Description
Coming August 25th, 2023, Rough Trade Records celebrates the revival of Sea Power‘s score for “Man Of Aran,” gracing vinyl enthusiasts with its inaugural release.
Initially emerging under the moniker British Sea Power in 2009, the band took on an ambitious project from the Edinburgh Film Festival: crafting a unique soundscape for the 1934 quasi-documentary. This collaborative score made its debut with a live, synchronized performance at the festival.
Post this live rendition, a studio album surfaced in May 2009. It didn’t stop there. It echoed in live screenings from London’s BFI to Sheffield, traversed island terrains from Jersey to a Norwegian Arctic islet.
The narrative at the heart of Robert J. Flaherty’s “Man Of Aran” is a tribute to fishermen from Galway Bay, Ireland. It encapsulates their elemental challenges, revealing a vanishing lifestyle. This historic struggle harmonized perfectly with Sea Power‘s environmental and historical consciousness.
Receiving accolades aplenty, the predominantly instrumental score bridged past and present seamlessly. As The Quietus proclaimed, it’s an “understated classic,” while NME exhorted listeners to let the music’s depth envelop them.
Vinyl aficionados are in for a treat with this reissue. Set to drop on 25th August, the double LP, available for pre-order, initially dazzles in yellow and blue, capturing the album’s initial artistry. A classic black vinyl succeeds this inaugural release.
The Independent On Sunday mirrored the sentiment, noting the score resonated with Sea Power‘s allure for bygone eras. This sentiment echoed in their live performances, from tearful Norwegian fishermen to exuberant ravers at the UK’s Big Chill festival.
Now, with vinyl’s profound, immersive quality, the depth and magnitude of “Man Of Aran” await listeners, old and new.
