Olivier Samouillan and Project Zlust: How I Killed A Saint (2004)

Nenad Georgievski

Concert/Festival Reviewer since 2004

For as long I can remember music has been a focal point in my life.

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Published: December 20, 2004

Usually the music composed to accompany a certain film is written off as merely background material. Yet regardless of the genre, the soundtrack has to work in conjunction with the dialogues and the images in order establish the tone as well as the mood of the movie. In this case, Oliver Samouillan and Project Zlust have made a soundtrack that stands on its own apart from the movie. The award-winning film How I Killed A Saint is based upon the happenings in the Balkans region during the period of civil wars that swept the region mercilessly.

Olivier Samouillan is a French viola player and composer, while Project Zlust is a music collective that makes music which knows no stylistic barriers. The compositions provide a surprisingly rich, full musical experience and the group's taste for intricate arrangements is apparent. The combination of viola, violin, cello, percussion, and double bass creates a unique, emotional atmosphere and the beauty of this release is caught both in simple melodic lines and in a dense sound world. Samoullian's mysteriously layered viola is both haunting and daunting as well as devastatingly provocative in its simplicity and ghostly beauty.

There are too many highlights to mention—like the opening track, "Finale," "Koga Se Odi," and "Tromegje," with its oriental leanings—but among the brightest are the Piazzola-esque tracks "Sad Trip" and "Anteo," as well as the forcefully rhythmic "Happy Tune." The material also features two traditional tracks ("Da Znaesh" and "Kir Yana") beautifully sang by Vera Milosevska and Vladimir Pop Hristov (who also plays cello). This soundtrack is a showcase to their musical depth and dreamy style, and the textures are haunting and deeply moving.

Visit Zlust on the web.

Track Listing: 1. Finale; 2. Da znaesh; 3. Dogs duo; 4. Kirjana; 5. Mine field I; 6. Mine field II; 7. Nadir; 8. Sad Trip; 9. Koga se odi; 10. Temen Turbo; 11. Bus vibes; 12. Granata; 13. Tromegje; 14. Happy tune; 15. Budenje; 16. Anteo.

Personnel: Dzijan Emin: keyboards, French horn, vocals; Goce Stefkovski: drums, percussion; Vladimir Pop-Hristov: violoncello, vocals; Ivan Bejkov: double bass; Gazmend Berisha: violin; Olivier Samouillan: viola.

Record Label: Chicken Madness
Style: Classical