Steven Severin
Vampyr
UK 2012
Genre: Dark Ambient, Score, Experimental.
Vampyr is Steven Severin’s score for the film of the same name directed by Danish movie director Carl Theodor Dreyer. Vampyr (1932) is the story of a traveller who is obsessed with the supernatural and upon visiting an old inn finds evidence that vampires do exist.
The film itself is a groundbreaking cinematic masterpiece that helped shape horror as we know it today.
Vampyr was originally written by director Carl Theodor Dreyer and Christen Jul which was based on elements from J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s 1872 collection of supernatural stories In a Glass Darkly.
Steven Severin is the original founding member of the punk band Siouxsie and the Banshees. Severin is an English composer musician, producer who focuses on creating hauntingly beautiful film scores such as Vampyr and Blood Of A Poet (Le Sang D’Un Poète) which are part of his ongoing series of Music For Silents, original film scores for cult under sung black and white movies.
The world Severin creates is as dark as its unsettling this album is a true album in the sense not like the albums we get today where there are a few hits and lots of fillers for the casual music listener each track ignites into the next bringing more darkness the album is like a movie going experience of its own turn off the lights and listen to the macabre delight that is Vampyr.
This is certainly a niche album horror fans will lap this up and will certainly become part of their playlist but this is no easy listen unless you are a fan of dark melodic themes you will love this haunting score.
Vampyr is nothing short of pure excellence by the very underrated English musician Steven Severin.
A synthesised melodic masterpiece that falls somewhere between Brian Eno and the greatest horror band of all time Goblin!
TRACKLIST
| 1 | Through A Glass Darkly | 2:15 |
| 2 | Allan’s Theme | 3:43 |
| 3 | Upon My Death | 2:57 |
| 4 | Shadow’s Play | 7:32 |
| 5 | They Are Murdering Him | 2:16 |
| 6 | (Intersection) | 3:05 |
| 7 | Giselle’s Theme | 2:35 |
| 8 | Leoné Summoned | 6:38 |
| 9 | Leoné Smiles | 3:42 |
| 10 | Bloodwork | 4:24 |
| 11 | Poison / Aftermath | 3:57 |
| 12 | (Intersection) | 2:23 |
| 13 | Phantom’s Journey | 5:31 |
| 14 | The Apparition | 1:23 |
| 15 | The Mill | 4:36 |
Review by Tony Newton