Monday, 5 November 2018

Animat 'The Last Man' Review






Artist: Animat



Title: The Last Man



Label: Disco Gecko



Released: 9th November










Animat specialise in developing and performing new soundtracks to existing cult films, and have played live at cinemas, festivals and other venues throughout the U.K.


This November they are revisiting their soundtrack to the 1964 post-apocalyptic horror fantasy ‘The Last Man On Earth’ which stars Vincent Price as scientist Robert Morgan, the one man apparently immune to a virus that has killed 90% of the earth’s population and transformed the survivors into vampire-like creatures.


Originally toured in 2011, the film inspired the album ‘Imaging Ghosts’, first released by Big Chill Recordings, and this collection brings together the highlights from that album together with exclusive new re-workings plus remixes from Deep Dive Corp, DF Tram, The Verbrilli Sound and Disco Gecko’s own Andrew Heath.


As a fan of Vincent Price, this film and partial to Animat’s productions this was of instant interest to me. I found myself eager to hear the results and slightly sad I hadn’t witnessed the audio/visual experience. Beginning with ‘Ghost People’ a dub reggae tinged piece of electronica, that embraces a bit of warmth amongst the colder passages along with a touch of electric guitar. This is followed by the Forest Fires mix of ‘September Falls’ which doesn’t alter the mood too much with plenty of dubbed out guitar licks. The Only Seen At Night mix of ‘Throwing Shapes’ grips me instantly with a Vincent Price vocal sample running over the bass guitar. The piece soothes out before sequences are slowly added that expertly build back to the bass guitar before dropping off again. My attention is retained with ‘Gogo’s Dub’ a mellow piece of dubbed out electronica containing some wonderful harmonic voices.


Vincent’s distinctive voice is utilised alongside mellow dubbed out electronica once again, with the 2018 Revamp of ‘International Frequency’. By this point I’m beginning to imagine how this soundtrack works with the movie. The next piece Verbrillis Windy Accumulation Mix of ‘A Promise of Snow’ maintains a similar vibe with a slightly more atmospheric vibe as you probably gathered from the title. By now I’ve reached the first of the guest re-mixes with Deep Dive Corp’s take on ‘Ghost People’ which is subtly done, a little more heavy on the drums and a touch of reverb adding to the groove.


Andrew Heaths re-mix of ‘Throwing Shapes’ omits the Vincent Price samples and instead tinkers on the ivories, this gives a whole new feel to the piece and personally I love them both. Next on the agenda is the DF Tram & Future B.C. re-mix of ‘Gogo’s Dub’ where the vocal samples are twisted and chopped and the fx bubble away nicely. Finally to see us out is The Only Michael’s Ambient Mix of ‘Earplay’ where ambient strings give way to dubbed out sequences only to return for the finale.



Review by Woodzee


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