Oedipus Schmoedipus by Barry Adamson

Barry Adamson writes soundtracks imaginary movies. If his earlier album Moss Side Story was a British spy thriller this one is one of those strange and nightmarish movies set in a sleazy demimonde of sex and corruption. If the word that immediately springs to mind is “Lynchian” then you’re not alone.

Apparently the great David Lynch himself listened to this album for 8 hours straight before ringing Adamson and asking if he could use the track Something Wicked This Way Comes for a pivotal scene in his film Lost Highway. High praise indeed.

As well as the samples, electronica and jazzy breakbeats this album also features appropriately sleazy vocals from Jarvis Cocker and Nick Cave on two of the tracks. Given that this is effectively a soundtrack album without a film, the final question is does it work as a coherent whole, and I think that it pretty much does, conjuring some strong mental images.

Cinema-tastic!