Masque of The Red Death~ninthspace review of track off The Last Drive In

Jo Gabriel: Masque of the Red Death, Ninthspace review off The Last Drive In

Filmmakers looking for a spooky but engaging soundtrack to accompany their Times New Roman opening credits (complete with sweeping shots of barren landscapes only broken by highway) need look no further than Masque of the Red Death. Taken from Jo Gabriel’s album The Last Drive In, this instrumental appropriates its title from the film of the same name. The key to its success is that it doesn’t attempt to ratchet up tension, or reach any conclusion – any tension that exists is created solely by the listener. Instead it drives onwards, quietly, mercilessly, the piano riding over macabre synth drones which hint at what might happen if you choose to deviate from the given path. And of course we always do.