Lon Chaney as the title character in a promotional still for the 1925 silent film The Phantom of the Opera.
It’s the time of the season for spooky music, synth community, so here’s a selection of seasonal electronic listens:
“Phantasm” (1979) soundtrack
For fans of the Tall Man and the sphere:
“Created using a Minimoog and an ARP Odyssey, the music for ‘Phantasm’ is almost as legendary as the film’s cult classic status. It was composed by Fred Myrow and Malcolm Seagrave, and features an almost classic rock ‘n’ roll sound reminiscent of Goblin’s score from ‘Suspiria.'” – Point Blank Music School
“Tubular Bells”
Prog + horror = “Tubular Bells” by Mike Oldfield, perhaps better known as the theme from “The Exorcist.” Oldfield was a teenager when he wrote and recorded a record closely associated with progressive rock due to his connection to the Canterbury scene.
The “Halloween” theme
“The music from the 1978 film ‘Halloween’ was revolutionary not just because director John Carpenter also composed the score, but because of Carpenter’s adventurous use of early synth pads and stabs, which helped him create one of the most powerful and creepiest soundtracks of all time.” – Berklee Online
“The Day the Earth Stood Still” title sequence
“Once upon a time, there was a world in which the wail of a theremin wasn’t something to be scared of. And then Bernard Herrmann wrote the score for ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still,’ featuring prominent theremin over some downright chilling accompaniment, forever linking the sound of a theremin’s throbbing vibrato with dark foreboding.” – former BMF student blogger Bubba Ayoub