner and of course Bernard Herrmann).
It’s about individual films as much as it’s
about particular composers – iconic title
scenes and those moments where jump
scares really thrill; cut to the cat
jumping off a fence and knocking
over the rubbish bin.

It only works with
the right music making it pop.
The sound design and the director’s vision
and the composer’s ideas all coming together.
It surges and writhes, it gives pulse to the film, the
music travels in waves – provides signs and warnings, it
leads you down paths, it puts fear in your mind or hope in your
heart. I can’t think of a great movie without thinking of the music
that works within it. That sits all around it. Well, there’s Dog Day
Afternoon – which has no score. But that’s a decision. The
absence of score is the music itself, the poetry of that
film dances unaccompanied but entirely on purpose.
There are other examples of movies where the music
is almost not there at all. And its not because they
hired a composer that didn’t do a good job. Or
because they couldn’t find a better score.

It’s because the music was already
there in the film. The music was
written in the lines of dialogue,
in the movement of the actors,
their expression, their rage,
the notes they gave – and were
given by producers, the writer,
the director and co-stars.

It’s a team effort – always.
Still I can’t help but notice
the score. The good music will make me
want to further engage with the movie. Bad films
sometimes have terrific music. The wrong music sometimes
frames a very fine film. And I’m there for all of it. The waves,
the movement, the moments, the music, the profound poetry of
movies and music and magic – the lights, the camera, the action all
framed by the sound of someone’s inner vision.

Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged [OST], A Better Score, Cinema, Composer, Film, Movie, Music, Poem, Poem: A Better Score, Score, Soundtrack ·

Archive

January 25, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Shit That’s Good! Crap Albums I Love # 41 – Gary Moore, “Still Got The Blues”

Gary Moore, Still Got The Blues, 1990

There was a time when I loved Gary Moore – and it was mostly because of this album. I mean I was excited about his pedigree (Thin Lizzy) and his hard-rock background. I was a kid. And rock guitar was my jam. And 1990 was the year that I got really hooked on guitarists and also the year that I really felt I was forming my own tastes with music. I mean, sure, I remained indebted to my older brother and my folks for a few more years and I was still hooked on The Beatles and Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin and so many other guitar-based things including the blues of B.B. King and Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf and John Lee Hooker. All of them things I’d first heard in the family collection. But I was also seeking out the guitar in other areas and bringing back albums by Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Tommy Emmanuel. I signed up to Guitar World – even though I played the drums. I liked it for the articles. And if the odd guitar-porn centrefold of a vintage axe ended up on my wall it was probably just by mistake eh…or because we didn’t have recycling then… Read More »

Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged “Still Got The Blues”, 1990, Albert Collins, Albert King, Blues, Crap Albums I Love, Crap Albums I Love # 41, Gary Moore, George Harrison, Guitar, Guitar World, Shit That's Good, Shit That's Good - Crap Albums I Love, Shit That’s Good! Crap Albums I Love # 41, Shit That’s Good! Crap Albums I Love # 41 – Gary Moore, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

Archive

January 24, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Robin Guthrie / Harold Budd: Another Flower

Robin Guthrie / Harold Budd

Another Flower

Darla Records

Robin Guthrie and Harold Budd made music together on and off from the mid-1980s through until a few years ago. This is their final album – it was recorded back in 2013 and left unreleased until November, 2020. A week or so after it was released Budd died.

A lovely tribute to their musical connection hearing this final set of recordings. Read More »

Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged 20/20, 2013, Album Review, Ambient, Another Flower, Darla Records, Guitar, Harold Budd, Instrumental, Minimalist, Piano, posthumous, Robin Guthrie, Robin Guthrie / Harold Budd: Another Flower, Robin Guthrie & Harold Budd, Soundtrack, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

Archive

January 24, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Poem: Promising Dumb Punchline

Went and saw that movie Promising Young Woman
and thought it was excellent – the whole thing, great
film. Sad film. Funny film. Brilliant film.

Was going to write a review – as a joke – saying that
Carey Mulligan was brilliant of course but what about
all the male actors. Why weren’t they getting a rave?

Unfair! Not cool! How’s that for equality? But I think
it was a good idea not to do that since I can’t really
justify two days on Twitter pointing out it was a joke

and having people tell me that, even so, it still sucks
and is a typically toxic move to make that sort of joke.
Also the internet’s patchy right now. So that would only

make things worse. It’d be like those stories in that
Jon Ronson book where he finds the people that got
cancelled on the internet by their own stupidity; jumped

on a flight, turned their phone off and arrived 10 hours
later to find out they were public enemy number one.
Fuck that eh. I spent the day doing housework instead.

Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged Carey Mulligan, Jon Ronson, Poem, Poem: Promising Dumb Punchline, Promising Dumb Punchline, Promising Young Woman ·

Archive

January 23, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

J. Pavone String Ensemble: Lost and Found

J. Pavone String Ensemble

Lost and Found

Astral Spirits

It’s a leap forward for Jessica Pavone and her string ensemble with second album – Lost and Found. The idea of the ensemble seems fully cemented, the viola and violins to the fore, the drones are rich, there is a polish that never gets in the way of the feel and flow but makes this easier to take. The four long instrumental pieces that make up Lost and Found are rich and full and soundscape-y, from the quiet creep of opener, Rise and Fall through the moody and unsettling Nice and Easy; its incongruous title a reminder that this is the best movie music to a film (or films) that do not (yet) exist that you’re likely to hear. Read More »

Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Abby Swidler, Album Review, Angela Morris, Erica Dicker, J. Pavone String Ensemble, J. Pavone String Ensemble: Lost and Found, Jessica Pavone, Lost and Found, Viola, Violin, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

Archive

January 23, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Poem: The shed in the paddock miles from nowhere but I was there

ghostly silence
frost on the window

someone whispered
footsteps broke

Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged ghostly silence frost on the window someone whispered footsteps broke, Poem, Poem: The shed in the paddock miles from nowhere but I was there, The shed in the paddock miles from nowhere but I was there ·

Archive

January 22, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Roberto Bravo: Tributo a Ennio Morricone

Roberto Bravo

Tributo a Ennio Morricone

JCM Discographica LTDA.

The death of Ennio Morricone is still fresh, will resonate forever – he was one of the all-time greatest composers, conductors and arrangers for cinema and his works are so plentiful, so numerous that currently the old scores are being reissued and some are being released for the very first time as standalone recordings where previously they were compiled as part of a set featuring only highlights from a handful of scores. There are of course always new recordings too, new versions. And the tribute albums are starting to flow. Read More »

Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Album Review, Classical, Ennio Morricone, JCM Discographica LTDA., Piano, Roberto Bravo, Roberto Bravo: Tributo a Ennio Morricone, Solo, Tribute, Tributo a Ennio Morricone, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

Archive

January 22, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Books That Blew My Mind # 3: “Can’t and Won’t” by Lydia Davis

Can’t and Won’t by Lydia Davis

I could have picked another book by Lydia Davis – I could have picked from a few and probably I should highlight Varieties of Disturbancesince that was my introduction to this incredible writer. But Can’t and Won’t – which I reviewed back when I read it in 2014 as a new release is probably the book I think about the most when I think about Lydia Davis; the one I’ve recommended the most, the one that really blew my mind I guess. Read More »

Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged “Can’t and Won’t ” by Lydia Davis, Books, Books That Blew My Mind, Books That Blew My Mind # 3, Books That Blew My Mind # 3: “Can’t and Won’t ” by Lydia Davis, Can't and Won't, Can't and Won't: Stories, Cows, Lydia Davis, Novel, Poem, Short Stories, Story, Translation, Varieties of Disturbance, Writing ·

Archive

January 21, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Poem: This Time (To Right)

“It’s pretty funny how you
can just sit there and write
a poem”, she said as I sat there
writing a poem.

“You don’t need the wind
to be blowing
a particular way
or anything?”

Well, there’s always a draft –
so long as I’ve got
a pen and some paper.
And hope, of course,

for the best – which
will not be this. I always
hope for the best.
But this time I missed.

Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged Poem, Poem This Time (To Right), This Time, This Time (To Right), To Right ·

Archive

January 21, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Nathan Micay: Industry OST

Nathan Micay

Industry OST

LuckyMe

I really enjoyed the TV series Industry – and I’ve recommended it to a few people that have either hated it instantly or told me they’d already tried it and couldn’t get past the first episode. One of the complaints, too, was the film’s relentless music; sitting deep inside and under ever scene. Read More »

Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged [OST], Album Review, Atticus Ross, Drama, Industry, Industry OST, Nathan Micay, Nathan Micay: Industry, Soundtrack, Tangerine Dream, Trent Reznor, Trevor Jones, TV, Vangelis, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

Archive

January 21, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Poem: Speaking OF Tongues

the tongue of life
shakes and spits from
the cave of your face –

i drink what i can
and take cover as
i should

Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged OF, Poem, Poem: Speaking OF Tongues, Speaking, Speaking OF Tongues, the tongue of life shakes and spits from the cave of your face – i drink what i can and take cover as i should, Tongues ·
← Older posts

Popular

  • Janna Lapidus Leblanc: Four Years In Pictures
  • The Best Guitarist in The World: # 8 – Mark Knopfler
  • The Sad Story of Bob Welch: Fleetwood Mac’s Most Undervalued Member
  • Shit That’s Good! Crap Albums I Love # 41 – Gary Moore, “Still Got The Blues”
  • The Faggets: WE DON’T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT SHIT
  • The Best Guitarist in The World: # 11 – Lindsey Buckingham
  • Poem: Promising Dumb Punchline
  • Revisiting Live at Knebworth (1990)
  • David Bowie’s Most Underrated Album: 1. Outside
  • Books That Blew My Mind # 3: “Can’t and Won’t” by Lydia Davis

Archives

Tags

Album Review Auckland Book Book Review Compilation DJ DJ Set DVD DVD Review EP Film Film Review Gig Gig Review Guest Blog Guitar Interview Jazz Jon Mcleary Live Live Gig LP Movie Music NZ Podcast Poem Record Records Simon Sweetman Soundtrack Spines Spotify Stub Stubs Sweetman Podcast The Ghost of Electricity The Spines The Vinyl Countdown Vinyl Wellington Wgtn Writing You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron [OST]

Categories

  • Back Catalogue
  • Blog
  • Interviews
  • Miscellany
  • Mixtapes
  • Playlists
  • Podcasts
  • Reviews
  • Scene Of The Day
  • Special Guests
  • The Vinyl Countdown

Off The Tracks is the home of Sweetman Podcast, a weekly interview/chat-based pod. It's also home to my reviews across film, TV, music and books and some creative writing as well.

Off The Tracks aims to provide quality reviews and essays, regular blog updates about the shows, albums, books and movies you should be experiencing.

It's a passion project. Your support will help to keep Off The Tracks online.

All content © 2021 by Off The Tracks. WordPress Themes by Graph Paper Press