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Musique Fantastique Randall D. Larson:
Pleased to have an essay in the latest issue of WEIRD FICTION REVIEW (#13 Fall 2024), newly published. I cover the origin of Guy Endore’s novel, discuss Robert Bloch’s admiration of the book (it was among his ten top favorite horror novels), and a detailed examination of the classic Hammer film based on the novel.
https://www.centipedepress.com/anthologies/wfreview13.html
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MARVEL TELEVISION’S DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN – VOL. 1 (EPISODES 1- 4) ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
MUSIC BY THE NEWTON BROTHERS
DIGITAL SOUNDTRACK AVAILABLE TODAY
Hollywood Records announces the release of Marvel Television’s Daredevil: Born Again – Vol. 1 (Episodes 1- 4) Original Soundtrack with music by The Newton Brothers (Marvel Animation’s “X-Men ‘97,” “Goosebumps,” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s”). The digital soundtrack is available at Spotify, Apple Music, and other digital platforms. Daredevil: Born Again – Vol. 2 (Episode 5- 9) Original Soundtrack is set for release on April 18.
Continuing their collaboration with Marvel Studios, The Newton Brothers score amplifies the series’ dark, raw, and deeply thematic essence, incorporating elements of choir, organ synths, and orchestration to reflect the show’s religious undertones and high stakes. Commenting on the score, The Newton Brothers said, “From the shadows of Hell’s Kitchen to the depths of Matt Murdock’s soul, this soundtrack is a sonic journey through the heart of ‘Daredevil: Born Again.’ We wanted to craft a score that immerses listeners in Daredevil’s world—a sound that is dark and haunting, yet full of resilience. It carries the rage that fuels his fight and the vulnerability that makes him human.”
In Marvel Television’s “Daredevil: Born Again,” Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), a blind lawyer with heightened abilities is fighting for justice through his bustling law firm, while former mob boss Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) pursues his own political endeavors in New York. When their past identities begin to emerge, both men find themselves on an inevitable collision course. “Daredevil: Born Again” is now streaming on Disney+.
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By Randall D. Larson
FEATURE INTERVIEWS:
• JEFF RUSSO: SURVIVING ZERO DAY & Traversing the Worlds of STAR TREK
• LEO BIRENBERG & ZACH ROBINSON: COBRA KAI & YOUR
FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDERMAN
• LATEST TAKES OF THE LATEST SOUNDTRACK LABELS
NEWS:
• Film & TV Music News
• New Soundtrack News
• Documentary Film & Soundtrack News
• Vinyl & Video Game Soundtracks
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March 8, 2025
ANDOR, also known as STAR WARS: ANDOR and ANDOR: A STAR WARS STORY for its second season, is an American science fiction television series created by Tony Gilroy for the streaming service Disney+. It is part of the STAR WARS franchise and a prequel to the film ROGUE ONE (2016), which in turn is a prequel to the original STAR WARS film (1977). The series follows thief-turned-rebel spy Cassian Andor during the five years that lead to the events of the two films, exploring how he becomes radicalized against the Galactic Empire and how the wider Rebel Alliance is formed. The second and final season is scheduled to premiere on April 22, 2025, with three episodes releasing weekly until May 13. The musical score is by Nicholas Britell who scored both ANDOR’s first and second seasons.
- Feature Interview at Randall Larson’s Soundtrax: Marco Beltrami on THE KILLER and more; Andrew Scott Bell on WINNIE THE POOH: BLOOD AND HONEY II – See Interviews at Soundtrax here.
- Feature Interview at Randall Larson’s Soundtrax: Tyler Bates: Musical Experimentations from X to PEARL to MaXXXine – See Interview at Soundtrax here.
May 10, 2024
Interview with Composer Gareth Coker on Scoring ARK: The Animated Series
An animated adaptation of the hit video game ARK: Survival Evolved and featuring a voice cast that includes Michelle Yeoh, Russell Crowe, Gerard Butler, David Tennant, Jeffrey Wright, Elliot Page & Vin Diesel. ARK: THE ANIMATED SERIES is a sweeping saga spanning eons of human history. When 21st-century paleontologist Helena Walker (Madeleine Madden) finds herself resurrected on a mysterious primeval island populated by prehistoric beasts, she must learn to survive with new allies from throughout time while trying to uncover the true nature of their strange new world.
Read the full interview here
April 2, 2024
Read my interview with composer Richard Band about scoring THE PRIMEVALS
THE PROJECT: Fifty years ago, filmmaker David Allen registered the story for the film that would become THE PRIMEVALS. He aimed to elevate the art of stop-motion animation into more serious, thoughtful storytelling. In the mid-1960s, the film started as an homage to Edgar Rice Burroughs, reminiscent of the fantasy films by Ray Harryhausen that impressed David as a child. Sadly, Allen died in 1999, and the film was just completed this year by his visual effects colleague Chris Endicott.
Read the fill details in my Special Feature SOUNDTRAX interview with Richard Band, here.
March 22, 2024
Horror Scores: An Interview with Will Bates: Larry Fessenden’s BLACKOUT and Michael Mohan’s IMMACULATE
BLACKOUT: Charley’s secret is he thinks he’s a werewolf. He can’t remember the things he’s done, but the papers report random acts of violence taking place at night in this small upstate hamlet. Now, the whole town must rally to find out what is tearing it apart: mistrust, fear, or a monster that comes out at night; and IMMACULATE: Cecilia, an American nun of devout faith who embarks on a new journey in a remote convent in the picturesque Italian countryside. Cecilia’s warm welcome quickly devolves into a nightmare as it becomes clear her new home harbors a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors.
Read the interview, here.
February 5, 2024
Scoring JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS (PART 1): An Interview with Composer Kevin Riepl
JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS – PART ONE is an American animated superhero film based on the DC Comics superhero team the Justice League. Composer Kevin Riepl has been scoring films since 2011, and became associated with DC animated series on TV, films, and video beginning in 2015. His triple-threat score for the three CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS films are perhaps his most complicated scores, with dozens of characters to keep track of and a number of themes from various DC super-hero videos to accommodate in the three films that comprise the CRISIS saga.
Read the interview and listen to some of the film’s cues, here.
SEE MANY MORE INTERVIEWS at https://musiquefantastique.com/further-examinations/
Sorry the layout is a bit wonky – I lost my title & contents page and I haven’t had a chance to restore it yet. Most of the contents is still here – see the sections beneath the Musique Fantastique Logo.
Cheers!
Musique Fantastique 