I've been rewatching a few John Carpenter films lately (it's that time of year, and Netflix Instant has most of the good ones), and one of the most consistently enjoyable parts of his filmography is his iconic soundtrack work. It's compelling music in its own right, capable of creating and sustaining a mood even when separated from its associated images. It's no wonder that his soundtracks have become a common reference point for the current crop of synthesizer-centric experimentalists. Warning Light's Wild Silver sounds like a soundtrack to a lost Carpenter film. Each of the twelve tracks is a cinematic miniature of textured atmosphere, with enough variety among them that the hour running time never feels excessive. "In the Tidal Break" and "The Universal Rewrite" move with an icy propulsion; other tracks like "Whispering Priest" and "High Watershed" suggest a stillness on the verge of being shattered. It's good music for a fall afternoon.

Little Advances