lambchops's Full Review: Trainspotting by Original Soundtrack
As the soundtrack to a heroin ridden movie (1996) based on a somewhat controversial Irvine Welsh novel by the same name, Trainspotting is one of the better collections of music I own. It’s a great reflection of the film in that the songs are actually a part of the plot.
In fact, there’s a scene in the film that I will never forget. You know the one…the surreal, robotic dead baby crawling on the ceiling while Ewan McGregor’s character Mark Renton writhes his way through heroin withdrawals to the beat of Underworld’s Born Slippy. This is definitely one of the images from this film burned into my psyche thanks in part to the soundtrack I’m about to talk about.
The techno and Britpop contained on Trainspotting is rather strange at times. Strung together, these songs do fortunately form a cohesive plot line and feeling. Listened to separately, the tracks from artists like Iggy Pop, Underworld, New Order, Pulp, and Elastica are similarly themed yet musically very different from one another. As a whole, this soundtrack is outstanding. It easily can be put in the same category as the likes of Natural Born Killers and The Crow (both of which are pure genius).
I’m sure that even without viewing the film, these tracks are superb. But, with the added visual imagery thanks to the strange drug-addicted characters, situations, and shaky cameras Trainspotting becomes something wholly different. Something much, much more emotionally engaging.
The film is introduced with Iggy Pop’s divine (yes, divine) Lust For Life. Renton actually speaks over top the song about goals, drive, and life in the film. Yet, on the soundtrack Pop is left to on his own. With a punk attitude and hollow beats, the song proves a perfect setting on which to rest the film. Pop also provides the soundtrack with Nightclubbing. Once again, the first striking thing about the track is its strangeness. The song is atmospherically upsetting and perfectly fitted to such a film focused on destruction.
New Order even offers up a track. Temptation sounds very much like any other track you’d expect from the classic new wavers. It’s slightly pop, yet somehow also slightly off. As with the rest of the Trainspotting tracks, this song is meant to disturb you a bit and to throw your emotions for a loop. New Order accomplishes that goal perfectly. Sleeper also provides a twisted disco track with their remake of Blondie’s Atomic. Both tracks are perfectly fitting.
One of the most remarkable songs is Lou Reed’s delicately warped Perfect Day. Melancholic and pensive, the track winds its way around pain and unhappiness with Reed’s monotone voice, pianos, strings, horns, and light percussion. It seems impossible to have chosen a more fitting track for a heroin flick. Especially when you consider its placement in one of the films many drug scenes.
The most disturbing and unsettling track on this album and in the film is undoubtedly Born Slippy from Underworld. At first, listeners are tricked into thinking that this is a simple and somehow understated techno track of sorts. Underworld then proceeds to prove itself otherwise with quickening beats and added (and for that matter loud) synth drums. As I already remarked, the vision of the dead baby is imprinted on my mind forever thanks at least in part to this crazy track.
There are no real disappointments here. I’ve talked directly about the songs that I like the most, but most people should find some value in these varied songs. Also of note is Elastica’s 2:1 and Blur’s Sing. If you’ve seen Trainspotting and enjoyed it, then this soundtrack is definitely for you. If you like the artists I’ve spoken about and list before, then this soundtrack is for you too. Finally, if you don’t generally like disturbing things, please pass by the Trainspotting soundtrack.
I own very few soundtracks because they generally disappoint me. This one on the other hand is aurally pleasing…even if I’m not a huge fan of the artists and music highlighted. With that said, I have no choice but to award this album 5/5 stars on the merit of its musical integrity, disturbing beats, and direct relationship with the plot of Trainspotting
Track Listing:
1. Lust For Life - Iggy Pop
2. Deep Blue Day - Brian Eno
3. Trainspotting - Primal Scream
4. Atomic - Sleeper
5. Temptation - New Order
6. Nightclubbing - Iggy Pop
7. Sing - Blur
8. Perfect Day - Lou Reed
9. Mile End - Pulp
10. For What You Dream Of - Bedrock Featuring KYO
11. 2:1 - Elastica
12. Final Hit, A - Leftfield
13. Born Slippy - Underworld
14. Closet Romantic - Damon Albarn
***Want to know more about the film Trainspotting? It was released in 1996 and directed by Danny Boyle. It starred Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, and Robert Carlyle among other talented actors. Rated R, the film was based on an Irvine Welsh novel by the same name.
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