Album Of the Week: Thom Yorke — Suspiria (Music for the Luca Guadagnino Film)
In 1977, the original Italian horror film Suspiria was released, receiving critical acclaim, not just for its sylistic flair, but also for its soundtrack: a gothic and groundbreaking score by Italian prog rock band Goblin. As a result, when BAFTA nominated director Luca Guadagnino approached Thom Yorke to provide the soundtrack for his 2018 remake of the film, the Radiohead frontman was at first hesitant and ‘evaded Luca for about a year’.
The possibility that there could be reasons why Yorke would be reticent to try his hand at a film soundtrack is baffling. Many would have thought that as the leader of what is arguably one of the most experimental and forward-thinking bands of the last thirty years, as well as being an accomplished solo artist and member of the innovative side project Atoms for Peace (alongside Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea), that Yorke would have seized the opportunity to demonstrate his musical prowess and proficiency through a less conventional medium, moving across boundaries into previously untouched film soundtrack territory.
However, despite the challenge of paying homage to — whilst not disrespecting — the original Goblin score, Yorke granted Guadagnino’s wish, knowing that he would regret turning the offer down. Perhaps, even, he was inspired or encouraged by his fellow bandmate, Jonny Greenwood, who has himself been behind eight film soundtracks since 2003, the latest of which was nominated for an Oscar.
Yorke has evidently drawn from Guadagnino’s script, and the musical surroundings of the film’s setting (1977’s Berlin) to deliver a strong and varied mix of self-sustaining songs, choral pieces, and unsettling sound fragments that perfectly match the eerie and supernatural vibe of the movie. Yorke himself described the movie as no ordinary horror film, and has certainly provided no ordinary soundtrack, which is perhaps a result of this being his first attempt at one, combined with his musical background elsewhere. Radiohead are also no ordinary band, as evidenced by their musical output, a factor which could have played a role in influencing this unique score further.
The twenty-five-song album presents the ‘weird form of darkness’ that Yorke claimed to draw from the script of the film hugely effectively. His use of sprawling and thick synths, and heavy reliance on electronic effects are key in achieving this. However, the standout moments of the album are the piano-based songs, where Yorke allows his notorious falsetto vocal to shine through the musical darkness that he has created elsewhere. ‘Supsirium’ as well as ‘Unmade’ come to mind here. These moments are few and far between on the album, but, as a result, create glimpses of great delicacy and contrast. For a long time Yorke’s vocal ability has been praised (In 2008, he was ranked as the 66th greatest singer of all time, by Rolling Stone magazine) and it certainly deserves significant credit on the two aforementioned tracks, where the unique sound could perhaps be likened to Bronski Beat’s Jimmy Somerville singing a David Sylvian track.
The lyrical content is abstract and eerie, yet the delivery establishes a sense of envelopment that could allow for these songs to be listened to alone, independent of the rest of the soundtrack, with ease. I would say, as well, that they most closely relate in sound to Radiohead’s 2017 album, In Rainbows.
Overall, Yorke has very successfully produced a haunting, yet, at times, beautiful soundtrack, that powerfully showcases his proficiency with electronics as well as his talent at creating music that embodies a distinct and identifiable mood. It sets a strong tone, appropriate for the feature film that it supports. Despite this, though, the album can quite easily be listened to in isolation, separate to the film, and I think that this is a true sign of a strong soundtrack. I would not be at all surprised if this were to be the first of many Yorke film scores and I would certainly welcome more of them. Suspiria is a stunning musical and cinematic achievement.
Did you enjoy this article? Be sure to let us know! Follow us, leave a comment, share, or use the ‘applause’ function here on Medium.
If you’d like to cast a vote in the Album of the Week poll, don’t forget to follow our Twitter. We’ll also keep you posted on all our latest reviews, interviews, and radio shows.
