Frizzi, Fabio: The Eyes of the Cat

The Eyes of the Cat is the very first graphic collaboration between Chilean film and theater director (author, poet, musician, etc) Alejandro Jodorowsky and French artist (cartoonist and writer) Jean Giraud, aka Moebius, and this review is about the soundtrack composed by Italian legendary film musician Fabio Frizzi as an interpretation for this illustrated comic book. In a desolate dreamscape world, a man, a bird, and a cat interact in a unique apocalyptic yet poetic fashion… and the sounds here created by Frizzi are intended to be experienced by the listener while reading the short book allowing them to really immerse in the whole experience, so the story, images, and music unfold and take hold of all. Very challenging yet greatly accomplished by all artists involved.

The most implemented instruments are old school synthesizers, acoustic guitars, electric bass, and some shy but distinctive percussion, just enough to round up and balance the experience. A very emotional album (or EP) that basically stays almost the 25 plus minutes of total playing on the sad side of the fence, beautiful but sad. “The City� opens the soundtrack with some electronic sampling leading to the first grey-sounding atmospheric melodies, catchy and mellow, an experienced old school musician applying modern techniques to his already incalculable knowledge… very emotional stuff. “The Cat� kicks off with the characteristic horror film haunted tone that, with some assistance from the recognizable bass, rises and hypnotizes the listener even more, now I’m really paying attention and would love to experience the reading alongside the listening, must be a trip!

“Meduz and The Crime� is my favorite track of the album (besides the fact that it has gorgeous violins which I can melt to), maybe because somehow, I feel that the three main actors are interacting here, the man, the bird, and the cat, like listening to a dialogue about survival perhaps, or a revelation about something bad about to happen, like the music is trying to talk or make a statement... again, very emotional. Classic piano sets the landscape for “The Macabre Flight�, another good track, this time a little more hopeful sounding even though the title could suggest otherwise and yes, there are few moments where you can feel the sinister trying to overcome the beauty, but it looks that beauty won the fight. “The Child� finalizes the album more on the same vein as the opener “The City�, with simple electronic tones paired with classic piano taking the listener to fantasyland? Has there been a resolution? Is everyone optimistic now? I guess the only way of finding out is to read the book and listen to this soundtrack simultaneously, that’s the way it has been designed so, in the meantime simply an enjoyable listen.

Track Listing:

1. The City (4:27)
2. The Cat (4:45)
3. Meduz and the Crime (6:07)
4. The Macabre Flight (4:06)
5. The Child (6:42)

Added: July 15th 2022
Reviewer: Jose Antonio Marmol
Score:
Related Link: Artist Website
Hits: 455
Language: english

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