Lucifer Rising (Bobby Beausoleil soundtrack)

Lucifer Rising (Bobby Beausoleil soundtrack) refers to the musical score composed by Bobby Beausoleil for the unfinished Kenneth Anger film Lucifer Rising. Beausoleil began working on the soundtrack while incarcerated for murder.

History and Development:

Kenneth Anger initially commissioned Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin to create the soundtrack for Lucifer Rising in the early 1970s. However, Anger was dissatisfied with Page's contributions and ultimately rejected his work, citing Page's alleged lack of dedication and incompatibility with the film's vision. This led to a highly publicized and acrimonious split between the two.

Anger then turned to Bobby Beausoleil, an associate involved with the Manson Family, to create a new score. Beausoleil, already imprisoned for his role in the Gary Hinman murder, composed and recorded the music using limited resources available to him within the California Medical Facility prison in Vacaville. This included utilizing makeshift instruments and overdubbing techniques. The soundtrack's creation was a lengthy process, hampered by Beausoleil's incarceration and Anger's perfectionism.

Musical Style and Content:

The soundtrack is characterized by its experimental and avant-garde nature. It is a blend of electronic music, drone-like textures, and ambient soundscapes, often described as dark, mystical, and unsettling. The music is intended to evoke the themes of occultism, mythology, and the esoteric concepts explored in Lucifer Rising. It avoids conventional musical structures and instead focuses on creating an atmosphere that complements the film's visual imagery.

Release and Reception:

The Lucifer Rising soundtrack has been released in various formats over the years, including vinyl records and compact discs. It has generally received positive reviews from critics and has gained a cult following among fans of experimental music and film soundtracks. The soundtrack is often praised for its unique sonic textures and its ability to create a haunting and immersive listening experience. While the film itself remained incomplete for many years, the soundtrack gained recognition as a distinct work of art in its own right. The completed film, featuring Beausoleil's score, was eventually released.