Film: The Library Music Film

If you're not a crate digger, DJ, EDM track sampler, post production whiz, or music historian, you might not know what library music – also known as production or stock music – is, or why there would be a documentary about such a thing. But this rare breed of music – mostly being rediscovered on vinyl these days – is quite simply recorded music that can be easily licensed for use in film, television, radio, and other uses. In many cases the music is produced and owned by production music libraries, like De Wolfe, Bruton, and KPM. True fans have been collecting these records for years, as the music written to order for certain moods and types of scenes can be unusual, compelling, groovy, and just plain something different. Directed, produced, and edited by Paul Elliott, and filmed by Sean Lamberth, the film is narrated by, and follows, the charming musician and record producer Shawn Lee, as we go on a journey to collector's homes, recording studios, and library businesses (yes, many still operate!). For us Tape Op nerds, the rare glimpses into some of these studios alone are worth the viewing, as they visit De Wolfe's Angel Recording Studios in London, TeleCineSound in Rome (built in 1967 by composer/conductor Bruno Canfora), and Le Studio CBE in Paris (built in 1966 by Chatelain, Bisson, and Estardy). We also get quite a bit of interview time with the late Adrian Kerridge, famed engineer/producer and founder/owner of Lansdowne and CTS Studios; he even started the CADAC console company. [Please check out his memoir, Tape's Rolling, Take One: The Recording life of Adrian Kerridge]. But wait, there are insightful interviews with library music composers and musicians such as Keith Mansfield, Alan Hawkshaw, Alan Parker, Brian Bennett, and Herbie Flowers; plus DJs and producers like Fatboy Slim, Adrian Younge [Tape Op #119], Cut Chemist, and Young Einstein. The Library Music Film offers a special and very passionate glimpse into an aspect of music production that typically has remained anonymous and unsung, even if we have heard some of these songs our entire lives on television and such! It's awesome to see many of the people involved get credit for their work.