Danny Elfman's NIGHTBREED (1990) - 2024 Intrada

[ddddeeee 259]

Quote

I’ve always rooted for the monsters, especially when they’re been chased by torch wielding neo-Maga troglodytes like The Sons of the Free. For that reason unleashing the full potential of Danny Elfman’s glorious score for Clive Barker’s Tribes of the Moon has been a CD chronicling grail dream of mine, one that’s now fulfilled after ten years of dogged determination by Roger Feigelson, myself and the Intrada team. So at last it’s time to feed musical meat to the beasts of NIGHTBREED with this amazing two-CD release that expands this mystically exciting tribal score with more versions of “Country Skin” than you can shake your finger scalpels at, with my liner notes featuring new interviews with Danny Elfman, orchestrator Steve Bartek and editor Mark Goldblatt on this soundtrack monster mash to end them all. Now at last available HERE, praise Baphomet!

 

All of Clive Barker's Midian is unleashed on Intrada's deluxe edition of Danny Elfman's NIGHTBREED! - ON THE SCORE

[ddddeeee 259]

Roger posted a link to this track on Facebook.

 

CD1 39 Boone And Decker Duke It Out.wav (dropbox.com)

[CatastrophicJones 18]

Excellent! I have ordered it and is on its way to me, can't wait to listen

[Matt C 455]

Ordered it today. Can’t wait to hear the full score after falling for the original 1990 album.

[Jay 37,403]

Woohoo, Ordered!

I LOVE early Elfman, and normally would have ordered this on day one.  But since they had already told us beforehand that The Piper was releasing last night, I waited to order it along with that (and Species).  This will be a title I listen to very soon after receiving.  I avoided the samples (though am familiar with the suite on Music For A Darkened Theater) so can't wait to just go right into the new main program when I get it!

[Amer 2,120]

I'm going to order it very soon but looking to merge with SPECIES and maybe the new Varese Club titles (coming on Friday)

 

NIGHTBREED is indeed a terrific and mesmerising score. Its prime vintage Danny Elfman from the BATMAN era. The exotic percussion and the pre Edward Scissorhand like Choir is just a terrific blend of the classic Elfman sound.

 

Not to be missed!!

 

And that opening credits music is so hypnotic and profound. I get goosebumps listening to it each time.

 

[Manakin Skywalker 4,897]

I've never heard this score until today, I can't say I was expecting the Meow Mix song to show up.

 

 

[ddddeeee 259]

I received my copy today. Excited to listen later. 

 

Daniel Schweiger's liner notes are excellent. His passion for the movie and music is really clear. Walker's cue is mentioned, too.

[thestat 349]

One of those legendary ELF scores with all his trademarks - completely underappreciated. The film is amazing as well - do ignore the Morgan Creek one that is the 98 min version. The Barker cut is truly amazing, one of the first honestly big budget LGTBQ films ever. Very innovative and challenging in its politics that I am very happy that Elfman amplified extensively!

 

It does not make sense to have Cronenberg play his role in the MC cut - the longer cut, you know why he accepted the role. 

[ddddeeee 259]

As much as I love Elfman, my feelings are often quite mixed regarding the expanded releases. I'm happy to have all the music, but I tend to find the original albums completely satisfying. The exceptions would be Batman Returns,  Darkman, Dolores Claiborne, Mission: Impossible, Spider-Man...and now Nightbreed. (I can get into the complete Planet of the Apes when I'm in the right mood.)

 

This has always been a Top 10 Elfman for me. It somehow manages to be quintessential Elfman and something really quite distinct in his filmography at the same time. This release is like hearing it for the first time. There's always something interesting going on; so many odd sounds that come and go that make me think 'What even was that?' The tribal percussion sounds excellent, and I love how it dances across my earphones.

 

The highlight of the unreleased music is absolutely 'Ohnaka Go Boom!' which reprises that jaunty, mysterious idea that plays during Carnival Underground and the End Credits. It's performance here is really quite devastating - a perfect fit for a scene that has always disturbed me.

 

Some of the horror stuff doesn't make for pleasant listening, but it's Elfman's only real foray into straight horror, so that gives it a novelty. 

 

Walker's cue is fascinating in how it starts off sounding like someone just aping Elfman's material, but by the end it sounds entirely like Walker. It fits in with the rest of the score while still feeling distinct.

 

A terrific release of a brilliant score. Such a shame the making of the film put Barker off directing. While his directorial skills could never live up to his imagination, we were surely robbed of some brilliant music if this and Hellraiser are anything to go by.

 

 

 

[crocodile 8,022]

Fantastic score, really rich and enchanting. Interesting to see Elfman's use of gamelan, especially coupled with strings. He will echo that kind of writing in the opening movement of Rabbit & Rogue ballet many years later (my favouritebit from that work). Great liner notes, too. It was definitely worth the long wait. I am really interested in seeing the movie now.

 

Karol

[Thor 7,542]

3 hours ago, crocodile said:

Fantastic score, really rich and enchanting. Interesting to see Elfman's use of gamelan, especially coupled with strings. He will echo that kind of writing in the opening movement of Rabbit & Rogue ballet many years later (my favouritebit from that work). Great liner notes, too. It was definitely worth the long wait. I am really interested in seeing the movie now.

 

Karol

 

Elfman fooled around with many NIGHTBREED elements in the 70s already, like the famous gamelan piece in the Mystic Knights days. It's a great score, but - as you would expect - the OST is more than enough for my use. The country version of "Skin" is delightful.

[Matt C 455]

Such an exquisite score. Elfman hit peak quality post Batman in the space of several years. I would argue that this is better than either Batman score because it sounds so fresh and inspired. The main theme is hauntingly beautiful and the usage of pan flutes and the gamelan is inspired. And Walker’s cue is awesome on its own terms but works well within the main score.

 

The quality of music is that good where the expanded and 1990 releases work equally well as listening experiences. Mixing and mastering is excellent, compared to the dry mix on Darkman.

[Jurassic Shark 12,105]

On 20/04/2024 at 6:04 PM, Thor said:

It's a great score, but - as you would expect - the OST is more than enough for my use.

 

I don't believe you. 

 

On 21/01/2024 at 7:27 PM, Richard Penna said:

Is that the most innovative way yet of saying it's held up by legal crap?

 

It could mean they had problems finding the masters.