With an original score by Danny Elfman this film is being tipped for all sorts of gongs. Elfman’s contribution on this album is worthy and fitting for a film with a theme of romance and mental health issues – or as the yanks like to call it “kookiness”.
Elfman’s songs on this album are not alone in being musical numbers; there are a couple of jazzy classics from The Dave Brubeck Quartet which fit nicely into the running order. “The Moon Of Manakoora” by Les Paul & Mary Ford is a 1950s classic which has an even older heritage, sounding like something from a 1940s film set in Hawaii it is romantic and quite lovely. The other lunar reference is from Ambrosia Parsley & The Elegant Too, “Goodnight Moon” is weird and brilliant and would not be out of place on a true blood episode with its southern gothic tones.
This soundtrack has some awesome contributors like the alternative indie rockers alt-J (winners of this year’s Mercury prize) and the massively cool Alabama Shakes. Add in a classic Stevie Wonder love song “My Cherie Amour”, a funky northern soul number from the 70s Rare Earth and a Bob Dylan/Johnny Cash duet and this soundtrack is nearly perfect. The only bum note is Jessie J’s eponymous contribution; nasty in all sorts of ways not least in its written-for-a-90s-American-upbeat-ending-film vibe. Skip track 12 and you will thoroughly enjoy this.