Lakeshore Records release Adam Wingard's score for Blair Witch. A group of college students venture into the Black Hills Forest in Maryland to uncover the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of James’s sister who many believe is connected to the legend of the Blair Witch. At first the group is hopeful, especially when a pair of locals offer to act as guides through the dark and winding woods, but as the endless night wears on, the group is visited by a menacing presence. Slowly, they begin to realize the legend is all too real and more sinister than they could have imagined...

I always worry about reviewing albums like this. Technically, Adam Wingard's music is flawless. It does exactly what it was designed to do: create additional tension in the movie it was composed for. However, when you take it outside the film, it just becomes a collection of bland, rather flat music cues (that stretch the word "music" to its limit). It's really more a collection of atmospheric minimalist electronic sounds thrown together to disorient the listener. And on that level it's perfect.

However, while that no doubt elevates the tension in the movie up a hell of a lot, listened to in isolation it's not really a pleasurable experience. In fact, if I walked into someone's house and they were playing this for entertainment I'd be seriously concerned about their mental stability. It's the sort of "music" you'd expect to follow Hannibal Lecter around as he goes about his sick business.

There's no stand out moments, nothing memorable or worthy of your time. As I said, Wingard delivers a flawless atmospheric album, it's just not one I could honestly recommend you listen to, for pleasure, outside of the movie.

2

Darren Rea