Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral Double LP

This is one 90s album that’s stood the test of time and then some. Some call The Downward Spiral the White Album of the 90s, and it’s hard to argue with that assertion. This double vinyl edition of the classic Nine Inch Nails record is fairly impressive. For all the minimal visuals, (the gatefold sleeve reveals one seriously creepy piece of art, but only one) the album is something to hear on vinyl–quite an accomplishment over four sides of black vinyl.

The experience of listening to The Downward Spiral on a double LP is far more interesting than listening to it on compact disc. True vinyl junkies everywhere know this singular joy, but The Downward Spiral is, for some reason, far more enjoyable than many of its double-LP fellows in a variety of genres. The double album format serves this title quite well. It’s somewhat similar to the memories some have of listening to Kiss Alive II on the turntable back when it first came out–it’s that sort of experience.

The Downward Spiral was recorded, infamously, at the house where the Manson Family killed Sharon Tate in Beverly Hills. Reznor fled the house soon after he moved in, saying the building had too much history for him. It’s also said that Reznor met Sharon Tate’s sister and had a serious attack of conscience. After Reznor left, the house was torn down.

Did the murder house seep into this record? Many believe it did, others laugh off the very notion but whatever you think, it’s tough to deny The Downward Spiral as a major conceptual work in the tradition of too many others to name.

Naturally some people don’t take it that seriously. For Turntabling, the greatest accomplishment of this album is the 30 seconds at the end of Hurt. That might seem to be fairly dismissive of other tracks on the record–far from it–but there are those of us who think that the abupt gear-shift on Hurt is a profound thing indeed.

The double vinyl edition of The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails is a new double album in a sealed plastic LP sleeve. Buy it now from Turntabling for $35 plus shipping.

Riz Ortolani Cannibal Holocaust Soundtrack CD

Riz Ortolani’s soundtrack to the infamous Ruggero Deodato film Cannibal Holocaust is completely disarming. From the opening theme to the stark, minimalist synth cues used to punctuate the shocking events onscreen, this is one soundtrack CD that can’t be pigeonholed, boiled down to its’ essence, or easily categorized.

The score is also sneakily influential–whether on purpose or not, you can hear echoes of it all the way down the line to Air’s Sexy Boy synth riffs, and while you may be totally put off by the content of the film, there’s no denying its’ power or effectiveness. It provokes an emotional response, and isn’t that the purpose of all art? No matter whether you think the filmmakers meant to or not, for all the shocking, awful things in the movie it is easily as transcendent as people believe Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odessy to be. (How’s that for going out on a limb?)

That’s pretty strong stuff, to be sure…but viewing the two films side by side you’ll find more in common than you realize–again, regardless of director intent, stomach turning events on screen, and etc. But we’re getting off topic here. Riz Ortolani shows off some fascinating depth here. To be sure, if the music were completely divorced from its subject matter it might not pack as much of a punch, but it’s not.

This version of the soundtrack contains a CD-ROM interview feature with Ortolani, so fans will be interested for that little freebie; the fact that this went out of print in 2003 and has been harder to find ever since doesn’t hurt. How long will this last? Get yours while you still can.

The Cannibal Holocaust original soundtrack by Riz Ortolani is a new, sealed compact disc. Buy it now from Turntabling for $23 plus shipping.

The Fantastic Voyage of Goblin The Sweet Sound of Hell CD

There are many Goblin compilation CDs, including this excellent collection put out by Bella Casa.

The Fantastic Voyage of Goblin: The Sweet Sound of Hell has plenty of old favorites and a nice selection off their non-soundtrack LP, Roller. Snip-Snap and Dr. Frankenstein are both Roller cuts, and there’s even a nice obscure (for the compilations) cut from the Phenomena OST–Jennifer’s Friends is a welcome inclusion here.

The Fantastic Voyage of Goblin: The Sweet Sound of Hell is a new, sealed import CD. Buy it now from Turntabling for $20 plus shipping.

Here’s a track listing if you’re curious about how THIS comp fits in with the other compilations in your collection:

1. Profondo Rosso
2. School at Night
3. Death Dies
4. Dr Frankenstein
5. Suspiria
6. Witch
7. Sighs
8. Le Cascade di Viridiana
9. Safari
10. L’ Alba Dei Morti Viventi
11. Snip-Snap
12. Sicilian Samba
13. Connexion
14. Flashing
15. Gemini
16. Jennifer’s Friends
17. La Chiesa
18. Quiet Drops

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West Goest To Pop: The Ringo Beat Cocktail Collection

Spaghetti western fans who are enthralled by that strangely surf influenced guitar playing heard in the Sabata, Ringo, and Man-with-no-name style movies should definitely own West Goes To Pop, The Ringo Beat Cocktail Collection.

This compilation of Spaghetti western soundtrack sounds includes Piero Umiliani, Gianni Ferrio, Bruno Nicolai, Fabio Frizzi and Marizio De Angelis. And yes, it does include the Django theme. Try whipping THAT track out at your next DJ gig. This CD is perfect for mad mixage, especially if you’re looking for something out of left field to throw into your next set.

This import CD is selling for $30 elsewhere…get it here for half that and enjoy the sonic treats of Ringo beat. This is our favorite find of the week.

West Goes To Pop, the Ringo Beat Cocktail Collection is a new, sealed import CD. Buy it now from Turntabling for $15 plus shipping. Overseas orders welcome.

Piero Umiliani La Morte Bussa Due Volte Soundtrack CD

Piero Umiliani is a Turntabling favorite. If you’re not familiar with his soundtrack work from Mario Bava movies and films like La Morte Bussa Due Volte, this soundtrack is squarely in retro Italian lounge/retro territory. It’s great for anyone who loved the Beat at Cinecitta collection, or a hard-to-find disc called The Beat, The Shake, and the Lounge.

La Morte Bussa Due Volta, also known as Death Knocks Twice, stars Fabio Testi, Dean Reed and Anita Ekberg and is probably tough to pin down on DVD (we haven’t tried yet). The movie involves a bit of euro-mystery, a bit of serial killing, an dhis soundtrack is great fun, and if you’re loving the lounge sound, scoop this up. If you’re hunting for haunting, Morricone-esque experimentation this CD isn’t for you, but Umiliani fans won’t be let down.

La Morte Bussue Due Volte is a new, sealed import compact disc. Buy it now for $15 plus shipping.

Quentin Tarantino Death Proof Soundtrack LP

Death Proof is a grab-bag of musical styles, all of them great. From Chick Habit by An April March to Jack Nitzche’s Last Race, (with a little Morricone thrown in for good measure), the soundtrack album for Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof is a great time from start to finish. Hell, even Pino Donaggio gets a look in with Sally and Jack.

Regardess of whether you’re into the shorter Grindhouse version of Death Proof, or the extended feature-length release, if you’re a fan of the movie, you need to own this record on vinyl the way God intended it. Sure, you could just get the compact disc, or re-watch the flick (guilty of an excessive number of re-viewings on the Turntabling screen) but the vinyl experience for this particular slab of vinyl is outstanding. A true classic.

Yes, you’re reading the rant of a Death Proof fanboy–fully aware of the movie’s shortcomings and not caring one little bit. The album is fabulous and there’s no denying it.

The Death Proof Soundtrack is a new, sealed vinyl album. Buy it now from Turntabling for $18 plus shipping.

Jackie Brown Soundtrack Vinyl LP

Quentin Tarantino made a hell of a fun movie here. Jackie Brown has everything a Tarantino fan wants—Samuel L. Jackson chewing the scenery, great retro-now locations and culture references, a bit of the old ultra-violence, plus one hell of a smokin’ soundtrack. You can’t go wrong with Bobby Womack, Johnny Cash, and the infamous Vampire Sound Corporation–who made Jesse Franco’s Vampyros Lesbos such a great thing to behold.

This soundtrack album never fails…and DJs will love the dialogue snippets from the movie. Throw in The Grass Roots, The Delfonics, and Elliot Easton’s Tiki Gods for good measure and you’ve got a slab of wax that’s almost perfect.

The Jackie Brown Original Soundtrack album is a sealed, new vinyl record. Buy it now from Turntabling for $18 plus shipping.

Goblin Roller CD

After Profondo Rosso, Goblin released a rare, non-soundtrack album. Some sources say the title track was part of a film soundtrack called Wampir, but I can’t confirm or deny that bit of trivia. No matter, as Roller is a fantastic record.

If you’re already a fan of Goblin, this is a must-own. You’ll recognize a bit of Deep Red influence here, especially on the title cut, but there’s a nice overall prog vibe throughout the album, and Snip-Snap is absolutely classic Goblin from the Profondo Rosso period.

If you’re new to the group, let it be known that they’re a fine entry in the Italian prog field…not a prog fan? Or are you convinced that Emerson, Lake, and Palmer or Yes is as far as you need to go? Think again–those two groups aren’t really even on the radar here. Goblin isn’t what you’d call a prog purist group, which makes them all the more interesting. It’s definitely an influence in all the best ways, though.

Goblin is hard to pin down, stylistically speaking–later efforts went further into synth/dance territory to good effect. Roller is six outstanding cuts that is getting hard to find, and even download junkies won’t find any official versions of the Roller track Dr. Frankenstein, as it’s listed as “album only.” Hear it in all its glory on this gorgeous import compact disc.

Roller by Goblin is a new, sealed import compact disc on Cinevox Records. Buy it now from Turntabling for $26.00 plus shipping.

Here’s a brief, fan-shot snippet of a Goblin live performance of Roller. It’s far too short, but nice to see.

Peter Thomas Van De Velde Double Disc Set

If you don’t know The Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra, you’re missing out on one of the all-time classics of eurosleaze, retro-dancefloor and mod grooving. Don’t miss the chance to get your retro on with this excellent double-disc set featuring soundtrack music from not one, but TWO German sex education films–The Perfect Marriage and Every Night of the Week.

Peter Thomas was responsible for that tripped out almost-cover version of the 2001: A Space Odessey theme–the one called Opium. If you’ve heard that and still aren’t a Peter Thomas Orchestra fan, there’s no hope for you to fall in love with this, but for those of us who have seen the light–er, heard it, you won’t be disappointed by the sounds here. This is music stuck firmly in the late 60s, and even shows a bit of Morricone influence in places to boot.

The full title of this two-disc set is Van De Velde: Die Vollkommene Ehe & Van De Velde: Das Leben Zu Zweit. Musically it covers a lot of territory, from Austin Powers-type shagadelia to the previously mentioned Morricone-esque touches. There’s even some nice 1968 flute-n-orchestra swelling here, plus a moment of Alabama Song-type whimsy.

Van De Velde by the Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra is a new, sealed double CD set. Buy it now from Turntabling for $18 plus shipping.

Here’s an example of why Turntabling loves the Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra:

Goblin Buio Omega Soundtrack CD

Goblin really shows off the synth chops on this one. Buio Omega, also known as Beyond The Darkness, is notorious for uber-nasty imagery, creepy set-pieces (the grave-robbing scene was particularly memorable), and of course, Goblin’s throbbing score. The Buio Omega main titles, plus Quiet Drops, and Strive After Dark are three of their best and this soundtrack album–whatever you thought of the movie itself–is essential for any Italian horror/giallo soundtrack fan or a lover of prog sounds (and prog-influenced ones which this album definitely is).

The synth sounds are in the same musical zip code as the score for Tenebre, though not as dance-floor oriented. Buio Omega is somewhere inbetween Deep Red and Tenebre. It’s not as musically complex as Goblin’s work on the Argento films, but any lover of synth music will dig Buio Omega.

The Buio Omega soundtrack by Goblin is an imported, shrinkwrapped CD. Buy it now from Turntabling for $22.00 plus shipping.