Whatitdo Archive Group - The Black Stone Affair '2021

Tracks list

Record Kicks presents “The Black Stone Affair” the lost Italian
Cinematic Masterpiece by Whatitdo Archive Group.
(Ltd edition Gatefold LP - CD - Ltd 45 - Digital)

For the first time ever, Record Kicks is pleased to announce the release of the
long lost soundtrack by Whatitdo Archive Group to the Italian Cinematic
Masterpiece The Black Stone Affair on beautiful gatefold vinyl, CD and digital
format on April 09 2021. Long thought to be lost alongside the movie itself by
the production studio, the soundtracks master reels were recently recovered and
its audio meticulously restored and remastered by J.J. Golden in Ventura, CA.

The movie itself was understood to be unusual for its time: a globetrotting
adventure/western-noir written and directed by aspiring visionary, Stefano
Paradisi. Unfortunately for Paradisi, the tragic loss of his masterpiece during
a fire also meant the end of his short lived career in movies. People who worked
on the film have been cited as saying this film was very ambitious, set to be a
turning point in Paradisi’s carrier putting him on the map alongside the
likes of Sergio Leone and Antonioni.

While the movie never saw the light of day, the soundtrack by obscure band
Whatitdo Archive Group has thankfully been recovered. The music itself is
staggering to hear, each track evoking all the senses almost all at once. The
Black Stone Affair (Main Theme) sets the story with its dizzying bassline
underneath a Morricone-esque harpsichord melody eventually all digressing into a
psych-freakout of guitars swirling over what is the overarching motif groove of
this iconic soundtrack.

We then get taken into the giallo-steeped melody of Blood Chief. What can only
be the theme of the antagonist, this cut offers crunchy drum breaks,
reverb-drenched bongos and a sinister baritone guitar line that seems to be
indicative of its character. Ethiopian Airlines transports the movie into exotic
lands with its afro-centric rhythms and mysterious horn melody. The search is on
for the elusive Black Stone, an artifact so coveted it had been hidden for
decades for its fatal power of seduction. For fans of KPM and De Wolfe Music, Il
Furto Di Africo definitely delivers a similar library flavor popular at the
time. Our ears are treated to an ambiguous sense of center. What were Whatitdo
Archive Group thinking? There almost seems to be two key centers at once and a
slithering flute line blending between both. We can only imagine that the Black
Stone was successfully stolen from the small Italian village of Africo with this
track.

What movie really is complete without a lounge-y Bossa number? Italian Love
Triangle delivers that sun-soaked Mediterranean romance. Our cunning female
lead, Lola, decides the only way she can acquire the Black Stone is to pit the
trio of characters against each other with an erotic love triangle she carefully
crafts to exploit the vulnerability of Blood Chief and Beaumont Jenkins. Last
Train to Budapest finds our two male leads in a gun-wielding, high-stakes train
chase through the dizzying mountains of Bosnia racing to Hungarys capital city.
The music brilliantly calls upon the soundtracks multiple melodic motifs to all
collide into a single stressful heart-racing track sure to put a knot in your
stomach. Probably the most unusual song appearing in this soundtrack is the
French infused Lamour au Centre de la Terre, an obvious yet tasteful homage to
the composers musical hero, Alain Goraguer. A lilting monologue is recited by
who seems to be Lola, the tragic female lead in The Black Stone Affair. Her
passage speaks of the entangled romance she shares with the other two male leads
and her plan to acquire the elusive Black Stone for herself. Its every man (and
woman) for themselves! Paranoia and deceit has crept into the minds and motives
of our conniving trio. No one can be trusted and false alliances are crumbling
from within.

The Black Stone Affair (Reprise) evokes the characters gut-wrenching feeling
with its ever-rising key center. Farewell Lola is the saddening funeral dirge
and exit of the aforementioned Lola. Sworn enemies Beaumont and Blood Chief
stand silently outside the church and watch as Lolas casket is lowered into her
untimely grave. This is merely an armistice between the remaining opponents,
only to resume after paying their respects to their former lover. A gory fight
leaves Blood Chief standing. Beaumont is nowhere to be seen and only a cloud of
dust slowly settles into the landscape as the mournful guitar and harmonica of
Beaumonts Lament plays quietly in the distance. All is not lost. Triumphantly,
Beaumont Jenkins stands tall, throws one last devastating blow to Blood Chief
leaving him incapacitated. The Return of Beaumont Jenkins plays loudly in the
face of Blood Chief desperately reaching for the stone only to realize its a
false! Our new hero, Beaumont Jenkins, sustained by Alessandro Alessandroni Jr.s
cinematic whistle, rides away victoriously into the night sky... the Black Stone
hidden cleverly in his hat. End credits. 

Tracklist:
1.01 - Whatitdo Archive Group - The Black Stone Affair (Main Theme) (3:32)
1.02 - Whatitdo Archive Group - Blood Chief (3:15)
1.03 - Whatitdo Archive Group - Ethiopian Airlines (4:00)
1.04 - Whatitdo Archive Group - Il Furto Di Africo (3:03)
1.05 - Whatitdo Archive Group - Italian Love Triangle (2:10)
1.06 - Whatitdo Archive Group - Last Train to Budapest (2:20)
1.07 - Whatitdo Archive Group - Lamour au Centre de la Terre (3:48)
1.08 - Whatitdo Archive Group - The Black Stone Affair (Reprise) (3:10)
1.09 - Whatitdo Archive Group - Farewell Lola (4:43)
1.10 - Whatitdo Archive Group - Beaumonts Lament (1:25)
1.11 - Whatitdo Archive Group - The Return of Beaumont Jenkins (feat. Alessandro
Alessandroni Jr.) (3:46)

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