SPINEMA 73: MUTANT presents Michael Giacchino Exotic Themes for the Silver Screen

An breezy, unique, and toe-taping retrospective from the composer

We all mourned the Funko-fueled immolation of the Mondo brand many months ago. A loss later giving way to celebrations when many of the familiar faces behind that creative and cultural force recombined (pun intended science nerds) to give us Mutant. Bursting out of the gates with a host of movie posters, collectables, and (pertinent to our Spinema column) a new wave of vinyl releases, showcasing all new original art and design. Exotic Themes for the Silver Screen Vol. 1 is one of their new releases and is a little untraditional in nature. A celebration of Academy Award-winning composer Michael Giacchino that revisits some notable pieces from the first half of his career, with a retro-refresh thanks to inspiration from 50s Exotica. If unfamiliar with the term, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the style. Think Caribbean style, steel drums, bongos, marimbas, and other south sea instruments. Checkout the track below for an example.

It’s a playful concept, a new spin (no pun intended) on musical pieces mined from the first half of Giacchino’s career. This isn’t some computer reworking of the tracks, instead each was rearranged and re-recorded, to be true to the Exotica-style, and in tribute to the inspirations of artists like Martin Denny and Les Baxter. From video game scores like Medal of Honor, Giacchino’s foray into TV, with the stellar work on LOST and Alias, before delving into his cinematic hits from work with Disney/Pixar (The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Up), and on Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol, Star Trek (2009), and Cloverfield. A full track list is included below, but expect Enterprising Young Men and A Man, A Plan, A Code, Dubai, to get regular plays. Easy listening tunes, tempering the music so that even the more dramatic pieces take on a toe-tapping element thanks to the rearrangements, and tonal shifts the different instruments bring. A shift from big orchestral swells, to something more intimate and warm. The tunes are instantly recognizable, just given a utterly different vibe. A unique and breezy retrospective from the composer, one best played with a Mai Tai in hand.

Tracklist

Primordial Forest – The Lost World: Jurassic Park (2:10)
Medal of Honor (3:01)
Bristow and Bristow – Alias (3:09)
Secret Weapons Over Normandy (3:26)
The Incredibles Suite (3:07)
Take a Hike – LOST (3:21)
Life and Death – LOST (3:52)
Sky High (2:31)
Space Mountain (3:12)
The Family Stone Waltz (2:11)
Le Festin – Ratatouille (2:20)
Ratatouille (2:20)
ROAR! – Cloverfield (2:04)
Casa Cristo – Speed Racer (2:34)
Land of the Lost (2:33)
Enterprising Young Men – Star Trek (2:50)
Married Life – Up (3:49)
Let Me In (2:26)
LAX – LOST (3:37)
The Turbomater – Cars 2 (2:21)
A Man, A Plan, A Code, Dubai – Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (3:03)
Monte Carlo (2:52)
Super 8 Suite (3:05)

The Package

Vol. 1 comes in a bright and clean package showcasing design work from Luke Insect. Cool tones, a minimal depiction of a sunset, a hint of psychedelia, and a recurring palm tree motif. The liner work also confirms the imminent arrival of Vol. 2, presumably covering the latter half of Giacchino’s career.

The liner notes from Charlie Brigden give a chronological rundown of the track list, showcase a letter from Giacchino himself, and maintain the same tropical aesthetic on the exterior packaging.