New Archive release: Harold’s Theme (Harpsichord) & Audrey’s Prayer (Earle’s Flute)

   

Two short tracks in this weeks release...

First up we have the final variation of one of my favorite themes from the series, the brief Harpsichord version of "Harold's Theme" heard when Harold confronts Maddy & Donna. I had been thinking the brief track heard was probably all there was of this version- and I was right. I was a little worried that the brief running time might mean we wouldn't get it, so I'm very glad they released it!

Harold’s Theme (Harpsichord) (0:53)
Episode 12: Harold confronts Donna & Maddy, rakes garden tool down his cheek
Episode 13: Continuation from previous episode of Harold confronting Donna & Maddy with garden tool

Next up we get the second Earle Flute track, which is actually a lovely rendition of "Audrey's Prayer". This was used in episode 22. Nice to hear the section of the track that was never heard in the series. 

Audrey’s Prayer (Earle’s Flute) (1:48)
Episode 22: Heard briefly as part of the mix during the opening credits chess montage
Episode 22: Earle’s cabin, Earle (wearing one-piece underwear) plays the flute
Episode 22: Earle helps Leo write the poem/letter to the girls (mixes into Windom Earle’s Motif)

I wish they would have released the third and final Earle Flute track with this bundle, but I guess we'll have to wait on that one.

Short but sweet.

Chronological/Series Order Guide

For those who want to put together a tracklist of all tracks in order as to when they first appeared in the series, I've created a new listing. Click here, or on the tab in the menu bar.

New Archive release: White Lodge Rumble

Last July, the TP Archive released a "Slow/Half Speed Orchestra bundle - part 1" (see here & here). Six of the often used darker slow-speed soundscapes were released then. But there was one noticeable omission; the track first heard in episode 8 as Cooper lay shot in his room, and then used close to 40 more times during the second season.

This week we finally get that track: "White Lodge Rumble"- clocking in at an epic 12+ minutes! The Cooper shot sections of episode 8 showcase this theme the best, but it was often used thereafter, sometimes mixed with other tracks, sometimes on its own. And sometimes as briefly as only a few seconds.

Once again the name of the track originated with fans. Actually, we over at the Dugpa forum had originally called this "Black Lodge Rumble", but when the first bundle was released, that name was used for another slow-speed track (Leland's confession, etc.). So we came up with "White Lodge Rumble", as it's sort of a companion to the other track. It's been one of the most requested tracks on the Dugpa forum for a while now.

The series (and FWWM) frequently used this slowed-down, time-stretching device to create new & often ominous sounds. Not only with these tracks that were only heard in their slowed down versions, but sometimes by slowing down other familiar tracks to create "new" versions of them. For example, "Laura Palmer's Theme", "Hank's Theme", & "Packard's Vibration", to name a few, were all used at half speed. And a few of these- slow versions of "The Mill Deal", "Night Bells", & "Harold's Theme" have actually been released from the Archive as well.

As for the slow speed orchestra tracks themselves, the release of "White Lodge Rumble" means all of the main tracks have been released. There are a few more that were heard very briefly and only once. The "killer revealed" episode, for instance, features a few unidentified slow-speed sections. The most notable missing slow track now would be "Dugpas" heard when we see Earle's tape about the Dugpas, and two other times. Perhaps we will see one more slow-speed bundle.

New Archive release: Night Bells (Original)

   

Listeners with a keen ear will have long since noticed that some of the tracks released on the second soundtrack were altered or "spruced up" with additional elements. "Night Bells" was one of these (along with "Audrey", "Shelly", "James And Evelyn" and "Packards' Vibration").

This week we get the original, unaltered version of "Night Bells" (apparently named "Abstract Mood" in the Archives). The differences are pretty small- in fact I'm pretty sure it is the exact same version, but there were elements added to it and altered on the CD. More distortion, heavier guitar noises. So the new released version is basically the "clean" unaltered version that was used in the series.

The Archive has released it under its original name, but even though "Abstract Mood" is a very cool name, a name change seems needlessly confusing. So I am keeping the "Night Bells" moniker. They have also included the Slow Version of the track that was heard in episode 28 when Hawk finds a disorientated Major Briggs wandering out of the woods after his ordeal with Windom Earle.

Night Bells

Episode 08: One bar as Truman turns off tape of Laura with James

Episode 08: Donna enters the sheriff department to visit James

Episode 10: Nadine comes out of her coma

Episode 11: Lucy in the Sheriff dept, stormy night, before Judge Sternwood enters

Episode 13: Nadine convinces Ed to "stay in" and jumps him on the couch (mixed with Solo Percussion 3)

Episode 18: James meets Evelyn at Wallies

Episode 18: James tells Evelyn of his desire to “rocket blind into the dark”

Episode 22: Nadine catches Ed and Norma in bed

Episode 28: Nadine counters the news of Ed and Norma’s engagement with her own offer of marriage to Mike

Episode 28: Major Briggs wanders out of the woods (Slow Version)

FWWM: Laura and Bobby in the woods after shooting Deputy Cliff