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

Legacy

Lost Themes: 10th Anniversary Expanded Edition, an expanded edition of the original album, will be released on May 9, 2025, via Sacred Bones Records, and will feature two previously unreleased songs: "Cruisin' with Mr. Scratch" and "Dominator". [13]

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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marissa Nadler</span> American singer-songwriter

Marissa Nadler is an American singer-songwriter. Active since 2000, she is currently signed to Sacred Bones Records and Bella Union, and released her ninth full-length studio album, The Path of the Clouds, in October 2021. Her music has been characterized as blending "traditional folk, Gothic Americana, and dreamy pop into an original musical framework". Her music "is rooted in old-school country and folk but brings in elements of experimental and black metal". Sometimes the term "dream folk" has been invoked to describe her work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eleanor Friedberger</span> American singer-songwriter

Eleanor Friedberger is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She is best known as one half of the indie rock duo The Fiery Furnaces, alongside her older brother Matthew Friedberger. In the band she contributes the majority of the vocals both on record and during their live performances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solitaire (Neil Sedaka song)</span> 1972 song by Neil Sedaka

"Solitaire" is a ballad written by Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody. Cody employs playing the card game of solitaire as a metaphor for a man "who lost his love through his indifference"—"while life goes on around him everywhere he's playing solitaire". The song is perhaps best known via its rendition by Carpenters. Another version by Andy Williams reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart in 1973.

<i>The Big Dream</i> 2013 studio album by David Lynch

The Big Dream is the third and final studio album by the American film director and musician David Lynch, released on July 10, 2013. It was released on Sacred Bones Records in the United States and Sunday Best in Europe. Consisting of 12 "modern blues" songs, The Big Dream was recorded and produced by Lynch with his frequent musical collaborator Dean Hurley at Lynch's own Asymmetrical Studio in Los Angeles, California during 2012.

<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>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>Lost Themes Remixed</i> 2015 remix album by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies

Lost Themes Remixed is a remix album of songs from the album Lost Themes (2015) by the American film director and composer John Carpenter. It was released on October 16, 2015, through Sacred Bones Records.

<i>Classic Themes Redux EP</i> 2016 EP by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies

Classic Themes Redux EP is the first extended play by American film director and composer John Carpenter. It was released on June 17, 2016, through Sacred Bones Records. The extended play was created in collaboration with Carpenter's son Cody Carpenter and his godson Daniel Davies.

<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.

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>Hazed Dream</i> 2011 studio album by Psychic Ills

Hazed Dream is the third studio album by American rock band Psychic Ills. It was released on October 18, 2011, by Sacred Bones Records.

<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.

<i>Firestarter</i> (2022 soundtrack) 2022 horror film soundtrack

Firestarter (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2022 horror film Firestarter, directed by Keith Thomas. John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies serve as composers.

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 .
  13. ↑ DiVincenzo, Alex (28 January 2025). "John Carpenter Announces 'Lost Themes: 10th Anniversary Expanded Edition' with New Songs". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved 28 January 2025.
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.