Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein

Here's some new music from Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, the guys behind the "Stranger Things" score and one half of Austin synth band S U R V I V E.  Pre-order the upcoming "Marche 22" LP here and listen to the sprawling, brooding "B4" below.

Stranger Things 3

Say what you will about "Stranger Things," as it certainly has its ups and downs and i can understand and sympathize with every piece of criticism leveled at it, but the score from S U R V I V E's Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein is still lights out.  The soundtrack for the series' third season is available for download now, here from Lakeshore, with a vinyl release forthcoming in October.  In the meanwhile, listen to the poppy and incredible "Starcourt" below, an ode to the mall.

Halloween Sounds from the Upside Down

Remember those old spooky sounds records they used to put out?  Albums of eerie sound effects, creaking doors, rattling chains, wolves howling, and other noises of the sort?  Maybe that's just me hinting at my age, but it appears that S U R V I V E's Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein do.  And now the duo behind the music to Netflix's "Stranger Things" have their own LP of spooky sounds heading our way next week.  "Halloween Sounds from the Upside Down" is really more of an atmospheric kind of record though, not really songs or sound effects, but rather layers of ambience and unnerving sound design created by an assortment of synthesizers.  And just in time for the season too.  Listen to "Possessed" below, pre-order the download here, or order the record here from Lakeshore.

Spheres

"Spheres" is an experimental film series from Eliza McNitt, a "celestially immersive experience focusing on the human connection with the cosmos."  Cool.  And to make it even cooler, the filmmaker enlisted S U R V I V E's Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein (of "Stranger Things" soundtrack fame) to provide the score.  Equal parts new age planetarium synths and eerie interstellar ambience, the duo have crafted a very intoxicating piece of music.  Listen to the whole thing below and get it here from Lakeshore.

Tangerine Dream covers Stranger Things

It's been a few minutes since i last posted about "Stranger Things," so it was only inevitable that that would change.  Turns out the classic synth band Tangerine Dream is soldiering on despite the loss of Edgar Froese last year, and they've released their own version of the cultural phenomenon that is the "Stranger Things" theme.  Being that Michael Stein's and Kyle Dixon's original version is surely indebted to the legends, it looks like we've come full circle.  Listen below.

Stranger Things soundtrack

It's been a month, and i'm still pretty obsessed with all things "Stranger Things," the soundtrack in particular.  The whole thing is being released in two volumes, part one of which came out digitally and part two following on Friday this week.  Lakeshore will be releasing Kyle Dixon's and Michael Stein's score on CD next month, and vinyl versions should follow after.  If you haven't checked the music or the show out yet, get cracking.  They're both fantastic.  Listen to "She'll Kill You" below.

Stranger Things score

I've only had time to watch three episodes so far, but Netflix's "Stranger Things" series is looking to be an all-timer.  A perfect blend of 80's Spielberg and 80's Stephen King, but presented in a manner that feels fresh and engaging.  It's nostalgia done right, not simply for nostalgia's sake or the warm and gooey feelings it can bring about, but to tell a story and subvert expectations within said nostalgia.  Once i finish the series, i'll try to write more about it, but in the meantime, in keeping with the period, let's talk about the show's throwback score.  Created by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, members of the Austin synth group S U R V I V E, the soundtrack takes plenty of inspiration from John Carpenter and Tangerine Dream, and crafts the mood for the show perfectly.  Hopefully we'll get a vinyl release out of the deal.  Anyway, watch and listen to the opening title sequence for the show below.