Occasionally as a music fan, you come across something totally different and discover a band forging a unique path for the love of what they are creating. Sleepbomb are one such entity. Formed in 2003 as a casual ensemble project, they soon gained recognition and attention in San Francisco for performing improvised industrial and experimental scores to German Expressionist films such as 1927’s Metropolis.
In the case of The Cabinet of Dr Caligairi, alongside the ability to transport the listener to the surreal and distorted world of Hostenwall (where most of the film takes place), the music can appeal to those with limited or no knowledge of the film and its exaggerated, angular world. The six acts of the album (plus intro and interludes) tell an absorbing story themselves. The album is not an easy listen (from the opening moments of Intro, strange sound effects - work of the band’s technical wizard Brown Hues - and discordant notes deliberately conflict), nor is it meant to be as it reflects the enigmatic, twisted narrative of the 1920 classic. Determined to apply their ghostly and at times disconcerting yet enthralling techniques to each new venture, Sleepbomb have taken their love for the film and produced a score which uses a considered approach to pacing and dynamics, while encapsulating the essence of German expressionism.
While the music has a menacingly charismatic resonance, there are moments of otherworldly, almost transcendental enchantment such as during Act III in which Clare Hamard’s darkly angelic vocals accompany an almost Pink Floyd like repeated guitar pattern. She explains, “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari' is a movie I discovered as a teenager, and I was completely captivated by its gothic, chaotic, and highly expressive aesthetic. For this film in particular, I wanted to convey the strange beauty that emerges from it, over and above its sometimes disturbing or even terrifying aspect.” As a wholly collaborative effort, the score illustrates Sleepbomb’s expertise in constructing themes that intertwine with visual storytelling. “When you're working in such a genre, there's always an aspect where your music, no matter how rough it might have been, is shaped by the dramatism of the picture.”
Produced by Greg Wilkinson and Sleepbomb and recorded over a period of nine days, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari’s success will depend on it ability to appeal to metal fans who enjoy drone-doom and film fans who are prepared to accept a totally original approach to the scoring of a recognised classic. Renowned film critic Roger Ebert called The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, “arguably the first true horror film” and Sleepbomb have produced an album which while certainly not appealing to everyone within the spectrum of fans described above, those who find themselves able to dig a little deeper into the music, the album will thrill at its dark wonders, uncomfortable calmness and moments of surreal insanity.
To paraphrase Dr Caligari, penetrate the heart of this secret….
The Cabinet of Dr Caligari is available digitally now and will be released physically on 3rd November 2023. It is available from https://sleepbomb.bandcamp.com/album/the-cabinet-of-dr-caligari
Written: 28th October 2023
Listen to the album on Spotify below.
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