Alain Goraguer ‎– La Planète Sauvage OST LP

Alain Goraguer - "La Planète Sauvage" (1973)

Alain Goraguer's score for La Planète Sauvage (Fantastic Planet) is a masterpiece that has transcended its original purpose as a film soundtrack to become a significant cultural artifact in its own right.

Released in 1973, the French-Czech animated film directed by René Laloux is a surreal, philosophical journey set on a distant planet where giant blue humanoids, the Draags, dominate tiny human-like creatures, the Oms. The film's bizarre, psychedelic visuals are compelling, but it's Goraguer’s score that ties everything together, creating an immersive experience that lingers long after the credits roll.Goraguer, a French composer and arranger who had previously collaborated with Serge Gainsbourg, was brought in late in the production process and had just a few weeks to create the soundtrack.

Despite this tight timeline, he crafted a series of hauntingly beautiful themes that blend elements of jazz, funk, and classical music with a distinct exotica influence. The score’s dreamlike quality perfectly complements the film’s otherworldly aesthetic, making it as integral to the movie as the animation itself.Over the years, La Planète Sauvage has gained cult status, not just for its striking animation and thought-provoking themes, but also for Goraguer's music, which has influenced a wide range of artists.

The soundtrack was first sampled in the '90s by hip-hop artists like KRS-One and Big Pun, but it was Madlib’s extensive use of it in his Quasimoto project The Unseen that cemented its place in modern music history.Today, La Planète Sauvage is more relevant than ever, both as a unique artistic achievement and as a source of inspiration for musicians and filmmakers alike. Its timeless quality lies in its ability to evoke a sense of wonder and mystery, transporting listeners to a world that feels at once alien and deeply familiar.

Goraguer’s score is not just an accompaniment to the film but a standalone work of art that continues to resonate with new generations. The 50th-anniversary reissue, with its enhanced sound and additional tracks, is a testament to the enduring appeal of this extraordinary soundtrack.