Based on author Michael Crichton's novel, the 1971 Universal film The Andromeda Strain tells a documentary-style tale of a military probe that returns to Earth bearing an instantly lethal microscopic virus. After nearly wiping out a small New Mexico town, the code-named “Andromeda Strain” is brought to an underground desert research facility where a team of scientists try to destroy the ever-mutating organism. Directed by Robert Wise, the film offered a gripping tone of near-clinical realism reinforced by his “non-star” casting of such theater veterans as Arthur Hill and Kate Reid, the graphic “deaths” of Andromeda’s animal victims, and the enormous, cylindrical sets for “Project Wildfire.”
While The Andromeda Strain also broke new technical ground with the computer assisted effects by 2001’s Douglas Trumbull, perhaps the film’s most dazzling achievement would be Gil Mellé’s electronic score, the first of its kind truly composed to picture. Pushing boundaries was always in the bloodstream of Mellé. The Andromeda Strain was made even more challenging by Robert Wise’s desire to have electronics deliver the emotional impact of a traditional score without ever sounding like one. Mellé rose to the challenge by creating such new electronic instruments as the Percussotron, the world’s first percussion synthesizer. He also recorded a wealth of organic sounds, from pins being knocked down at a bowling alley to buzz saws in a lumber mill. Such seemingly normal instruments as pianos, string basses and percussion were electronically mutated into new musical forms as Mellé performed live in his temporary studio at Universal.The result of Mellé’s unique synthesis of sound effects and music was a Golden Globe-nominated score, one that not only captured the haunting, suspenseful sterility of Wise’s vision, but also the throbbing, sinister evolution of something truly alien amidst the “sci-fi” scoring that had come before it.
Intrada's premiere release of Gil Mellé's score features the original LP program, remastered from the original LP master tapes in pristine condition and is limited to 1500 units.
It's the greatest event of 2010 in terms of innovative music composition. Gilbert Mellé "really" deserves to be represented. Intrada is the first label to introduce this genius to the world.
It's the greatest event of 2010 in terms of innovative music composition. Gilbert Mellé "really" deserves to be represented. Intrada is the first label to introduce this genius to the world.
Let's hope now that FSM will release Gil Mellé's "The Ultimate Warriors"!
Not sure The Ultimate Warrior Movie has many fans but can remember Watching it when I was quite young and Loving it would love to watch it again,to see what I think of it now,Can't remember what the music was like.
Don't you feel bad now for fussing about Intrada's lack of attention to the 70's?
On the contrary, I had to shake the conformists up and it payed, Tex! You had to fight for true art! It's my mission, my sacred duty! The question that comes to mind is who has written the liner notes of Intrada's edition of "The Andromeda Strain" because this information is not revealed on the website?
ANDROMEDA STRAIN? Synthysizer Revolution? Innovative?... Hmmmmm.... Sorry. .. I like a little "medlody" somewhere in the mix.....Just not my cup of tea...... I'll stay with Wakeman and Carlos for my Synthysizer Fix!!!!
ANDROMEDA STRAIN? Synthysizer Revolution? Innovative?... Hmmmmm.... Sorry. .. I like a little "medlody" somewhere in the mix.....Just not my cup of tea...... I'll stay with Wakeman and Carlos for my Synthysizer Fix!!!!
I don't agree with you. I only ordered "The Andromeda Strain". It's an act of a great importance for future generations. Please support "The Andromeda Strain"!
I don't agree with you. I only ordered "The Andromeda Strain". It's an act of a great importance for future generations. Please support "The Andromeda Strain"!
Statements like that are a good reason not to buy it.
I don't agree with you. I only ordered "The Andromeda Strain". It's an act of a great importance for future generations. Please support "The Andromeda Strain"!
Statements like that are a good reason not to buy it.
