Peter Strickland's Berberian Sound Studio focuses not only on the love of a particular genre, giallo, but on a love for that genre's particular relationship with sound. Gialli not only have viscerally powerful sound effects making even looking away no guarantee that a murder won't be deeply affecting, they also have a long tradition of ennervated, groovy, dynamic and even experimental soundtracks. Here's a playlist to get you in the giallo mood.
"Piume Di Cristallo" from Ennio Morricone's score for Dario Argento's The Bird with the Crystal Plumage/ L'Uccello Piume di Cristalli (1969).
"Sabba" from Bruno Nicolai soundtrack for Sergio Martino's Tutti I Colori di Buio / All the Colors of the Dark (1972)
Berto Pisano's funk-inflected opening theme for Andrea Bianchi's Strip Nude for your Killer / Nude per l'Assassino (1975).
Progressive rock band Goblin is probably best known for their soundtrack to Argento's Suspiria, but they got their start providing the tense synth mixed with classic Gothic organ soundtrack for Argento's Deep Red / Profundo Rosso (1975).
UK band Broadcast provides the soundtack for Berberian Sound Studio despite the untimely death of band member, Trish Keenan. Broadcast completed the soundtrack using vocals Keenan had recorded before her death. I couldn't find any singles from it, but here's one of their earlier songs, "Paper Cuts."
Our friends at The Deuce have more suggestions for giallo soundtrack listening.
BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO screens one more time:
Tues., Sept. 11, 2:45PM CINEPLEX YONGE AND DUNDAS
Trish passed in January 2011.
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