John Carpenter’s Lost Themes 4 “Noir” (sacred bones exclusive) Unboxing

It’s been a decade since John Carpenter recorded the material that would become Lost Themes, his debut album of non-film music and the opening salvo in one of Hollywood’s great second acts. Those vibrant, synth-driven songs, made in collaboration with his son Cody Carpenter and godson Daniel Davies, kickstarted a musical renaissance for the pioneering composer and director. In the years since, Carpenter, Carpenter, and Davies have released close to a dozen musical projects, including a growing library of studio albums and the scores for David Gordon Green’s trilogy of Halloween reboots. With Lost Themes IV: Noir, they’ve struck gold again, this time mining the rich history of the film noir genre for inspiration.
Since the first Lost Themes, John has referred to these compositions as “soundtracks for the movies in your mind.” On the fourth installment in the series, those movies are noirs. Like the film genre they were influenced by, what makes these songs “noirish” is sometimes slippery and hard to define, and not merely reducible to a collection of tropes. The scores for the great American noir pictures were largely orchestral, while the Carpenters and Davies work off a sturdy synth-and-guitar backbone. The noir quality, then, is something you understand instinctively when you hear it. “Some of the music is heavy guitar riffs, which is not in old noir films,” Davies notes. “But somehow, it’s connected in an emotional way.”
The trio’s free-flowing chemistry means Lost Themes IV: Noir runs like a well-oiled machine-the 1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster from Kiss Me Deadly, perhaps, or the 1958 Plymouth Fury from John’s own Christine. It’s a chemistry that’s helped power one of the most productive stretches of John’s creative life, and Noir proves that it’s nowhere near done yielding brilliant results.
“This is who we are, I think,” John summarizes. “Daniel’s the adventurer. He pushes for new sounds, new directions. He tries things that I haven’t thought of. He’s a lot more daring than I am, and he enriches the whole thing. Cody’s the musician. He’s a savant at music. He understands music. We depend on him to rescue us.”
And what about John’s contribution? With characteristic understatement, he concludes: “I’m the experience. I’ve done music for movies before.”
-Brad Sanders
**Sacred Bones Exclusive Color: Edition of 1000 copies, pressed on Red on Clear Splatter vinyl w/ Screen Printed 7" and a Silver Foil Stamped Jacket**

[@davidprice6994]

Oh that's lovely, I saw John live in London just before covid lockdown .great edition there my friend.

[@Fonso13]

Thanks!! Was it in October!? His show in London. So cool you got see him live. It was such a rad experience 🤘🏽 🎃

[@MoviegeekDutch]

Yooo nice video! This album is my fav. My fav track is “The burning door” 👌🏻 saw John Carpenter in concert also twice. In 2016 and in 2018… it was awesome! I also have all Lost Themes plus the two Anthology albums. Haha i even have the Lost Themes 4 Noir Music Cassette 😆

[@Fonso13]

Thanks so much! No way you got the cassette!? That’s awesome!! I forgot to show my two anthology albums. His music is amazing and I would love for him to tour once again. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment.

[@MoviegeekDutch]

👍🏻 haha thanks! Yes JC (and his son and godson are amazing also)

[@JP-fo5zv]

He should make short films off the names alone of those songs!!

[@Fonso13]

That would be so cool!

[@Geneticshiphop]

I got mine from scream factory because it came signed as I have yet to meet him in person.

[@Fonso13]

Very cool! I forgot they released it as well. Congrats.