Before you rush out and buy the soundtrack to High Art thinking, "new Shudder To Think album"—assuming you care about such things—you might want to pause to consider your decision. Most of High Art's score is indeed written and performed by Shudder To Think, but even the die-hard fan would have a hard time discerning that just by listening to it. Instead of the emotional flood that usually pours from Craig Wedren's head to your ears, the soundtrack is a floating, relaxing trip evocative of the heroin-fueled feelings of the film's protagonists. Instead of guitar hooks and Wedren's soulful wailing, High Art is drenched in trip-hop and ambient music; fortunately, it works. The strictly ambient tracks consist of subtly moody electronic music with a hint of guitar thrown in, sometimes giving way to silence before picking up again. It nicely enhances a haunting mood rather than drawing attention to itself. Shudder To Think's trip-hop efforts are every bit as compelling as its rock work: The keyboards, tape loops, and occasional guitar sounds are woven into the functional beats, with care taken to make it as unassuming as the ambient work, even though it's textured enough to warrant close attention. The group may well be moving in this direction, and it's a graceful shift. The two non-STT tracks (by Reservoir and Jeepjazz Project) are more beat-oriented, but still great, further enhancing a soundtrack album that's functional outside the context of the film.