Cub [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

This horror soundtrack by Zombi's Steve Moore nicely balances cosmic synth arpeggios with suspenseful dark ambience. The album was composed and performed entirely by Moore on synthesizers without any additional instruments or musicians, and it has the same sort of low-budget feel as John Carpenter's vintage scores. As with those soundtracks, Moore proves that a creative composer can make a truly effective score even with limited resources. The album alternates between short scenes and longer, more atmospheric pieces, with the centerpiece being the 11-minute "The Hunt." There's plenty of rising arpeggios which swiftly elevate the tension, with a simple, memorable theme melody surfacing in several tracks. At 37 minutes, the album doesn't drag on longer than it needs to, so it remains captivating for its entire duration. ~ Paul Simpson