Carter Burwell

The soundtrack to Spike Jonze's critically acclaimed debut film Being John Malkovich features an equally idiosyncratic, bittersweet score by composer Carter Burwell that captures the film's mix of humor, sadness, and innovation. The album also debuts two versions of Björk's "Amphibian," which continues the sparse, emotionally direct artistic path she began on Homogenic. Björk's spiraling vocals encircle the song's shuffling beat and eerie strings, harps, and whistles like smoke rings; even for someone as relentlessly innovative as she is, "Amphibian" is quite a departure. Last but not least, the soundtrack includes "Malkovich Masterpiece Remix," an extended version of John Malkovich's torchy love song to himself in one of the film's most mind-bending scenes. The Being John Malkovich soundtrack is a fitting companion piece to one of 1999's finest films. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide