New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Composer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Ethan Gold shares his latest collaboration with independent film director and twin brother Ari Gold, the soundtrack for the jazz-inspired drama, "The Song of Sway Lake." Title tracks from the album feature vocals from American singer John Grant and English indie folk trio The Staves. Lakeshore Records released the soundtrack on all digital platforms. The album is also available on CD through Gold's label Electrik Gold, who will release a limited 7" vinyl on Record Store Day, Friday, Nov. 23rd.
The soundtrack opens with two versions of the title song: the Lost Record Version sung by Grant and the Big Band Version sung by The Staves, followed by the film's romantic and ethereal score. After an intermission of Haitian jazz, listeners are treated to 'Sketches of Sway' — Gold's otherworldly finales, alternate arrangements, and sound experiments inspired by the film. Two intimate demos of the title track, sung by , complete the album.
"The Song of Sway Lake" details the last summer of the aristocratic Sway family on the lake that bears their name. The musically-inspired drama sees
Ollie Sway (Rory Culkin) travel with his Russian drifter friend, Nikolai (Robert Sheehan), to the fictional Sway Lake. The film also features Mary Beth Peil, narration by Brian Dennehy, and
Elizabeth Peña in her final role.
"The two male leads, and the grandmother, have all replaced grief with a burdensome nostalgia," Ethan describes. "The instrumental score itself is like a higher perspective for the lost characters. It's the silent water of the lake, the ghosts of the father and grandfather, and the dark energy of the forest."
Ethan Gold first stepped into public consciousness when he produced and arranged Elvis Perkins' blog-hyped "Ash Wednesday." Between moonlighting as bass player in his brother's celebrity-driven folk party band the
Honey Brothers and in San Francisco literary rock project the Size Queens, Ethan scored his twin's debut feature "Adventures of Power."
Since then he released his debut art rock album "Songs from A Toxic Apartment". While completing the score and songs for "The Song of Sway Lake", Ethan recently released a pair of idiosyncratic albums — "Live Undead Bedroom Closet Covers," and the naive-electronic "Expanses (Teenage Synthstrumentals)," through Electrik Gold.
