I'm late to the Cliff Martinez party. I've got Solaris and Drive and really enjoy them. This is the sort of music I'd have avoided even just a few years ago. Amazing how tastes can change over time.
I know we have a few Cliff Martinez fans on the board. Please give me a few recommendations on what to try next.
I'm a fan too, and haven't hit one yet that I didn't like - he stays within a pretty safe, stylistic framework. So, I guess pick anything and you'll enjoy it! Not meant as a dig, just being honest. But if you need one specific title, how about My Life With Nicolas Winding Refn. That's a good album.
Contagion is Martinez at his absolute best!!! He’s got a pretty vast discography, but my other faves are The Knick seasons 1 and 2, and The Company You Keep.
I agree that they are all worth your time. Narc is a great early score. All of the NWR collaborations are worth your time. A couple of lesser-mentioned scores are The Knick and the score to the video game, Far Cry 4. Absolutely terrific music on both of those. I listen to both seasons of The Knick, but in particular season one is always in heavy rotation.
Film fest Ghent released by Milan in 2014 with the Brussels Philharmonic under Dirk Brosse is an interesting orchestral visit to Martinez' work. Certainly worth a listen , I still prefer the electronic side of the composer, but it's an interesting go at porting his music into an orchestral setting. Only God Forgives is excellent and maybe the most 'outre' the composer has gone. Arbitrage is another nice, ambient album.
If you don't want to, though, I'll list some of my favourites here (much overlapping with previous suggestions)
KAFKA THE NEON DEMON CONTAGION TRAFFIC SOLARIS DRIVE ARBITRAGE SPRING BREAKERS THE COMPANY YOU KEEP ONLY GOD FORGIVES The Ghent CD FAR CRY IV THE KNICK, season 1 and 2
