Ex_Machina is a 2015 British Science-Fiction (but for how long?) film written and directed by author and screenwriter Alex Garland. IMDB describe the plot – ‘A young programmer is selected to participate in a breakthrough experiment in artificial intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a breathtaking female A.I.’ – which is true and yet there is a whole lot more. If you haven’t seen it, I strongly urge you do. Beyond the story and apart from the beautiful photography, design and special FX of the film, the music plays a critical role in the viewing experience (as all great soundtracks should) and Geoff Barrow and Ben Salisbury’s score is of no exception and fits perfectly in its surroundings, always there but not always shouting about it, a bit like the birds in the trees whilst walking to work. I had worked with Geoff and Ben previously with ‘DROKK’ so I was very pleased when asked to work on this one too. I was given a number of approved stills from Universal Films and set about putting something together that I hoped would look like an object that might be seen on a shelf in Nathan’s (the story’s eccentric genius whose residence is also a research facility) home and also a homage to rated dystopian sci-fi of old, namely THX1138. I opted for a gatefold LP that looks arctic fresh, clean and linear, no superfluous movements or flourishes as the film imagery is so good already, some simple modern typography with a dash of chaos by means of a frost/blue vinyl splatter. Hopefully nice to look at, certainly great to listen to.