Solomon Grey is not a man but a band. More specifically, they are two men – Joe Wilson and Tom Kingston.
This album is the soundtrack for the six-part BBC television comedy-drama series written by and starring Daisy Haggard about a thirtysomething woman trying to rebuild her life after an 18-year prison sentence.
The tone is mostly warm, light and cheery although the band were also keen to reflect the serious themes of the story.
In addition to the original score, the electronic duo collaborated with singers Siobhan Wilson (Terrible Woman), Imogen Rose (How Sad, How Lovely) and John Mark Nelson (Sings The Moon).
The record closes, as does the series, with an anthemic cover of the Cocteau Twins Cherry-coloured Funk performed (with decipherable lyrics!) by London trio Arctic Lake.
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The titles of the instrumentals reflect the series’ coastal setting. For instance, the track Malin To Rockall includes a sample of a shipping forecast. The pair say “We wanted to represent lead character Miri’s lost past, frozen in time. We created instruments from ice cream vans and sounds recorded on the beaches and cliffs around Hythe”
The key question of this, as with all soundtrack albums, is whether it stands up in their own right. The answer, for me, is yes and no. The bright melodies of the short instrumental pieces lend a nostalgic charm but it’s the vocal tracks that provide the real character.
Solomon Grey’s website
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