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CD
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JBH 023CD
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Blood On Satan's Claw -- aka Satan's Skin in the USA, is a cult British horror movie from 1971. It's a film from the golden age of British horror, and one that ticks most of the horror connoisseur's boxes: it stars the Devil, Olde England, it has nudity, strange ritualism, a fair smattering of blood and of course, sublime music. Produced by cult masters Tigon, this film was the perfect companion piece to their earlier Witchfinder General (1968). Set in rural 17th century England, it tells the story of a small village that quickly falls under the devil's spell. It's brilliantly told and quite beautifully shot with a cast of superb character actors. Over many years, the film has slowly gained a cultish reputation. The score was never released. Scored by Marc Wilkinson, musical ingredients include the ondes Martenot (the earliest electronic instrument) and the cimbalom, which add to the overall spookiness of this recording. And in 38 years, the music has lost none of its depth or addictive, evil hooks. Wilkinson's thoughts: "The descending chromatic scale which features throughout the music omits the perfect fifth (the only true consonant in the chromatic scale) and therefore highlights the diminished fifth, which ever since the middle ages in Europe has been known as the Devil's Interval!" The sleevenotes include a superb overview of the score by Michael Tyack from Circulus. "If the compelling atmosphere of classic early '70s British horror could be bottled, then here is the elixir. Listen to this on headphones while walking through town to remind yourself of the wonders of 'wishcraft' and the unseen. Watch the townsfolk appear in their puppet show. Play it on your car stereo and the countryside will show you new mysteries. Hark the sobbing of the Wicker Man's troubled sister! Marc Wilkinson's orchestrated soundtrack is joyous and bizarre, playful and menacing, a constant cycle of anxiously watching a door slowly open followed by the relief of only sunlight pouring through. Trust me, it works."
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