What You Need to Know: Over the years, I've sat through hundreds of scores that were written for character-driven dramatic films. Sadly, at the end of the day, only a few of these soundtracks resonated with me as being special, as many of these "types" of scores are often too predictable. After having had the pleasure of listening to Abel's music for, A Single Man, I'm quite happy to say his score is quite an achievement and isn't one that will soon recede from the memory banks.
Abel strikes a unique tone for this film, which can best be described as bittersweet yet elegant and offers a strong emotional connection to the listener. There is a sense of loss within the score but there is also hopefulness in it as well, a duality that lends a memorable characteristic to it. Overall, there is simply a unique beauty to it that transcends the film and enables the music to succeed fully on its own. That such depth comes to us from a younger composer is really a testament to not only Abel's skill, but also to his insight as well.
Each track from A Single Man offers something a little different from one cue to the next as the music adjusts to the shifting moods of the day's events (the film takes place in the span of one day). There is a strong classical influence in most of these tracks and the performances -- specifically the lead instruments -- are particularly impressive. There is such a polished sound and flow to it that I think you will find yourself fully absorbed with the music. You'll also find that it's the type of score that is difficult to stop listening to; I was intent on listening to it uninterrupted from start to finish both times I cued up the disc. Truly engaging and quite refreshing fare!
As award season nears, Abel Korzienowski should be in serious contention for a Best Score bid for A Single Man. This score functions at too high a level to ignore and I think the voters should pick up on that.
