For this edition of Then Play On, I’m fulfilling a request from avid reader and friend Ryan. One evening, as I sat in repost amidst the ever darkening night, I received the text question: which obscure British documentary soundtrack did I feel was better, From the Sea to the Land Beyond, or From Scotland With Love. I had to admit my ignorance on the subject, but as Ryan is a Consummate gentleman, scholar, and citizen, I vowed to investigate and render judgement.

I usually do not like to listen to soundtracks removed from the context of the film they are supposed to accompany. While the music can be pleasant or moving, I’ve found that without the attendant on-screen action and visuals, it often loses emotional grounding and becomes largely incidental. That said, in this case I committed to listening solely to the prescribed soundtracks without a knowledge of what their associated docs are even about. In this way my focus would remain squarely on the music and I could give Ryan a fair, unbiased answer.

I started with From the Sea to the Land Beyond, which was written and recorded for the documentary by indie rock group British Sea Power. Their name could not be more apt: the music is made up of mostly somber, sonorous tones from brass and guitar. It brings to mind stately black-and-white images of naval ships, rocky coastlines, and wrinkled yet proud seamen. The musical adjective I would use to most describe the soundtrack is post-rock, the subgenre of mostly instrumental rock that gradually builds from passages of delicate beauty to climactic crescendos of catharsis. Some of the associated explosiveness of post-rock is held off in From the Sea, surely to not draw too much attention from the visuals on screen, but the monarchal depth and texture is there. This is great music to have on in the background during a quiet reading session, a formal dinner, or a turn of the century nautical museum. I haven’t listened to British Sea Power’s actual music, but this piqued my interest enough to check them out.

Next, we move to From Scotland With Love, by folk musician King Creosote. This is a very different soundtrack than From the Sea; most of the songs are actual songs with lyrics and concise, structured run times. However they are still clearly made to support the themes of the film: there is a strong Scottish music vein running through the album. Melodically and lyrically, King Creosote pulls from Celtic tradition and incorporates a wide variety instruments throughout. Flutes, bagpipes, banjos, and several other outside sounds support the traditional guitar, bass and percussion lineup. But there are also other elements as well, and I heard shades of English, Continental, and even Arabic folk music weaved into the sonic tapestry. The richness and diversity therein was quite a surprise upon first listen; I’d compare it to The Incredible String Band joined with Woods and supported by an acoustic King Crimson (??). Song by song this is a more engaging album than From the Sea, and as such, to answer the initial query: between the two, I prefer From Scotland With Love.

So there you have it, my first commissioned piece. I hope it was up to snuff. If you have any other questions or requests that you want me to weigh in on, please feel free to drop me a line. In conclusion, if you are an Anglophile looking for satisfying and worthwhile music, seek out these two albums.

And when you are out riding your bike at night, remember to always wear white.