Artist: Young Fathers
Album: 28 Years Later
Label: Milan Records
Link: https://www.young-fathers.com/
Style: Soundtracks
For those who missed it, 28 Years Later is the latest installment in a series of dystopic films that began in 2003 with 28 Days Later. The three members of Young Fathers met in Edinburgh when they were only fourteen years old. They recorded their first compositions using a karaoke machine and took their current name in 2008. Their style is characterized by an eclectic mix of influences, including hip-hop, electronic, and pop. Their debut album won the Mercury Music Prize in 2014, and in 2016 they opened for Massive Attack.
It’s as if the dangerous and adventurous world of the film was destined to meet these curious musicians, who are not afraid to venture outside their comfort zone. Illustrating a film like this allows you to escape the constraints of a three-minute song, and while a few effective tracks would fit well on a pop album, the trio has a field day creating tense or light atmospheres depending on the scene. To do this, they can use a string ensemble and choirs in a conventional way or switch to more adventurous electronica.
The eclectic styles are naturally reflected in the soundtrack, with the studio’s ever-refined sound. In keeping with the film’s narrative, the soundscape alternates between a dense, instrument-laden panorama and passages where unsettling textures take over the listening room. The presence of heavy saturation also plays on the emotions, without the need for a plethora of instruments this time around for the music to convey a sense of anxiety. Even if you’re not particularly drawn to the film itself, listening to this album may pique your interest in seeing the images it seeks to illustrate.