Compilation offers mix of Morricone
Seventy-five-year old Italian featured on two-disc medley of head-bopping beats

By Jori Geanconteri
Copy Editor

Some people may have never heard of Ennio Morricone or Ennio Morricone Remixes Vol. 2.

This is unfortunate, considering Morricone has composed scores for more than 400 films. Granted, many of these films are in Italian.

But many have viewed, oh let's say, Hamlet, with Mel Gibson and Glenn Close. How about Disclosure with Michael Douglas and Demi Moore? Let's not forget Wolf, featuring Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer. Morricone is the talented man behind these movie soundtracks.

Born in Rome in 1928, Morricone started playing the trumpet at a very young age, and eventually he went to school to learn more about music. In 1968, he signed 20 film scores in one year, and the talented composer's music has progressed throughout the years.

In 1994, Morricone was the first non-American composer to receive the career achievement award from the Society for Preservation of Film Music. It is no surprise that many felt honored to bring Morricone's music together in a remix format.

Artists from around the world collaborated to give a different life to Morricone's scores; one that a younger generation could groove to-in Ennio Morricone Remixes Volume 2.

More than 25 artists are featured on the 2-disc CD set-Fussible from Mexico, Dan Curtin from the United States, Crazy Baldheads from Australia, Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Fukutomi from Japan and Aardvarck from the Netherlands.

The first song off the CD is titled "Mucchio Selvaggio,"which had the infamous whistle that has been heard many times over in different prospects. This song was used in the feel-good-comedy Western, My Name Is Nobody. That is how most Americans may place Morricone's music.

Another recognizable tune originates from Il Buono, Il Brutto, Il Cattivo, or as some people may know it, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. The third song off the CD features the all-American, now work with me here, ooh-wee-ooh-wee-ooooh (in a whistle notation). Gunshots can also be heard in the background. This is all done by artists that phenomenally turn these classics into remixes.

The second disc of the set is geared more toward club beats. The songs are fast-paced and will make you move in your chair.

At one point, the CD sounded like it was skipping. But surprisingly, song six titled "Dinamic Per 5 Piu' 1" (Ants in My Kitchen Dub Mix) was played the way it should.

The tunes cover everything from hip-hop to house music. A few of the beats can be easy listening, while others can be electrifying.

Overall, the CD is an enjoyable listen. It can be played in the car, on the computer during a homework bout, as background music, at the clubs-you name it. This compilation has no limits; it's definitely something to add to the collection.