In Chaos: The Manson Murders, director Errol Morris delves into the shadowy and complex narrative of the Manson family murders, challenging the official accounts of the most infamous killing spree of the 1960s. The documentary explores the darkest corners of recent history, casting light on newly revealed links between the CIA, LSD, Charles Manson, and the likes of Jack Ruby and Vincent Bugliosi, the prosecutor whose 1974 bestseller Helter Skelter chronicled the Manson trial...

The score for Chaos: The Manson Murders could so easily have gone down the path of cliched themes and set pieces. Thankfully, what composer Paul Leonard-Morgan delivers are 26 (1 hr, 09 min, 19 sec) tracks that tell a story through themes and subtle undercurrents. It's a pretty impressive offering and one that is layered in such a way that each return visit rewards the listener with something new.

Discussing the score, Leonard-Morgan says: "My soundtrack to Errol Morris’ film, Chaos, is my eighth collaboration with him. What always drives our work together is searching for that unique sound that makes each one that little bit more different than before. With Chaos, it was a rare opportunity to use a rock band and orchestra at the same time. In 1968, Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys had co-written a song with Manson before the record deal fell through and Wilson screwed him out of his copyright. A few years ago, I heard about a pump organ which used to belong to Dennis that had been left on the side of the road in LA, so I collected it and was waiting to get round to fixing it. Then, by pure coincidence, this film came up. I simply had to use it. So somewhere, buried between the band and the orchestra, is Dennis’s pump organ playing under Manson talking about their collaboration together. The score consists of electric guitar, drums, bass, and mellotron to fit in with Manson’s own musical style, and then I used synths and a full orchestra to keep the score in Errol’s wheelhouse. Such a unique opportunity to try some really original scoring techniques."

There are some truly beautiful themes lurking here. For example 'Give me my Dues', which slowly builds, ebbing and flowing before beautifully fading out. And 'Mind Control' is a hypnotic, catchy piece which is beautifully unsettling, yet strangely calming.

This score really got its hooks into me. A lovingly crafted album of diverse and interesting themes.

8

Darren Rea