God's Fool by Various Artists

Andrei Tarkovsky was probably the most important film director in the history of Russian cinema, an auteur whose influence still resonates now, almost 40 years after his death. Probably best known for Solaris (1972), his work is famed for poetic metaphor, depictions of nature, a leisurely pace, long takes and a dream-like aesthetic.

Stalker (1979) exhibits all of these, and much more besides. When you inhabit the world of ambient and experimental music, as I do, you see a number of recurring themes in artists' work: hauntology, Soviet iconography, brutalism, folk horror - and you will find all of these in Stalker. I remember the first time I saw Stalker I was spellbound - the painterly visuals, the transition from sepia to colour, the hypnotic storytelling, the outright refusal to explain itself - it was a genuine work of artistic genius. Tarkovsky frequently plays with memory and watching Stalker felt like it was unlocking buried memories within me.

If you have seen Stalker, you will be aware of its excellent soundtrack by Russian electronic musician and frequent Tarkovsky collaborator, Eduard Artemyev. It really doesn't need another soundtrack, but because of its overlap with the themes I described above (hauntology, Soviet visuals etc. etc.) I felt it would be an interesting experiment to invite artists to interpret the film; after all, it takes nothing away from the original, but offers maybe a small tribute to this amazing film.

--
RJ Mellor, September 2023

Tracklist

1.	Whettman Chelmets - Opening credits ~ Stalker's Apartment	13:59

2.	St. James Infirmary - Meeting at the Bar	9:16

3.	Izzyhereyet - Setting Out ~ The Police Motorcyclist ~ The Train at the Barrier	7:31

4.	The German Ocean - Through the Checkpoint ~ Riding the Trolley	9:21

5.	Greg Nieuwsma - Arrival in The Zone ~ Tying Knots ~ No Way Back	10:58

6.	Draaier - Abandoned vehicles ~ Towards the Room ~ Writer Alone	10:30

7.	Trium Circulorum - Writer goes to The Room ~ A Warning ~ Part Two	8:00

8.	Bacfora - The Tunnel ~ The Sluice	7:49

9.	ikjoyce - Finding the Professor ~ By the River ~ The Dog ~ The Argument	9:57

10.	Colonial Skyway - Stalker's Dream ~ Relics in the River	5:40

11.	Von Heuser - The Tunnel	9:16

12.	Stringmodulator - The Door and the Gun ~ The Room of Sand ~ Writer's Monologue	12:02

13.	mzungu - Those Who Failed ~ The Dog Enters ~ Choice	9:46

14.	Elsehow - A Crown of Thorns ~ Birdsong ~ The Bomb	10:04

15.	Glove of Bones - The Fight ~ God's Fool ~ The Rain	11:38

16.	t.r. hand - Monkey Is Waiting	3:53

17.	Von Heuser - Carrying Monkey Home ~ Not of this World ~ Zhena Speaks	10:05

18.	Elsehow - Telekinesis ~ The End	5:30

Credits

released October 2, 2023

Artwork, photography and layout by the Glove of Bones.
Final digital and CD masters by Rob Mellor.
Our thanks to all the artists, Adam and James at Cram Duplication and the people of Mosfilm.
Considerable unthanks to Geoffrey for his bad attitude.

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