Three cinematic synth soundtracks

Hans Zimmer Atmospheric Entry

Although Mr Zimmer is usually known for his pounding drums and momentous horns, he also utilises synthesised textures in his scores to create tension and atmosphere. This piece from the movie Interstellar is a great example of a minimal soundscape, creating a tense backdrop to the onscreen action. Simple, but most importantly, effective.

Cliff Martinez Rubber Head

Cliff Martinez provided a lot of the synth-heavy music for the movie Drive. In this track, he sets the tone with an ominous atmosphere, then locks the audience in with a hypnotic arpeggio. This is a great example of setting the mood with an atmospheric pad, and then giving the audience something a little more melodic to concentrate on.

Vangelis Blade Runner

What discussion about synths in cinema could be complete without mentioning the score to Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner? Vangelis’ lush pads and now-classic synth lead create a brooding atmosphere, transporting the viewer into the dystopian future. It paved the way for many synth scores and still sounds brilliant nearly 35 years later.