Lost Themes II [Album Review]

I want to say this up front, LOST THEMES II is the first album I’ve ever had to listen to with the intent of reviewing. I volunteered for this review because it was something different to try, and horror for me has always been about pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and seeing where my limits are. I say all this because I want you to know where I’m coming from–because music is incredibly subjective, and knowing what a critic is into is just as important as what his or her opinion is most of the time.

I’m a hip-hop head first and foremost–which usually means I can’t decipher one instrument from another most of the time. I’m also very much into alternative rock, electronica, jazz, and almost everything in between. If I wanted to sound like a douchebag I’d describe my taste as eclectic. My favorite album of last year was probably the amazing It Follows soundtrack by Disasterpeace, it’s my current go to when I’m writing. I also want to speak a bit about how I’m going to review LOST THEMES II. I won’t be breaking it down track by track, though I do want to point out some of my favorite songs of course, but that’s not how I usually listen to records. My first run through is usually blind in that I have no idea when a track finishes and when the next one starts. Once the album is finished I assess how it made me feel and then I start it over this time looking for songs that are really standout. I do this a few times until I can really feel the flow of the album. Track placement and album composition are incredibly important to me. I’ve heard it said the only song more important than the one you are listening to is the one that comes next. I wholeheartedly believe that, because music above all else is about where it brings you and where it keeps you.

Okay with that out of the way, let’s get to the Master of Horror himself. When you ask someone about Halloween or The Fog, the first things they’ll usually say is how creepy and pioneering those movies are. But hopefully the next thing will probably be about how moody and perfect their soundtracks were. More so than any director in the horror genre, John Carpenter’s soundtracks have become just as legendary as his terrifying films. It’s really no surprise that the synthy, minimalist electronic sound that Carpenter has become famous for is also the sound he’s perfected over the years.

LOST THEMES II captures your attention with its first track aptly titled “Distant Dream” and never loosens its grip. There’s a darkness to the music that permeates throughout the album, but it’s playful, and never oppressive. Tracks like “Windy Death” feel foreboding with danger yet it’s hard not to feel inspired halfway through the song when the beat picks up and gives way to a lighter sound that makes you want to get up and do something. This is music to workout to, to walk to, or simply live your life to.

A lot of LOST THEMES II feels like a throwback to a bygone era which is no real surprise as Carpenter himself has always felt like a throwback creator even when he was pioneering horror films in the 70s and 80s. Perhaps it’s just how I listen to music, but there is a cinematic quality to the album that seems like it can easily replace and better most horror movie scores of the last 10 years with little complaint from me. “Angel’s Ayslum” is another standout that starts off incredibly melancholy and builds its tempo until it hits its apex halfway through the song and gives way to a euphoric climax that both satisfies and got me excited for what was next.

So much of LOST THEMES II feels like it was made as a soundtrack to my day to day life. There is a depth to the sound that continues to surprise me. Each song perfectly connecting to me just long enough to feel both genuinely creeped out and amped up. For gamers that have ever played Streets of Rage 2 you know what I mean by this. LOST THEMES II is cohesive and thoughtful with dramatic moments that come in at the right time and aren’t afraid to change the mood in the room from track to track. It’s an album I can and have listened to on repeat for long periods of time since I started this review process. It’s masterful work, and honestly, what else would you expect from the Master of Horror himself.