These three songs have been extracted directly from the soundtrack of L'Éclisse. Watching it recently, I found I was able to just close my eyes and listen to the movie. The images were merely the perfect accompaniment to the fully-fleshed-out soundtrack. So away we go:

1. Opening Credits

The credits of the film are two minutes long, and cut into two halves: one minute of Italian go-go (i want a whole album) and one minute of science-fiction orchestral bursts and light, dusting piano. What makes it significant is that nothing in the visuals changes with the music. Any change in mood is intended to be done entirely through the song. And on its own, this song is something quite amazing; like eating a cupcake with a rock in it; not an accident, a sign of danger.

2. The Airport Café

Here's where the music, through the integration of the film's sounds, comes apart from the film and begins to walk around on its own. The sounds of footsteps, background conversations, and a few lines of dialog, combine with this would-be-mundane saxophone number to make a perfectly summery drink-sipping tune. It's better where it is. To explain the words: Vittoria (Monica Vitti) sees an American at a café at the airport. He, like most men in the film, says hello suggestively; she laughs and sits outside. Her friend sees her, says something like "What are you doing?" and she replies with 'È cita così bene qui': "It's so nice here". It even ends with a sigh.

3. Meeting Place

It's not important to know the context of this one (I was trying to make it unimportant for any of them, but it's difficult). Just let it wash over you, let it be a song. The trotting horse and the hoses watering lawns are just as much instruments as the piano, the footsteps.

[Buy] but if not, at least rent, it's so gorgeous.

*******

Also: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah video for "Over and Over". I listen to this whole album almost daily now. I'm not a huge fan of the video, am I supposed to be tricked into thinking this is one take? I guess not. I do like stark colours and simple ideas, so maybe I have to be a fan of it. Thanks to Audri for this.