The US series »The White Lotus« is by no means considered an insider tip, but still has found little resonance in Germany so far. Yet Mike White’s social satire is one of the hottest potatoes in the USA. If nothing else, the soundtrack from multi-instrumentalist Cristobal Tapia De Veer can’t in any way be blamed for the lack of attention from local audiences: the Chilean composer incorporates all kinds of rhythms and time signatures in his 28 pieces. »Sabotage«, for example, is a prime example from this soundtrack: everything thumps, rumbles, clatters, bangs, trembles and vibrates in a pleasant and understated way. Cristobal never lets it get out of hand, but rather develops a surreal and fiery atmosphere throughout the album.
When a piano appears, as on »Decadence«, or a guitar strains for a few notes on »Manchild«, the melodies take over the reiteration while the bars race. With increasing time the mood tips over into the nightmarish, making »A Mistake & The Ocean« seem like a pandemonium of the deep. Seldom does one find a soundtrack that works so well independently as it does here. It’s no surprise that the Society of Composers & Lyricists honoured Cristobal Tapia De Veer for this work. And maybe the audience for the series will grow bigger with this record. Both soundtrack and »The White Lotus« deserve it.
