22. Bosnia and Herzegovina— ‘Remake’ by Adi Lukovac

‘Remake’ is the soundtrack to a 2003 film I had never heard of. Adi Lukovac died at the age of 35 in a car accident, and this soundtrack was his last — and apparently, his most famous and best — work.

It is always tricky to listen to a soundtrack without the film reference in mind. I don’t even know what the film is about, and the album cover certainly doesn’t give you many hints.

The album works well on its own. It is not a traditional movie score in the Hollywood style but has more of a 90s chill-out vibe, with some elements from Bosnian folklore. In its use of Bosnian elements, it is specific enough as to make it impossible that the album had been made anywhere else, yet it is still a very easy experience: it works well enough to listen to actively; but it also works very well as background music, the tracks blending effortlessly.

I listened to it so many times during the last two weeks that in the end, I can’t just imagine a visual companion to those songs — so I may never watch the film, who knows.