Pretty soon now a dramatic film will hit our cinemas here in the UK that you simply must see. It’s an independent Irish movie called ONCE which recently triumphed at 2007’s Sundance Festival, winning the Audience Prize. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed it, “…the best music film of our generation.” And if you are the slightest bit sceptical then this soundtrack should convince you.

The movie seems to be based around its music. Last year Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova released our Album Of The Year. THE SWELL SEASON is an emotional rollercoaster of an album that describes broken relationships, and the battle to keep love alive. Both recording artists star in the movie and several of the songs are featured in the soundtrack. Irishman John Carney wrote and directed the movie while Glen Hansard produced the soundtrack album. Hansard is no stranger to movies, having appeared as a band member in the classic film, THE COMMITMENTS. I also know he is a demon with an 8mm movie camera… There’s also a cult music video knocking around somewhere which actually uses cafe surveillance camera footage, taken in the days when Hansard couldn’t afford to shoot one and/or his record company wouldn’t cough up. Those who have seen and heard the Frames would know Hansard as the great lead man and song writer of the band (that also features in ONCE).

The soundtrack opens with the delicate and deeply moving tones of Falling Slowly (from THE SWELL SEASON), sung by Hansard and Irglova. The next song, If You Want Me features Irglova with Hansard providing the most subtle backing vocal. This soulful love song was written for the film and is sublimely sung and produced. The emotional ambience is broken briefly with a short and amusing ditty called Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy, that sounds rather like an old cowboy folk song. When Your Mind’s Made Up is from the aforementioned album, but this version ups the emotional stakes with a more explosive bass line and Hansard vocal that will have you gasping. Lies is also from THE SWELL SEASON, and is a song that could hardly start any quieter, then swells like a gathering wave as it progresses along. Next track is Gold by a band called Interference (with Fergus O’Farrell and Hansard on vocals, and Frame’s Rob Bochnik on slide guitar) and features some fabulous acoustic guitar passages, and traditional Celt fiddle moments. It’s new, epic and inspiring. The Hill is a charming, simple song featuring Irglova on vocals, and the simplest backdrop of piano, cello and violin. Fallen From The Sky is a cute little song recording at home by Hansard with barbershop style backing vocals by the Frames. Things take a very serious turn with Leave (from THE SWELL SEASON). The song starts pretty quietly and is as if Hansard is talking to someone, but by the middle-eight loses it and screams out in desperation for that person to leave. The film version appears to be more aggressive and passionate. Other (superb) new songs include Trying To Pull Myself Away, All The Way Down, fabulous title track Once and the desperate, pleading Say It To Me NOw. I have never before been tempted to see a film drama because of its soundtrack, but that’s definitely the case here. The best music film of our generation? I can believe it based in what I’ve just heard.

5/5