El Topo
Label: ABKCO
Genre: Rock, Psych, Soundtracks/Library, Soundtracks
$44.99
Availability: In stock
Championed by everybody from John Lennon to Peter Gabriel and decried by “Establishment” critics ranging from Vincent Canby to Gene Siskel El Topo remains one of the controversial movies ever made. Director Alejandro Jodorowsky’s bizarre, blood-soaked blend of spaghetti Western, druggy surrealism, Christian allegory, Zen Buddhist themes and avant-garde sensibilities gave rise to the entire “Midnight Movie” counterculture phenomenon of the early ’70s and forever changed the way adventurous audiences viewed film. Or, for that matter, heard film; for no soundtrack, before or since, has embraced so many styles in its pursuit of spiritual and artistic goals. Atonal, Tibetan Buddhist thighbone trumpets clash with beautiful, even sentimental, chamber orchestra pieces alongside pan flute rhapsodies, brass bands and parlor jazz; that Jodorowsky himself composed the score after, no doubt, intently studying the work of Morricone–is almost as impressive an artistic achievement as the film itself.