The return of John Carpenter’s ghost
Le Matos Summer of ‘84
Rating: (4,5 / 5)
Death Waltz Recording Published on 24/08/2018
TT: 88' 27''
No. I am not implying that John Carpenter is, or should be, dead. I just wish the man could be forever with us. And I am not the only one. We just have to check how its signature musical sound appears in many projects lately. If we add 80’s nostalgia, which is also invading film, tv and videogames projects, we obtain the basic elements that configure Canadian duo latest installment “Summer of ‘84”.
After their relative success with “Turbo Kid” (a wonderful guilty pleasure for many fans including myself), now they enter into “Stranger Things” territory. With a group of teenage friends suspecting that their police office neighbor is a serial killer, we get a “Goonies-like” movie that enters into some serious and scary territory. Then, we add a new collaboration with Montreal based duo Le Matos, and a final nail into “strangerish things” comparisons is placed.
In itself, is not a bad thing. However, the film has passed silently through theaters with not much audience talk. Of course, its Spanish release in February is not the best moment for it. Which is actually a pity, because the film is a good one. And with a surprising dark underbelly, that is really welcomed for a kid’s film in this “sanitized” age we are living in.
So, anybody that enjoyed the sound, rhythm and great 80’s vibe of “Turbo Kid” will get a kick out of this score. “Summer of ‘84” is pure throwback music from end to end. With a sound that do not just linger into ambience moods, but construct electronic themes and melodic material and create a wonderful landscape. Even I would say that score could disappoint some electronic music fans, because it lingers on an unexpected melancholic feel. Personally, is one of its biggest assets. Because it perfectly fits that “childhood memories” feeling that lays at the heart of the movie. Just listen to cues like “Nikki and Davey”, “Mom, I’m 15”,
Since the beginning of its main theme “Summer of ‘84”, anybody listening will find a hard time not beating its propulsive rhythm. A rhythm that permeates the whole score from start to finish. Although all through its extensive length, music moves along different vibes… melancholic, upbeat, dark, action, suspenseful… it never feel tired or repetitive. Of course, if you were not fond of this pure electronic synthetized sound, it would make you change your mind about it. Nevertheless, its final result, at least for me, is one of the best scores from all this series of “synth revival” we are enjoying lately.
One of the good things score uses perfectly, is never go into pure dark ominous territory. Therefore, in the end, you have a very different feeling that what Dixon and Stein have done for their famous series. Le Matos stays closer to the kids’ investigative and adventurous side, thus making the music much more enjoyable and fun. Just check out “Manhunt”, “Where’s Sammy?” or “Operation Mack Attack”. Without being afraid of going into ominous sounds like with “Hardware Store”, “Mackey’s Storage Unit”, “Bobby Cocker” or “Walkie Investigation”. That darker music, obviously, increases on the final part of the score as the story starts to unravel. But that do not hurts the listening experience. It is just one more nuance that Le Matos’ music offers to the listener.
In the end, a very enjoyable score that would make fans of 80’s synth music spend a great time. And another example of how well-crafted music can help to transport audiences to a specific time and place, without making difficult to listen to it in isolation. It just becomes part of the fun.
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