sun is high

Inspiration and Tron

I just saw Tron Legacy last night, and it left me thoroughly impressed. Like the original Tron, the strength of the movie does not lie in the plot, but rather in the stunning visuals. That’s not to say the plot is weak. I felt this movie was much more fluid and watchable than the original. If the trailer interests you at all, then I would definitely say go see it.

The other aspect of the movie that really adds the extra needed element is the soundtrack. I’d been looking forward to hearing what Daft Punk would put together for this since the first time I heard they were working on this project. I downloaded the soundtrack a couple weeks ago, and so far I have been enjoying it a lot. It seems nearly close to perfect for the type of movie it was made for. On its own, I wouldn’t say it will necessarily be something you put on and listen to 5 years from now, but just the same, it does have its own charm. I think most of that charm comes from the heavy influence of early synth (70s-80s) music. I have always had a love for analog synth (probably because I grew up hearing it), specifically because of the distinct atmosphere it can create. When I listen to this stuff I immediately think of 1980’s Epcot, and some of its (at the time) futuristic rides rides. Specifically Horizons, World Of Motion, and Spaceship Earth. The other thing I think of is European Moog/ambient music, most of which has been pretty much forgotten outside of Kraftwerk. There’s no doubt that Daft Punk has been heavily influenced by this era of music, and it shows especially on this soundtrack.

If you like this kind of music, and want to hear some of the original sources, but don’t know where to start, below are a few artists that may get you rolling in the right direction.

Horizons (EPCOT) – Omnimax Theater Loop