In this edition of Throwback Thursday, we take a look at a classic Ian Hultquist score, Animals (2015)! In contrast to his latest synth-centric score, Assassination Nation, also released on Lakeshore Records, Ian blends in more acoustic guitars in this ambient score.
Written by and starring David Dastmalchian (Ant Man, Dark Knight), Animals won many film festival Best Feature Awards including the Audience Award at SXSW. In the same year, David also won Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the Arpa International Film Festival.
The ambient sound is back in “Make believe” and I just get lost in it. I would love to have a score which used only that sound. It’s that minimalistic and dreamy sound that makes me want to close my eyes and fantasize. This cue is reflective and deep and I enjoy discovering its every subtlety. -Soundtrack Dreams
The sure-to-be-cult-film Assassination Nation burned up the festival circuit last year before hitting theaters in September 2018. One key element to the film was the electronic film score courtesy of former Passion Pitt keyboardist Ian Hulquist. – Chris Evangelista, Slash Film
America: you asked for it! The good folks over at Slash Film have the exclusive premiere of the Assassination Nation – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack vinyl, featuring score by Ian Hultquist! The former Passion Pit band member is also known for scores to other feature films, such as A-X-L and Animals, released on Lakeshore Records. Check out the full spread now at Slash Films.
The vinyl album is available on or around May 10, 2019 via Lakeshore Records, but you can pre-order now: [Webshop]
* 2X LP On ‘RAINCOAT RED Vinyl * Doublewide Album Sleeve * Includes the songs ‘Rage by Isabella “Machine“ Summers, ‘Brat’ by Abra and ‘We Can’t Stop’ by Jackson State University Marching Band, The “Sonic Boom of the South”
The score is by Passion Pitt’s’s former keyboard player and synthesist Ian Hultquist. It plays big on screen throughout the entire second half of the film, including extended sequences where it’s set to screen images for minutes at a time. This is the first truly contemporary electronic film score in some time that does not seek to duplicate the Stranger Things retro esthetic. Assassination Nation creates its own new and fresh contemporary electronic score that is both modern and very accessible to non-filmscore audiences in the same way that It Follows and Under The Skin did.
TRACK LISTING:
Side A 01. Mayor Bartlett 02. #FAIL 03. The Life & Texts of Principal Turrell 04. Internet Trolls 05. I’m Not the Monster You Think I Am 06. Half of Salem 07. Slay’em High Killa 08. A Star is Born 09. Assassination Nation
Side B 10. Blow Us a Kiss 11. Take Salem Back 12. Marty’s Confession 13. Home Invasion 14. On the Run
Side C 15. Kiss Me 16. Be Gentle 17. Crimson 18. The Shootout 19. Surrender 20. Rally Ur F_cking Crew
Side D 21. Trigger (Bonus Track) 22. Rage – Isabella “Machine“ Summers 23. Brat – Abra 24. We Can’t Stop – Jackson State University Marching Band, The “Sonic Boom of the South”
NEON presents ASSASSINATION NATION, available now on Blu-ray/DVD (get it here) and Digital (get it here).
For National Love Your Pet Day, it’s the perfect occasion to take a look at some film and television shows from Lakeshore soundtrack partners which feature some memorable pets. Are you a dog or cat person? How about a pet chicken or a baby demogorgon? See our list!
An enjoyably evil, bonkers spin on “The Scarlet Letter” gets exactly the tripped out sound of social media maniacs it deserves from former Passion Pit front man Ian Hultquist for “Assassination Nation” – Film Music Magazine
Film music critic Daniel Schweiger has published his list of the Best Scores of 2018 at Film Music Magazine, featuring Assassination Nation – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Ian Hultquist! The Sam Levinson-directed Assassination Nation film is described as “One of the smartest, most perceptive commentaries on a contemporary society distorted and magnified by online hysteria…” (The Observer UK). Ian previously released scores to AXL and Animals on Lakeshore Records. See Daniel Schweiger’s full Best Scores list at Film Music Magazine.
Listen to the cue from Assassination Nation soundtrack, “I’m Not The Monster You Think I Am” now at Mandatory! The track premiere also features an interview with composer Ian Hultquist who speaks about being influenced by Isabella Summers (of Florence + The Machine) on this soundtrack and what it was like to collaborate with Director Sam Levinson. The film is now playing in theaters and the soundtrack is out now via Lakeshore Records!