It’s no secret that indie music is leaning more heavily on electronic instruments these days. In fact, it’s difficult to find any album these days that doesn’t have at least one song that highlights an electro-pop chorus, or looped synth-beat mixed into the track’s background.
That’s why we at Mitchfork were intrigued when we received an advanced copy of the remastered soundtrack to the 1982 movie TRON, the album that started it all. With improved track equalization and an amplified bass mixdown, the remastered version of TRON’s soundtrack manages to build a bolder soundscape and eliminates most of the distortions that plagued the original album. What isn’t lost on the remastered version, however, is the sense of suspense that infuses the soundtrack from beginning to end. The airy feel of the album still remains, along with eerie samples of virtual ‘light bikes’ whizzing by in the background. TRON’s remastered soundtrack holds its audience captive for the full 78 minutes and 39 seconds, running the full gamut with both adrenaline pumping highpoints and even a few slower sections that mostly serve as welcomed reprieve- a chance for listeners to catch their breath and reflect.
Truth be told, the most important feature of the remastered version isn’t the improved sound quality, it’s that the listener is made aware of how prophetic TRON was back in 1982. Its message of a world soon-to-be more integrated with virtual existence has come to fruition with startling accuracy. The internet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skynet_(Terminator)) , virtual flight simulators (http://pressthebuttons.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/pilotwings.png) , and fully functioning humanoid robots (http://www.pal-robotics.com/media.html) are now so commonplace in our lives that its hard not to recognize TRON’s creators as what they were- astounding visionaries.
Review: 7.7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3ODe9mqoDE
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