There is no doubt that all of Fanfarlo are clever, bookish coves, but when they come together to make music, they function on a gut level. For a band that comes from all over, there is a restless, furtive artistry to their music, as reflected on their highly acclaimed debut album, Reservoir. Of this Secret Playlist, band member Amos says: ‘ I recently compiled a mix tape for my car and all these songs were on it. I didn’t realise that many were from soundtracks, but they work just as well in a car, or more likely sitting in traffic on the North Circular Road en route to band practice, as they do on the big screen. Enjoy’.
Elliott Smith / No Name #1
One thing I like about Elliott’s songs is that they play like short films in my mind. He makes his characters very real and easy to fit into the context of a movie. It would have been interesting to hear his soundtrack to Thumbsucker, but I’ll always have my favourites to fall back on.
Serge Gainsbourg / Burnt Island
Though he’s well known for his steamy pop, Serge Gainsbourg also contributed many songs to soundtracks and crossed into funk and disco territory. Burnt Island is more Calypso to my ears and transports me away to … well, nowhere in particular, especially not a burnt island. But a nice place nonetheless.
Rahul Dev Burman / Sholay Title Music
I became obsessed with this song after hearing it in a friend’s car. Channel 4 TV broadcast the curry-western epic Sholay shortly afterwards and I fell for the entire soundtrack. R.D. Burman also sang the fantastic Mehbooba Mehbooba in the same film. Try and watch Sholay if you can.
Ennio Morricone / Take Me Now
This is an example of the melodic-romantic lounge, incidental, or soundtrack music I enjoy. It probably started with me listening to Burt Bacharach’s string arrangements on the radio and watching TV shows when I was a kid that used John Barry compositions as their theme. Take Me Now can be found in the 1967 film Scusi, Facciamo L’Amore?
Joel Goldsmith / M73
The soundtrack to The Man With Two Brains has never been released, but thankfully the composer Joel Goldsmith (son of Jerry) has part of it available on his website. Expect stealth-like synth-pop played on what are now vintage keyboards.
Cat Stevens / If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out
This was written in the early 70s and is probably best known for being in Harold & Maude, a film that inspired Wes Anderson. Just watch Harold & Maude and Rushmore back-to-back if you don’t believe me.
Queen / Nevermore
Queen’s second album has its fair share of proggy/fantasy imagery, which I’m not so keen on. But I’ve always been drawn to this song for the simple piano riff and trademark Queen harmonies. It’s possibly the best thing they ever did and it’s less than a minute and a half long.
The Pastels / Tenniscoats
I wouldn’t be surprised if the start of Vivid Youth was looped and sampled for a hip hop tune. Either way, I’m always excited when The Pastels make new music and this is up there with Mobile Safari and Illumination.
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