Lost Themes

Last updated

Lost Themes was all about having fun. It can be both great and bad to score over images, which is what I’m used to. Here there were no pressures. No actors asking me what they’re supposed to do. No crew waiting. No cutting room to go to. No release pending. It’s just fun. And I couldn’t have a better set-up at my house, where I depended on Cody [Carpenter] and Daniel [Davies] to bring me ideas as we began improvising. The plan was to make my music more complete and fuller, because we had unlimited tracks. I wasn’t dealing with just analogue anymore. It’s a brand new world. And there was nothing in any of our heads when we started other than to make it moody. [1]

Critical reception

Lost Themes
John Carpenter - Lost Themes.jpg
Studio album by
John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies
ReleasedFebruary 3, 2015 (2015-02-03)
Genre Electronic
Length47:53
Label Sacred Bones
John Carpenter chronology
Assault on Precinct 13
(2003)		Lost Themes
(2015)		 Lost Themes Remixed
(2015)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 74/100 [3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Consequence of Sound B [5]
Exclaim! 8/10 [6]
Pitchfork 7.6/10 [7]
Popmatters Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [10]

Upon its release, Lost Themes received positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 74, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 12 reviews. [3] Writing for AllMusic, Heather Phares stated that "a big part of Lost Themes' brilliance lies in Carpenter's refusal to update his aesthetic -- the more '80s it is, the more vital it sounds." She also further commented: "As he leaps from one thrill to the next, he evokes his past without rehashing it, delivering a complete and immensely satisfying portrait of his music along the way." [4] Consequence of Sound critic Dan Bogosian thought that "Carpenter’s limited instrumentation started as a strength," writing: "these Lost Themes could stand with any of his horror soundscapes." [5] Exclaim! critic Cam Lindsay described the album as "a brand new soundtrack that doesn't require a film" and observed: "Carpenter knows exactly how to appease his fans, and with Lost Themes, he has given them just what they want." [6] Aaron Leitko of Pitchfork wrote: "Lost Themes is plenty dark and heavy but shorter on inspiration." [7] Andy Beta of Rolling Stone was mixed in his assessment of the album, stating: "The icy synths of "Vortex" and "Fallen" evoke vintage Carpenter dread, but the prog-pomp of "Domain" and "Mystery" are the aural equivalent of too much CGI." [9]

Charts

The album debuted at number 44 on the UK Albums Chart. [11] Stateside, Lost Themes peaked at #129 on Billboard 200. [12]

Track listing

All music is composed by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies

No.TitleLength
1."Vortex"4:44
2."Obsidian"8:24
3."Fallen"4:44
4."Domain"6:33
5."Mystery"4:35
6."Abyss"6:06
7."Wraith"4:30
8."Purgatory"4:38
9."Night"3:38
Total length:47:53
Digital bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
10."Night" (Zola Jesus and Dean Hurley remix)3:39
11."Wraith" (ohGr remix)3:51
12."Vortex" (Silent Servant remix)5:10
13."Fallen" (Blanck Mass remix)6:29
14."Abyss" (J. G. Thirlwell remix)5:29
15."Fallen" (Bill Kouligas remix)6:14
Total length:1:18:45

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Carpenter</span> American filmmaker (born 1948)

John Howard Carpenter is an American filmmaker, composer, and actor. Most commonly associated with horror, action, and science fiction films of the 1970s and 1980s, he is generally recognized as a master of the horror genre. At the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, the French Directors' Guild gave him the Golden Coach Award and lauded him as "a creative genius of raw, fantastic, and spectacular emotions".

<i>Transference</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Spoon

Transference is the seventh studio album by the American indie rock band Spoon. It was released on January 18, 2010, in Europe, and on January 19 in North America. In Australia, it was released by Spunk Records on January 15.

<i>Oshin</i> (album) 2012 studio album by DIIV

Oshin is the debut studio album by American rock band DIIV, released on June 26, 2012, by Captured Tracks. The album was produced by frontman Zachary Cole Smith.

<i>Pom Pom</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Ariel Pink

Pom Pom is the tenth studio album by American recording artist Ariel Pink, released on November 17, 2014 through 4AD. It was his first release credited solely to himself, and his last on 4AD. Several of its songs were co-written with the ailing Kim Fowley, who died the following January. Critics generally gave the album positive reviews. Only one single was issued from the album: "Put Your Number in My Phone".

<i>Rips</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Ex Hex

Rips is the debut studio album by American indie rock band Ex Hex. It was released on October 7, 2014 by Merge Records.

<i>Vega Intl. Night School</i> 2015 studio album by Neon Indian

Vega Intl. Night School is the third album by American electronic music band Neon Indian. It was released on October 16, 2015, by Mom + Pop Music. The album title was an intentional nod to Alan Palomo's other music project, titled Vega, for which he produced only a single EP. Noticing that ideas from Neon Indian and Vega were merging, Palomo decided to combine the two projects into one and retire the use of the Vega moniker.

<i>II</i> (Metz album) 2015 studio album by METZ

II is the second studio album by Canadian noise rock three-piece band METZ. It was released on 4 May 2015, via Sub Pop. Recording sessions took place at Basketball 4 Life, The Dream House, Candle Recording and Taurus Recording in 2014. Production was handled by METZ themselves.

<i>Nothings Real</i> 2016 studio album by Shura

Nothing's Real is the debut studio album by English singer Shura, released on 8 July 2016 by Polydor Records. The album was met with positive reviews from music critics.

<i>Lost Themes II</i> 2016 studio album by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies

Lost Themes II is the second studio album by American film director and composer John Carpenter. It was released on April 15, 2016, through Sacred Bones Records. The album was created in collaboration with Carpenter's son Cody Carpenter and his godson Daniel Davies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Davies (musician)</span> British-American musician and composer

Daniel Davies is a British-American composer, musician and songwriter. He is best known for his contributions to horror director John Carpenter's Lost Themes and Lost Themes II albums, and for his work with rock bands Year Long Disaster, Karma to Burn, and CKY. Davies is the son of guitarist Dave Davies of The Kinks, and the godson of John Carpenter.

<i>Dedicated to Bobby Jameson</i> 2017 studio album by Ariel Pink

Dedicated to Bobby Jameson is the eleventh studio album by American recording artist Ariel Pink, released on September 15, 2017, through Mexican Summer. It is the follow-up to 2014's pom pom and features a narrative Pink described in a press release as "a battery of tests and milestones, the first of which sees him [the protagonist] reborn into life out of death." It peaked at number 193 on the Billboard 200 and received generally positive reviews from music critics.

<i>Anthology: Movie Themes 1974–1998</i> 2017 compilation album by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies

Anthology: Movie Themes 1974–1998 is the first compilation album by American film director and composer John Carpenter, released on October 20, 2017, through Sacred Bones Records. The album features re-recordings of Carpenter's best known film score themes, and was created in collaboration with Carpenter's son Cody Carpenter and his godson Daniel Davies. To coincide with the album's release, a remix of "Halloween" by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross was also released.

<i>Masseduction</i> 2017 studio album by St. Vincent

Masseduction is the fifth studio album by American musician St. Vincent, released on October 13, 2017, through Loma Vista Recordings. The album peaked at number 10 on the Billboard 200, becoming her first top ten album in the United States. The album was widely praised and was the fourth-most mentioned in critics' year-end lists for 2017. At the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, Masseduction won the award for Best Recording Package and Best Rock Song for its title track, and was also nominated for the Best Alternative Music Album.

<i>Vol. 4: Slaves of Fear</i> 2019 studio album by Health

Vol. 4: Slaves of Fear is the fourth studio album by American noise rock band Health. It was released on February 8, 2019 through Loma Vista Recordings. The album was largely praised by critics.

<i>Uncut Gems</i> (soundtrack) 2019 soundtrack album by Daniel Lopatin

Uncut Gems is a soundtrack album by electronic musician Daniel Lopatin, containing the original score for the Safdie brothers' 2019 film Uncut Gems. It was released via Warp on December 13, 2019. It received positive reviews from critics. It peaked at number 44 on the UK Soundtrack Albums Chart.

John Cody Carpenter is an American musician and composer. He is the son of film director John Carpenter and actress Adrienne Barbeau. Carpenter is mostly known for his work with his godfather and musician Daniel Davies, as well as his various solo projects.

<i>Lost Themes III: Alive After Death</i> 2021 studio album by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter, and Daniel Davies

Lost Themes III: Alive After Death is the third studio album by American film director and composer John Carpenter. It was released on February 5, 2021, through Sacred Bones Records. The album was created in collaboration with Carpenter's son Cody Carpenter and his godson Daniel Davies.

<i>Halloween</i> (2018 soundtrack) 2018 film score by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies

Halloween is the soundtrack album to the 2018 film Halloween, which is the eleventh installment in the Halloween franchise and a sequel to the 1978 film of the same name. The film was directed by David Gordon Green and written by Green, Jeff Fradley, and Danny McBride. It stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Nick Castle who reprise their roles as Laurie Strode and Michael Myers, with stuntman James Jude Courtney, who also portrays Myers.

<i>Halloween Kills</i> (soundtrack) 2021 film score by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies

Halloween Kills (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2021 film Halloween Kills, directed by David Gordon Green; a sequel to Green's Halloween (2018) and the twelfth instalment in the Halloween franchise. John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies, who previously scored for the first film, returned for the sequel. As similar to the predecessor, John had reused the original theme from the 1978 film using modern interpretations.

<i>Halloween Ends</i> (soundtrack) 2022 film score by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies

Halloween Ends (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2022 film Halloween Ends, directed by David Gordon Green; a sequel to Halloween Kills (2021), the thirteenth instalment in the Halloween franchise and the final film in the trilogy of sequels that started with the 2018 film, which directly follows the 1978 film. John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies, returned for Ends after previously scored for the first two entries in the franchise.

References

  1. 1 2 Minsker, Evan (3 November 2014). "Sacred Bones Releasing Horror Icon John Carpenter's Debut Solo Album Lost Themes, Share "Vortex"". Pitchfork . Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  2. ↑ Stannard, Joseph (29 January 2015). "John Carpenter: A brand new world". Resident Advisor. Resident Advisor Ltd. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Lost Themes - John Carpenter". Metacritic . Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  4. 1 2 Phares, Heather. "John Carpenter - Lost Themes". Allmusic . Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  5. 1 2 Bogosian, Dan (30 January 2015). "John Carpenter – Lost Themes". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  6. 1 2 Lindsay, Cam (30 January 2015). "John Carpenter - Lost Themes". Exclaim! . Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  7. 1 2 Leitko, Aaron (5 February 2015). "John Carpenter - Lost Themes". Pitchfork . Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  8. ↑ Popmatters February 6, 2015
  9. 1 2 Beta, Andy (3 February 2015). "John Carpenter - Lost Themes". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  10. ↑ Uncut March 2015, p.73
  11. ↑ "Official Charts: John Carpenter". official charts company. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  12. ↑ "Billboard John Carpenter Chart History". Billboard .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.