Ravenous Soundtrack - Colqhoun's Story

One of my favourite tracks, entitled 'Colqhoun's Story' by Damon Albarn & Michael Nyman, from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of the 1999 movie 'Ravenous' by Antonia Bird.
This plays during the scene where Colqhoun (Robert Carlyle) discloses what happened to him and his colonist party on their fateful journey. "We left in April. Six of us in all." Excellent scene and music, entire movie's 5* stuff!

[@southpawYT]

what stuns me about this track is the layers. it just delves deeper and deeper into darkness and chaos but beneath it all that jaunty march is still going. genius.

[@ZilnichProductions]

Yep its awesome

[@user-ey1qj2wq1x]

It starts out happy and kind of silly, but as it progresses it really sets a tone of depravity and madness.

[@murch7299]

I think of it as the music of the human soul. Humans can be happy and jaunty and nice and progressive on the surface, while at the same time having dark, murderous, chaotic intentions stirring way down in the depths of their soul, where even they fear to tread. It's an absolutely brilliant composition that, along with the movie, received entirely too little attention from critics obsessed with convention.

[@lucast.1259]

Like a road you take were you can´t turn back from the things you done along the way

[@Absolutely_Nobody]

Starts out as a silly keyboard pre-set and ends with "Holy shit. Oh my god."

[@MySerpentine]

Here's the actual story, if you want it: I suppose I owe you gentlemen a story. We left in April. Six of us in all. Mr. MacCready and his wife, from Ireland. Mr. Janus, from Virginia, I believe... with his servant, Jones. Myself - I'm from Scotland. And our guide... a military man, coincidently. Colonel Ives. A Detestable man... and a most disastrous guide. He professed to know a new, shorter route through the Nevadas. Quite a route that was. Longer than the known one... and impossible to travel. We worked... very, very hard. By the time of the first snowfall we were still a hundred miles from this place. That was November. Preceding in the snow was futile. We took shelter in a cave. Decided to wait until the storm had passed. But the storm did not pass. The trails soon became impassable... and we had run out of food. We ate the oxen... all the horses... even my own dog. And that lasted us about a month. After that we turned to our belts... shoes... any roots we could dig up, but you know there's no real nourishment in those. We remained famished. The day that Jones died I was out collecting wood. He had expired from malnourishment. And when I returned, the others were cooking his legs for dinner. Would I have stopped it had I been there? I don't know. But I must say... when I stepped inside that cave... the smell of meat cooking... I thanked the Lord. I thanked the Lord. And then things got out of hand. I ate sparingly. Others did not. The meat did not last us a week and we were soon hungry again only, this time our hunger was different. More... severe... savage. And Colonel. Ives, particularly, could not be satisfied. Janus was the first to be killed. And then Mr. MacCready. That left Colonel Ives, MacCready's wife, and I alone and I knew that in that company my days were numbered. I'm ashamed to say that I acted in the most cowardly manner. It would have been nobler, I know to have stayed and protected Mrs. MacCready from Ives, but... I was weak. I fled. It was nothing less than pure providence that I arrived here.

[@lionelhutz5137]

I said there was no food, I didn't say there was nothing to eat, understand?

[@b_g_c3281]

Perfect transcribing....

[@itswhatyoumakeit6950]

Ok, I love you. There, I said it, now deal with it. Lol😁😉🙃🙋

[@user-ey1qj2wq1x]

Eat to live, dont live to eat.

[@nocash3055]

Nice. Makes me hungry.

[@MoriyaMug]

One of my all-time favorite film scores.

[@ZilnichProductions]

Yep, its my all time fav.

[@Survivor2002]

Someday, this soundtrack is going to get the props and attention it truly deserves...Ditto for the movie!

[@LucidWanderer]

This is what madness must sound like, a slow descend into a dark abysal place.

[@Zladnyl]

The only difference is it keeps descending until eventually it becomes so loud and so, unrecognizable, that eventually you can't hear it anymore, the person or people descending with it that is, and bystanders almost never hear the true nature of it, they rarely look beneath it all or end up hearing even a glimpse of the abyss. It is usually to late for someone when it is finally heard for what it truly is...

[@PercivalBlakeney]

@Heathen Blade An audiological equivalent of the video from "The Ring". ... if you will.

[@user-kb1su7mg1g]

@@Zladnyl I wonder if anyone has used this in their own music

[@nosorab3]

"Then things got out of hand..." This movie in six words

[@Shagrat65]

'You know, Ben Franklin once said Eat to Live, don't Live to Eat...uh...uh?!" One of the most underrated soundtracks out there. Just awesome throughout

[@colonelhart5721]

This, followed The Cave and The Pit, just shows how incredible - hilarious, eccentric, and terrifying - Ravenous and its soundtrack are.

[@FormatorBlack]

One of the best movie soundtracks EVER,,,how did this gem of a film sink without a ripple?

[@Vousie]

Definitely agreed - though I have a pretty good idea as to yor question: Incorrect marketing. They marketed it as your standard horror film - trying to cash in on Scream's success, but really, it's nothing like those other horror films.

[@FormatorBlack]

Vousie V That makes sense! Part of the brilliance of this film is it starts out as a regular Western, then veers off into horror!

[@Survivor2002]

What I will never understand is WHY, when you had a pairing as once-in-a-lifetime EPIC as Nyman and Albarn, nobody thought to document the recording sessions on video!!!!

[@AngryDave113]

I love the way the music builds and builds, getting more and more ominous. Truly a great soundtrack to an underrated film.

[@jtrip540]

6/5 stars for the film and 650/5 for the OST

[@samuelglass6805]

One of the few horror movies that uses a brilliant contrast: in parts, the more horrific the images become onscreen, the more sublime the music becomes!

[@dorkmax7073]

3:12 God, I want a whole song of just this.

[@EorRompage7]

So incredibly dark

[@TheDimension451]

I walked home one day from a far distance through the forests of Great Falls, V.A. I was listening to this soundtrack on headphones as I traveled. The sky was grey and a storm was on it's way. The music mixed perfectly with the weather and setting where I was. Great music for a journey into the woods...

[@FormatorBlack]

Good stuff,,,really symbolizes the bleakness the protagnonist was feeling during the Colonel's "recruitment speech" when they are looking out over the wilderness! How this unseen gem of a film isn't better known is a mystery to me!

[@Brutoom]

@pk000 The main instruments used (according to the booklet) are violin, guitar, jew's harp, banjo and squeeze box. Although this track was done largely by Damon Albarn, also using samples.

[@jonathancallahan4932]

The music begins with a fairly jaunty feel to it but as it progresses the mood gradually darkens. This begins with a somewhat subversive melody being played under the primary melody and than at about 3:15 the secondary melody, which has been building and changing this whole time totally overwhelms the primary melody. This reflects how Colqhoun's expedition began innocently enough and than degenerated into the cave of horrors that Boyd and the rest find. And then Col. Ives finds them...

[@elperronimo]

Movie was good but the soundtrack was phenomenal and this is my fav one on it

[@Horusthebetrayer]

This song would go perfect At the Mountains of Madness.....but then again, this song would go great with any psychological horror/thriller film that takes place in the wilderness out out in the tundra.....you know what I mean damn it.

[@Blazingwheel]

Eat to Live, Don't Live to Eat.

[@Superbl0bby]

Famine, or feast, the choice is yours

[@stephaniemitchell9563]

Its It's lonely being a cannibal hard making friends

[@PercivalBlakeney]

You are who you eat. 😉

[@CanadiaNecro1]

I was writing a report one night with the tv on and this movie came on. This scene really got my attention and I coulnd't write anymore, I had to watch the whole movie! "I said we had no food, I didn't say there was nothing to eat..."

[@murch7299]

"...you understand? You UNDERSTAND???"

[@Wulfiebaby]

This is one of the best pieces of music I've ever heard. The whole soundtrack is phenomenal, which is why I paid through the nose for it. The movie is great, too--even if it treats the subject matter a little too dismissively in parts (like it doesn't know how good it really is). Damon Albarn really is a juggernaut of music.

[@michaeldiekmann6494]

That must be how hell sounds. I love it!

[@ziegogoboy]

MIND BLOWN. Other day, I had to do a sound design paper, and so listening to the first 20 min leading up to this point, I realized that 1: Not 2 min or so go by without the mention of something consumable. 2: The mood setting music. 3: Every single minute eating/drinking sound greatly amplified. 4: Boyd doesn't speak a full complete sentence until 25 min in. 5: They bring in Colqhoun, warm him up by essentially preparing him as dinner (warm water rub, wrapped, and placed by a fire)

[@leesaunders1930]

good God what a horrifyingly creepy soundtrack for a film I can just imagine colqhoun listening to this acting all creepy n shit like he does. marvellous score marvellous film. 10/10.

[@connorshekelstein6432]

Lee Saunders who's Colquhoun

[@arcotroll8530]

@@connorshekelstein6432 The guy who killed and ate the people in the cave and then lured the soldiers of the fort there for the same reason. He's the one telling the story and he's actually colonel Ives.

[@murch7299]

It's not courage to resist me, you know. It's courage to accept me.... Good God! We wouldn't want to break up families!

[@terebi916]

My favorite track from this score, all of which I like very much... the underlying rhythm is really kind of hip-hop!

[@southpawYT]

i think we can thank mr albarn for that, having spent so many years in gorillaz.

[@crywlf9103]

The beginning leading into Ives’ theme Manifest Destiny is twisted and beautiful and I love it

[@stephenjones5366]

Eat Prey Love.

[@FloddTheWendigo]

Best OST EVER !

[@beachlyfebarney1375]

The smell of meat cookin, I thanked the lord, I thanked the lord

[@ravenouscolonelhart]

hell yes to this movie and its soundtrack, and to colquhoun and his story. "It was only by sheer providence... that I arrived here..." what a freaking scene. he's gauging them all, mocking them all, while playing the victim....

[@ZilnichProductions]

My fav soundtrack of all time. Its just crazy enough, different enough, driving and the build up too.

[@mouse264]

So chilling, with that guitar especially. It suddenly turns from being an innocent folk-party tune to something sinister, like a disturbing childhood memory almost. Pretty.

[@HEDSHOPPE667]

...And then things got out of hand...One of the best soundtracks, Easily of it's era

[@blasabb]

One of my favourite moments in this film. The tension from here on is great. Scary music and of course a GREAT film!

[@Joehand87]

"then things got out of hand....the hunger became more...severe...savage"

[@shitbrick777]

"Then things got out of hand..." Love this song.

[@itswhatyoumakeit6950]

So, back then this resonated with me, however, I certainly couldn't appreciate it like I do now. SO GOOD!

[@Bechyyy]

Obdivuju Damona Albarna a Michaela Nymana.Tatranské hory jsou opravdu drsné,zvlášt když nemáte co jíst....!

[@filthyswit]

Saw this in the theater. And on VHS. And on DVD. Awesome. And have the soundtrack.

[@MySerpentine]

I love how oddly cheery it is, considering the tale told to it

[@danemillerhass831]

I'd say it starts off cheery, and gets rather dark and intense towards the end. I also think it's sort of a symbol, in the way that Boyd and Ives are. In the beginning of the movie, Boyd is a coward in war. In the beginning of 'Boyd's Journey', it starts off pretty ominous I'd say. On the other hand, Ives' starts off pretty cheery. And when he first comes, he appears to be a helpful victim. Boyd's song changes to a nicer tone, not dark or scary at all. However, Ive's drops over the course of the tune, becoming pretty menacing. And Boyd eventually shows himself the hero, while Ives... you know how that goes. I think it shows the parallels of the two characters pretty well, but I don't know if it was intentional.

[@Survivor2002]

You mean how cheery it seems...AT FIRST. But, MAN, as the ominous dread starts to build with the ambient bass and violins, and THEN when it takes that turn at 3:14!!!!

[@Canalus]

Tell you what, if this movie had had a regular horror score, it wouldn't have been half as unsettling as it is.

[@om3g4z3r0]

They don't make comedies like this anymore.

[@Vinlandian]

Great song. This was a favorite film of mine when I was like... 9 or 10 ha ha!

[@Snake-oh6mg]

Vinlandian Lore me too!

[@BALLsac000]

Holy CHEESE!!! THIS IS ONE AWESOME MOVIE!!!! I SO CHEESED OUT AS I WATCHED IT

[@drocto21]

good song, like that the song starts to get more and more disturbed as it plays

[@DVX_BELLORVM]

1999 -- what a year!

[@miniflem1]

Ives: You should know, that if you die first I'm _definitely_ going to eat you. Question is, if you die first what are you going to do? Bon appétit. The Greatest last line of a film EVER.

[@ziegogoboy]

The rubbing sounds and picture are SO apparent, and DAMN if that's not subliminally establishing of the entire movie's cannabalistic theme. Oh, also, the soldier is sharpening his knife in the shot as Colqhoun begins to (and continues) telling his story, the sharpening noises made quite apparent.

[@connorshekelstein6432]

Jojo's Moderate Trip what is Colquhoun exactly?

[@bayernmuenchen49]

"the meat did not last us a week and we were soon hungry again. only this time our hunger was different...more severe...more savage..."

[@Kiiieeechiii]

Wendigo

[@juanaltredo2974]

it really is a phenomenal work, a capolavoro as the italians would say. If I were a film composer I think this is the music Id given my left arm to create (and they sure would've eaten it)

[@daviddel7456]

Simply transcendent

[@pyrogash3831]

this is so weird but it sounds so good

[@Shagrat65]

Thanks for putting this up friend. I adore Ravenous. The soundtrack is amazing

[@nesninja]

Love It

[@TvGyrl]

Some people arent't fit to be human, you're one of them.

[@Calm-n-NormalTime]

Black comedy has never been the result of Hollywood pussing out and adding levity to a serious horror or vice versa. It's not a popular genre and tends to alienate the majority who prefer one dominant tone at a time. a difficult mix to get right which is why the few that work work brilliantly as ziegoboy said, it's hardly watering down when both elements strengthen the impact of the other. One consistent tone is something that only happens in movies, reality is absurd and awful simultaneously

[@reyedk]

Amazing soundtrack for a great movie ! Cult Classic !!!

[@ms.scorpioerica318]

Haunting and Brilliant.

[@boldbearings]

"It would've been nobler I know to have stayed and protected Mrs. MacCready from...Ives but....I was weak...I fled...." [I would've been tricked and killed. Dude totally sold this.]

[@alexllopart9541]

This song is a lot like life it starts off jauntily and Merry and then it starts having some strange overtones and then this sad harmony overplays the whole thing bringing to get her this happy sad bizarre thing we know as life

[@lillyoo799]

right as rain

[@Superbl0bby]

Famine or feast, the choice is yours

[@roothands]

I love this soundtrack -- it's got to be one of my absolute favorites ever. It's so creepy and awesome

[@daviddel7456]

incroyable ! pas de mot.

[@Tervamursu]

And clapping your heels three times ain't sure as hell gonna take you back.

[@Canteen926]

Nicely put

[@krempo997]

check wikipedia article Donner party

[@reyedk]

Brilliant !!!

[@killaklownwerld3614]

Albarns best work and most don't know it.

[@reyedk]

brilliant !

[@nightringciudi4618]

I cant seem to find this great movie, life must hate me..:(

[@somerfeeild]

did the metaphor linking the cannabilsm with the humans need to consume everything no matter the consequence go over everyone's head.. or it just me who sees this?

[@MySerpentine]

Nah, it was pretty blatant. Westward expansion and all that.

[@Danolyzed]

Manifest Destiny

[@seesnap]

it takes a while to like it but great soundtrack

[@CCassiusLonginus]

This music makes me want to go hiking in the wilderness with friends, and then eat them.

[@Mai-de6wb]

🤣🤣😄😖😖🤢

[@Lindwhore]

Epic!

[@jheetman]

best of the OST, and manifest destiny

[@katzenjammer1979]

after 3:15 you're not in kansas anymore, dorothy.

[@Eckull]

I love real music.

[@1967bigjohnny]

YOU ARE WHO YOU EAT!

[@CanadiaNecro1]

This music makes me want to go hiking in the wilderness with friends, and tell them stories of deranged cannibalism.

[@miniflem1]

RUN!

[@JustThinkForYourself]

One of the things I didn't understand was the oxen, horses and dog would have lasted six people longer than a month!

[@rudismith1975]

Eat the people and leave the ox and horses to carry the load, leave the dog as early warning against bears and mountain lions. The animals had much more use than humans

[@jheetman]

best movie evar

[@swiss6253]

This ams brutal.

[@TrevorPhilips]

OMG YES FOOD PORN

[@mkproductions2.042]

live to eat don't eat to live lol

[@jheetman]

i own this soundtrack and this is my fave song on it, also theres another song thats similar to this one called manifest destiny, also an awesome song

[@choronos]

@moorevayne it certainly was. it's a satirical movie, with subtle themes promoting vegetarianism and feminism.

[@bloodrunsclear]

You never hear folk music the same again...ever

[@IntrepidDJ]

The scene in the movie along with this track are fucking EPIC!

[@rudismith1975]

If you are here commentating you have your head screwed on straight. Fricking love you all..

[@saphiraluxray9606]

I like the other version of this. But this is good too. :)

[@TheHekateris]

+Saphira Luxray There's another version?

[@user-mj1qo8vm1x]

@@TheHekateris Yuhuh ‘Tis called Manifest Destiny

[@JReed1985]

Very eerie track how Colqhoun /Colonel Ives tells the story how his crew got lost and were forced to take shelter in the cave where they eventually resorted to cannibalism.

[@1967bigjohnny]

You are who you eat!

[@ConMahaff]

At 3:15 when that cello kicks in, I had an eargasm

[@BargainbinMac]

Let me tell you. Playing Minecraft to this was terrifying. Then everything changed when the hunger came...

[@shitbrick777]

Alfred Packer, and its similar, not the same, and disputable.

[@actuatorfulcrum]

that movie was cool

[@Smallsuperhero77]

DDamon Albarn rules !

[@savagehenry1234]

bon appetite!

[@CB-qg3yh]

From the lead singer of Gorillaz