Weeks have turned into months and summer has come and gone and come back again. My writer’s block has dissolved; first up Drive.
After weeks of listening to people rave about Nicolas Winding Refn’s latest movie Drive, the boyfriend and I fixed the Lovefilm priority listing and two days later the DVD came through our letter box. For George it was all about the cars, for me the music. I had heard as much about the soundtrack as I had the film, and for good reason.
Cliff Martinez is accustomed to fitting music to hard hitting storylines, for example Traffic and Wonderland. In Drive Martinez uses synthesisers to build an alluring sonic backdrop to a violent fairytale. He creates an interactive sound design of deceptively comforting themes juxtaposed against grounding, cued sound effects which perfectly highlight the smatterings of violent jabs amongst an otherwise blissful love story. Interspersed amongst Martinez’s compositions are a selection of mystically slow paced European pop songs from the likes of French Electronica producers David Grellier and Vincent Belorgey. Providing the fundamental elements of Martinez’s surrounding music, these songs poignantly narrate the film’s story and bolster the aura of a 1980’s soundscape.
My favourite track of the compiled Soundtrack is Nightcall by fellow French artist Kavinsky. The distorted vocals project the Driver’s grappling affections towards Irene wonderfully!
