VA - The Belly Of An Architect - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2003)

Belly Of An Architect is a 1987 british-italian film directed by peter greenaway. Its soundtrack is a result of the collaboration between wim mertens and glenn branca. Greenaway is known for his cynical comedies with a minimal plot, augmented by lush and surreal photography. The mertens soundtrack fits the story and visuals like a glove with its minimal, neo classical repetitive themes.

The soundtrack for the film of the same name by Peter Greenaway is largely the work of Belgian composer Wim Mertens, though the most interesting music is that of Glenn Branca, here in a supporting role. With the film's references to Baroque England, it's not surprising that Mertens' score makes many references to same, including the use of harpsichords and brass groupings, but the forced marriage between this style and the composer's tendency towards Philip Glass-type minimalism is uncomfortable. His melodies have a cloying sweetness that the introduction of faux-Elizabethan flourishes does nothing to suppress. On the other hand, American maverick composer Glenn Branca's pieces for string orchestra (quite different from his guitar symphonies) is striking, original, and refreshingly brutal. The disc, oddly, opens and closes with the exact same short piece, "Augustus," a deliciously brooding and romantic composition. This and the penultimate track, a longer string exposition of enticing roughness and mystery, almost make up for excess of cotton candy they sandwich. Branca fans will want to hear this work; they may simply have to judiciously employ the track selection device on their CD player.~The Belly of an Architect [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] Review by Brian Olewnick