Most Americans who know Willem Breuker only as the ringleader of his Kollektief may find his film scores to be substantially drier than the fun he whips up with his zany big band. But, his soundtracks to two late ’70s Dutch films-Twice A Woman and Deadly Sin, which were issued separately on LP-are laced with piquant humor, sardonic asides and thoroughly ambiguous statements.
Both scores integrate small string sections with brass, winds, keyboards and percussion. While a few Kollektief members are on board-keyboardist Henk De Jonge, bassist Arjen Gorter, drummer Rob Verdurmen and trombonist Bernard Hunnekink-they don’t solo, except for a madcap sub-minute statement by De Jonge. Breuker only appears on two tracks on the “Twice” score, contributing a touching clarinet melody, and a steamy film noir tenor theme.
Generally, the score for “Twice A Woman,” a love triangle set in contemporary times, is the frothier of the two. Judging by the stills included in the CD packaging, “Deadly Sin” is a darker, if not phantasmagoric, film; on the basis of the score, it sounds like Breuker and Wes Craven could do business.
Willem Breuker: Twice A Woman/Deadly Sin
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