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For over a decade now, legendary film composer Ennio Morricone has resisted the dozens of invitations from labels and artists to remix his original work -- until now. Somehow the folks at Reprise were either diplomatic enough with a satisfactory aesthetic approach or had a big enough checkbook to satisfy the artist's concerns (and this writer is willing to believe it was the former). A varied cast of pioneers from electronica's vast frontier was assembled by compilation producers Stefan Rambow and Norman Rudnitzky. The first two cuts are the most obvious. There's Apollo 440's "The Man With the Harmonica," mixed out of the soundtrack for Once Upon a Time in the West. There are layers and layers of keyboards extrapolating the melody -- and parts of it -- with dub effects and large, deep drums and sequencers. It's pleasant enough, but it's predictable, a no-brainer, and so much could have been done with it that one has to wonder why such a reverent reading. Terranova's reading of "For a Few Dollars More" is completely forgettable -- I literally can't remember it (let's play it again...yawn...forgot) -- in the second slot, so things don't reach high simmer until Fantastic Plastic Machine's edited remix and rewarp of "Belinda May" from the film The Alibi. Producer and mixologist Tomoyuki Tanaka adds three layers of Brazilian percussion and vocals to the Latin rhythmic and melodic qualities of the original, turning it into a heavenly hash of good vibes, killer string swells, and dubbed out, echoplexed, rhythmic samba throb. The two DJs from Rockers Hi-Fi turn in separate remixes of the "Clan of the Sicilians" theme. The two readings are radically different; DJ Dick's is the better of the two, with a tropical feel added to the already exotic soundscape painted by the composer, layering funky flutes and an additional foreground set of harmonized (synth) strings. Bigga Bush's remix is more minimal, fielding an additional layer of tripled percussion and stripping back the melody by adding chords to frame the drums. Other standouts include Thievery Corporation's take on the "Il Grand Silençio" opening theme.
CONDITION: USED LIKE NEW! MINT CONDITION NEVER PLAYED!
TRACK LISTINGS
1 The Man With the Harmonica
2 For a Few Dollars More
3 Here's to You
4 Belinda May Edit
5 Clan of the Sicilians
6 Chi Mai
7 Il Grande Silencio
8 Un Bacio
9 Doricamente
10 Giocoso, Gioioso
11 La Bambola/Come Maddalena
12 La Lucertola
13 Clan of the Sicilians
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