Patton's score for High Voltage is not your standard strings-and-brass orchestral score. Something tells me the orchestral route will be the road less traveled for this particular artist. His work here comes across as something of a cross between a score and a soundtrack. There is a theme that recurs throughout, first appearing in the second track, "Chelios;" however, that is the exception and not the rule. Patton bounces around a variety of approaches based on the needs of the scene.
That said, the score encompasses industrial metal, heavy electronica, world music, and techno as it drills itself into your head. It comes across as schizophrenic as the movie does, always jumping to and fro, never settling in any one area for too long.
Something that is interesting about this album, and scores in general, is that when they are done well, they become more than just background sounds to a film. This becomes a good test for the quality of a score. If it does not work as a standalone, it is not a good score. It may work for the movie, but a good score does more than that. A good score can take you back to specific scenes and events in the movie. Beyond that, the good ones can transport you to other places in your mind, spurring your imagination to create new visuals to accompany them. Patton's work here is one of those transportive scores. It is far from my favorite, but it is terribly effective and stands apart from many other scores out there.
Mike Patton performed all of he instruments and did all of the programing for the album. Quite a feat, all adding to his accomplishment. So, when you give this a listen, marvel at his work and be sure to check out such standouts as "Chelios," "Chickenscratch," "Tourettes Romance," "El Huron," "Chevzilla," "Triad Limo," "Pixelvision," and "Epilogue - In My Dreams."
Recommended.
Article comments
1 - Blake
Unlike Mike Patton, you don't seem pay too much attention to detail. "A Secret Place"? I could have sworn the short film was called "A Perfect Place". Also, check your spelling errors, you would be amazed. And of course, 1 final correction, the score is all wrong. you meant 4 1/2 stars out of 5, not 3 1/2.