CD REVIEW - LES CAUCHEMARS NAISSENT LA NUIT


Les Cauchemars Naissent La Nuit
Music by Bruno Nicolai
Digitmovies CDDM117 (Italy)
18 Tracks 70:21 mins

Jess Franco's 1970 mix or erotica and horror, Les Cauchemars Naissent La Nuit, received a score from Bruno Nicolai, which is here presented complete and in stereo for the first time. Previously only some cues may have been available on Edipan library music albums.
The score is of an experimental nature, with much dissonance on display, utilising a variety of percussion effects and atonal strings. What melody there is in the opening track, "Tra Sogno Vita," struggles to be heard, coming through on cello and then piano." The following track, "Le Streghe" features bluesy sax over an out of tune piano backing. The same out of tune piano features in the following "Climax," an exercise in pure atonality. This is followed by the church organ track "Tempo," then more of the piano, in more staccato nature, for "Giostra." Surprisingly, a fairground waltz follows, but this is but a brief respite before the atonal strings return in "Infrarosso." The bluesy sax, joined by electric organ, returns for "Lo Specchio," a real cabaret-styled track, which goes on for all of 8 minutes.
A Spanish guitar nocturne opens "Cocktail," but soon gives way to a poppy number. This is followed by the rhythmic percussion of the guitar-lead "Verde Salvaggio." Sax returns for a second, more atonal version of "Le Streghe," accompanied by that out of tune piano again. Next up is my favourite track on the album, a piano-lead love theme "Amori," an oasis in a desert of extremes. More atonality can be found in the next two tracks on the album tracks, with yet another version of "Le Streghe," leading into a final reprise of the opening track.
A difficult album to appreciate then, though it does have its interesting moments.
The accompanying booklet features the usual array of colour stills and artwork from the film, together with Claudio Fuiano's introductory notes. Visit www.digitmovies.com.