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One synthesizer, a rainy city: how Vangelis scored Blade Runner

The critic

Vangelis built the Blade Runner score almost alone: a Yamaha CS-80, a few other synthesizers and a great deal of reverb, improvised against video of the film. The sound works less as a tune than as a place, and the official album only appeared about twelve years later.

Try the small sound sketch to hear what a swelling pad, a drone and a few chimes do as the reverb goes up, then follow the listening order at the end.

Explainer · 5 min read

Int. the prop room · continuous

Take it home

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