Clive Barker

This is what unites pieces as diverse as Perry Como's clean-cut `Magic Moments', Diamanda Galas' abrasive `Dancing in the Dark', and classical pieces by Rachmaninov, Faure and Sibelius. Taken as a whole, this selection shines a fascinating light on Barker's vivid imagination and the music that inspires it.

A number of the pieces are taken from film soundtracks. Some of these are orchestral - two tracks from Hammer's fantasy movie `She', a piece by Danny Elfman from the soundtrack to Barker's own `Nightbreed'. Others are songs from movie musicals - Fred Astaire's `The Way You Look Tonight', a suite of songs from Disney's `Dumbo', a couple of numbers from `South Pacific', Judy Garland singing `Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'. Stage musicals get a look-in too, with selections from `Candide' and `Sweeney Todd'.

There are interesting sleevenotes by Barker in which he explains his selection, and describes the tracks as `emotional pieces: sentimental, lush, dramatic, melodramatic'. This album is an ideal companion to Barker's books, plays, films and paintings, well worth buying if you're a fan of his, but also an interesting selection in its own right.


Clive's painting music   May 27, 2002
ixion75
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

A "songbook series" devoted to both music and text, these small hardcovers with picture discs are a nifty idea. Fabulist fiction writer Clive Barker presents some marvelous possibilities for his entry, a 24 page book with paintings by the author as well as Clive's track-by-track commentary. Clive has selected 16 tracks for the CD as well as a few of his works of art for visuals. Very hard to find, the British import CD nevertheless includes tracks that can be found elsewhere.

Those expecting Clive to serve up aural delirium will be quite surprised at some of his choices. Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, Perry Como, Shirley Horn, and a selection from Disney's _Dumbo_ might be shocking coming from the man who has written stories like "The Midnight Meat Train" and _The Damnation Game_. Perhaps only a spot of Danny Elfman's music to Clive's film _Nightbreed_, a double shot of music from the Hammer film version of Haggard's _She_, and "Johanna" from Sondheim's _Sweeney Todd_ point to Clive's more traditional tastes. Everywhere else lighthearted fare is to be found-- visions of paradise, Christmas songs, and other gentle, playful, yet quite listenable tunes. Faure's _Requiem_ and Diamanda Galas' version of "Dancing in the Dark," both pieces of music from the last Clive film _Lord of Illusions_, make appearances, as well as parts of Bernstein's _Candide_ and Rodgers' & Hammerstein's _South Pacific_. Without doubt the strongest pieces are classical ones: Rachmaninoff's 1st movement from his 2nd Piano Concerto in C Minor and Sibelius' 3rd movement from Symphony #5 in E Flat.

The CD reflects music Clive listens to while painting, and for those who want a more intimate picture of one of the greatest imaginers alive, this selection will begin to answer the question of what Clive plays when he has brush in hand.