British Sea Power: Man of Aran CD Review
Review of New Score for Man of Aran Film (1934)
Sep 3, 2009
In an adventurous move, indie quartet British Sea Power have released a new score for the 1934 documentary film Man of Aran. More surprisingly than that, it actually works - and well.
The soundtrack was put on store shelves in May to accompany the release of the Man of Aran DVD. It is heavily recommended that one listens to the album while watching the film to get the full scope of the work.
The tracks are also enjoyable to listeners who have never seen the film and who don’t plan to, but it is obvious that this score is not meant to act as a standalone and functions best when paired with the film. Nevertheless, fans of instrumental music, particularly of composers such as Philip Glass and Dario Marianelli, will enjoy the score more than the average listener.
Sound Captures Aran Islands Mood
For those who haven’t seen the film, Man of Aran is a docudrama directed by Robert J. Flaherty that shows the lives of people living on the remote Aran Islands, found just off of Ireland’s coast. It has been revered for decades for its cinematography and unique subject matter.
With the film, some of the tracks achieve a beauty that make the sea and Irish cliffs captured in the movie stand out even more, if possible. “Come Wander With Me” is undoubtedly the standout track, with the kind of forlorn violin notes, haunting vocals, and sense of foreboding that make the film what it is.
There are also fearsome tracks, like “The North Sound,” which counters the roughness of some scenes, but British Sea Power impress most with their slower and quieter numbers. The opening track entitled “Man of Aran” has a wonderfully building piano piece, and closing track “No Man Is An Archipelago” ends the score thoughtfully, while nicely connecting the movie and the music.
British Sea Empire Impresses Again
The score is likely to please fans of the film, and the rockers from Brighton, England are no strangers to acclaim. Their first album, The Decline of British Sea Power (2003), was a critical darling and the group was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize in 2008 for last year’s Do You Like Rock Music?, considered a fan favorite.
Man of Aran is different from the group’s previous work, but it has to be to fit the film and it is certainly an enjoyable listen. For the best possible experience, watch the film and listen to the score together, as intended.
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