Description
Elizabeth Bernholz, known widely by her stage name Gazelle Twin, creates an appropriately tense industrial soundtrack for the new TV series ‘Then You Run.’ The series focuses on four British teenagers and their turbulent adventure in Rotterdam. Bernholz’s experience in scoring is evident, having already released two soundtracks through Geoff Barrow’s Invada Records: ‘Nocturne’ in 2020 and ‘The Power’ in 2021. Still, ‘Then You Run’, a television adaptation of Zoran Drvenkar’s gripping novel ‘YOU’, may be her most outstanding work to date. Bernholz expertly captures the raw energy and chaotic recklessness of a reckless teenage getaway. She skillfully uses saturated and distorted synths to create an atmosphere of unease, animating her layers of corrosive synths with her unique blend of stuttering beats, choral vocals, and sweeping ambiance.
A standout track is the title theme, ‘History.’ It is a formidable composition with its pulsating industrial rhythm and sneering spoken word vocals, unleashing an auditory beast. ‘Then You Run’ moves in a writhing manner, characterized by a ramshackle techno sound, Halloween-inspired synths contorted into haunting melodies, and spectral whispers. However, Bernholz’s talent does not stop there. In ‘Daydream,’ she effortlessly transports listeners into ethereal realms with the assistance of distant choirs that evoke a sense of the past, accompanied by warm, Brian Eno-esque pads that ground us in the present. It’s notable how seamlessly she has managed to maintain her unique style. Often, skilled artists find themselves confined within the constraints of TV and film projects. However, it appears that Bernholz was given the freedom to march to the beat of her own drum. Tracks like ‘Uncle Reagan’ and ‘Stand Off’ immerse listeners in eerie, Radiophonic soundscapes, while ‘Herd’ provides a drugged-out, lo-fi electronic anthem. ‘The Hotel’ channels Ligeti’s avant-garde approach, featuring fluctuating vocals juxtaposed against hair-raising synth effects and rumbling bass. This soundtrack surpasses typical conventions seen in Netflix productions, demonstrating pure and unfiltered creativity.
