The Matrix - Various (Maverick) Most soundtracks are no more than marketing opportunities of the 'you've seen the movie, now buy the album-sweatshirt-poster-gimmick' type, only dimly reminding you of the action and ceasing to be relevant immediately the film is forgotten.
The Matrix is a class apart, standing up as a punchy, pulsating set in its own right - and managing the rare trick, if you happen upon the music first, of making you want to see the movie. What publicity! This almost guarantees the album's success as an aide-memoire to the film, but what clinches its compatibility is the marriage, made in Hollywood heaven, of image and sound: the film, set in a fearsome, mechanised, virtual world, calls for a scary soundtrack . . . and this one even comes with scary performers in the shape of Marilyn Manson and Prodigy.
Evoking the role of technology in modern life, the tracks are urgent, aggressive and techno-driven, and designed to be played at a healthy volume with the blessing of understanding neighbours.
Manson, all glam-rock era Bowie down to the last inch of his stack heels, is the star of the show with thunderous opener Rock Is Dead, followed by Rage Against The Machine in best Led Zeppelin mode. Between the two is a glorious swamp of house, thrash metal and riff-rock. Lovely. Buy the album! See the movie!
