{"product_id":"the-black-stone-affair","title":"The Black Stone Affair","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor the first time ever, Record Kicks is pleased to announce the release of the long lost soundtrack by Whatitdo Archive Group to the Italian Cinematic Masterpiece \u003ci\u003eThe Black Stone Affair.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLong thought to be lost alongside the movie itself by the production studio, the soundtrack's master reels were recently recovered and its audio meticulously restored and remastered by J.J. Golden in Ventura, CA. The movie itself was understood to be unusual for its time: a globetrotting adventure\/western-noir written and directed by aspiring visionary, Stefano Paradisi. Unfortunately for Paradisi, the tragic loss of his masterpiece during a fire also meant the end of his short lived career in movies. People who worked on the film have been cited as saying this film was very ambitious, set to be a turning point in Paradisi’s carrier putting him on the map alongside the likes of Sergio Leone and Antonioni. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eWhile the movie never saw the light of day, the soundtrack by obscure band Whatitdo Archive Group has thankfully been recovered. The music itself is staggering to hear, each track evoking all the senses almost all at once. \u003ci\u003eThe Black Stone Affair (Main Theme)\u003c\/i\u003e sets the story with its dizzying bassline underneath a Morricone-esque harpsichord melody eventually all digressing into a psych-freakout of guitars swirling over what is the overarching motif groove of this iconic soundtrack. We then get taken into the giallo-steeped melody of \u003ci\u003eBlood Chief\u003c\/i\u003e. What can only be the theme of the antagonist, this cut offers crunchy drum breaks, reverb-drenched bongos and a sinister baritone guitar line that seems to be indicative of its character. \u003ci\u003eEthiopian Airlines\u003c\/i\u003e transports the movie into exotic lands with its afro-centric rhythms and mysterious horn melody. The search is on for the elusive Black Stone, an artifact so coveted it had been hidden for decades for its fatal power of seduction. For fans of KPM and De Wolfe Music, \u003ci\u003eIl Furto Di Africo\u003c\/i\u003e definitely delivers a similar 'library' flavor popular at the time. Our ears are treated to an ambiguous sense of center. What were Whatitdo Archive Group thinking? There almost seems to be two key centers at once and a slithering flute line blending between both. We can only imagine that the Black Stone was successfully stolen from the small Italian village of Africo with this track. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eWhat movie really is complete without a lounge-y Bossa number? \u003ci\u003eItalian Love Triangle\u003c\/i\u003e delivers that sun-soaked Mediterranean romance. Our cunning female lead, Lola, decides the only way she can acquire the Black Stone is to pit the trio of characters against each other with an erotic love triangle she carefully crafts to exploit the vulnerability of Blood Chief and Beaumont Jenkins. \u003ci\u003eLast Train to Budapest\u003c\/i\u003e finds our two male leads in a gun-wielding, high-stakes train chase through the dizzying mountains of Bosnia racing to Hungary's capital city. The music brilliantly calls upon the soundtrack's multiple melodic motifs to all collide into a single stressful heart-racing track sure to put a knot in your stomach. Probably the most unusual song appearing in this soundtrack is the French infused \u003ci\u003eL'amour au Centre de la Terre\u003c\/i\u003e, an obvious yet tasteful homage to the composers' musical hero, Alain Goraguer. A lilting monologue is recited by who seems to be Lola, the tragic female lead in \u003ci\u003eThe Black Stone Affair\u003c\/i\u003e. Her passage speaks of the entangled romance she shares with the other two male leads and her plan to acquire the elusive Black Stone for herself. It's every man (and woman) for themselves! Paranoia and deceit has crept into the minds and motives of our conniving trio. No one can be trusted and false alliances are crumbling from within. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Black Stone Affair (Reprise)\u003c\/i\u003e evokes the characters' gut-wrenching feeling with its ever-rising key center. \u003ci\u003eFarewell Lola\u003c\/i\u003e is the saddening funeral dirge and exit of the aforementioned Lola. Sworn enemies Beaumont and Blood Chief stand silently outside the church and watch as Lola's casket is lowered into her untimely grave. This is merely an armistice between the remaining opponents, only to resume after paying their respects to their former 'lover'. A gory fight leaves Blood Chief standing. Beaumont is nowhere to be seen and only a cloud of dust slowly settles into the landscape as the mournful guitar and harmonica of \"Beaumont's Lament\" plays quietly in the distance. All is not lost. Triumphantly, Beaumont Jenkins stands tall, throws one last devastating blow to Blood Chief leaving him incapacitated. \u003ci\u003eThe Return of Beaumont Jenkins\u003c\/i\u003e plays loudly in the face of Blood Chief desperately reaching for the stone only to realize it's a false! Our new hero, Beaumont Jenkins, sustained by Alessandro Alessandroni Jr.'s cinematic whistle, rides away victoriously into the night sky... the Black Stone hidden cleverly in his hat. End credits. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Record Kicks","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50414126694731,"sku":"1116011","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50414123680075,"sku":"1116010","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/4171bc83-4009-48e2-8557-da7877822528_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726681855","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/products\/the-black-stone-affair","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}