Room 13, available now

Matthew Holness’ psychological thriller gets a creepy soundscape from the pioneers of synth, the Radiophonic Workshop, in their first ever motion picture soundtrack.

Yes, I had to read that twice. First ever motion picture soundtrack for the Radiophonics? In 60 years? But considering that they were created to provide incidental sounds and music for BBC radio and latterly TV, maybe this shouldn’t be a surprise. And neither is it a surprise that they have delivered a terrific and terrifying palette for this unnerving film. One can imagine that Messrs Ayers, Kingsland et al have been waiting to be set loose on celluloid and relished the opportunity to get under our skin.

Room 13’s release packs a lot of content across its 74 minutes and 38 tracks, comprising all cues from the film and nine extended tracks. In our review of the movie we shared how Matthew Holness’ movie directorial debut follows disgraced puppeteer Sean Harris as he returns to his childhood home with a mysterious puppet in his bag. It’s the scene of a terrible childhood trauma and his mind is struggling to deal with the past and present.

Verse 1 and Main Titles introduces a soft flute melody but also that first hint of dread. Further verses of the Possum nursery rhyme are interspersed across the disc, as are stings, rumbles and scuttling as the eponymous Possum flexes its spidery legs.

The soundtrack features elements from Radiophonic Workshop leader Delia Derbyshire’s archives which we are deliciously told were discovered in boxes of tapes in the late composer’s attic. I fancifully like to imagine that the attic was a dusty old shuttered room, but I’m sure this was far from the truth. Whatever they were and however they were used they are seamlessly integrated into the soundtrack.

Verdict: A bit like the movie it’s supporting, Possum’s soundtrack is not an easy listen and unnerves in the most unexpected ways. It really isn’t for everyone, but if you can appreciate the creeping power of dissonance and growls then it’s worth a spin.  Let’s hope more projects from this collective are forthcoming. 9/10

Nick Joy