It seems like everything surrounding director David Lynch is downright creepy and the soundtrack to his latest film, “Lost Highway,” is no exception.
Pairing once again with Angelo Badalamenti (who scored the music for “Blue Velvet,” among others), the album’s instrumental tracks have an eerie, haunting tone, translating the film’s uneasy feeling almost perfectly to music. The sounds range from symphonic melodies to screeching saxophones, and that’s only the beginning.
In order to add to the album’s frantic feeling, Lynch hired Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor to produce and create something to match the film’s tone. Reznor composed two instrumental tracks and wrote “The Perfect Drug” exclusively for the soundtrack.
Along with Reznor’s pieces, the creepiest of all musicians, Marilyn Manson, contributes two songs as well. “Apple of Sodom” and “I Put a Spell on You” both make listeners feel like they’re entering something dangerous. Manson’s screaming and jungle drum beats give the songs a sarcastic, stereotypical horror film feeling, and at the same time the tunes are among the catchiest on the record.
Also adding music to “Lost Highway” are the Smashing Pumpkins, with a poppy techno song, “Eye,” and a German hard-rock group, Rammstein, with two songs so head-banging, it’s impossible to dislike them.
The highlight of the album is Lou Reed’s “This Magic Moment.” Not rattling with synthesizers, Reed’s voice comes through clearly, and his out-of-tune smoky voice gives this love song just the right Lynchian touch