While Twin Peaks‘ cult status hinges upon its bone-chilling visuals, the series’ success is as much a product of its truly singular sound. The most persistent scenes depicting the sleepy Washington town are soundtracked by longtime David Lynch collaborator Angelo Badalamenti’s aching twangs and swelling strings. One of these moments is when Lynch and Badalamenti’s vocal collaborator — dream pop provocateur Julee Cruise — performed the trio’s original compositions on stage at the Roadhouse. Many have speculated whether the elusive Cruise — who first met Badalamenti when he was musical director for a theatre in the East Village before they both worked with the iconic director on 1985’s Blue Velvet — will return for the forthcoming series reprisal in 2017. But even if she won’t be back on the biker bar’s stage, another Lynch-approved musical act is set to carry her torch.
Yesterday, experimental pop outfit Xiu Xiu announced the release of Plays The Music of Twin Peaks, a full-length album featuring reinterpretations of Badalamenti’s compositions, which will arrive on Record Store Day (April 16). Xiu Xiu’s frontman, Jamie Stewart, is a longtime Lynch fan: Australia’s Gallery of Modern Art commissioned a special presentation of the group’s haunting melodies for its David Lynch: Between Two Worlds exhibition, material they’ve continued to perform on tour. At the time of the presentation, Thump grilled Stewart on his Twin Peaks obsession: “There is no other show that is as horrifying, amusing, creative, unusual, funny, difficult, beautiful, odd, touching, inspiring, or detailed as Twin Peaks,” he told the site. “It takes the ideas of death, sex, sweetheartedness, the spirit dimension, good, evil, and love, and turns them inside and out of each other.”
Plays The Music of Twin Peaks features 17 tracks, including “Audrey’s Dance,” and “Dance of the Dream Man.” Xiu Xiu released the album’s lead single, “Falling,” yesterday. It’s a bold and experimental take on Cruise and Badalamenti’s chilling lullaby. A bouncing ball keeps a metronomic beat while jangling guitars and Xiu Xiu’s signature chimes wash over the climbing chorus. Stewart’s register reaches the same heights as Cruise’s, but he sacrifices the piercing clarity of her delivery for an emotional and hazy rendition.
In light of the album’s release, some Twin Peaks music superfans have begun speculating that Xiu Xiu will actually appear in the forthcoming season. We’ll have to wait until 2017 to see if it’s true, but find out which participating record shop near you will have the vinyl now.
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Text Emily Manning
Image via YouTube