Trolling the web tonight, I came across MP3's of the the great soundtrack for the obscure, early-80's movie "Vortex," by underground filmmakers Beth B & Scott B, who were (are?) New York-based.
As far as as I know, the movie has never been issued on video or DVD, and I have never seen it. In October 1982, the New York Times had this to say about it: "Films like this are virtually impossible to criticize because they glory in carefully simulated amateurism. ''Vortex'' has long patches of utterly incomprehensible exposition, dopey plot turns and solemn explanations. Though a small, comparatively short - 90 minutes - movie, it packs an amazing amount of waste space around each exchange of dialogue. That, too, is part of the style.
It's clear, however, that the B's are very good technicians. Working on what must have been a minuscule budget, they do some very effective things with the sets, the lighting and the camera."
I've owned a copy of the album on vinyl for years now but have never bothered to transfer it to CD or MP3. It too has never been reissued since initially being released on Glenn Branca's Neutral Records around the same time as the movie. At some point last year, I even managed to score a decent sized promotional poster for the movie on eBay - it's very similar to the album cover above. From time to time, tracks from the album have popped up here & there...Most recently (and visibly) on volume 2 of Soul Jazz Records excellent New York Noise series.
This is what Robert Palmer had to say about the soundtrack in the NY Times in early 1983: "Like most soundtrack albums, this one is episodic; some selections are more atmospheric fragments than proper tunes. But the music on ''Vortex'' has an interesting variety of instrumental combinations, from solo saxophone to full band to electronic soundscapes, and rhythmic directions, from several dance grooves to floating free time. The album indicates that what once was perceived as a movement has developed into a whole panoply of musical approaches, influenced by Latin music, funk, several modern jazz styles, electronics, minimalism, and the abrasive thrust of hardcore punk rock."
That was one of the best things about music at the time - the post punk time, not necessarily the post punk genre (although that was good too). That it "developed into a whole panoply of musical approaches."
Have a listen - this ain't easy to find, but it's worth your time. Musicians appearing on this include Richard Edson, Kristian Hoffman, John Lurie, Adele Bertei, Angel Quinones, Lydia Lunch, Pat Place, as well as the directors themselves.
Download it here.
