Above & Beyond unveil first cinematic film score for ‘The Last Glaciers’

Production duo Above & Beyond have put together their first cinematic film score, for the IMAX documentary The Last Glaciers.

The Last Glaciers, which is released in select theatres on 22 March, is directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker Craig Leeson (A Plastic Ocean) and United Nations Mountain Hero Malcolm Wood.

The soundtrack can be downloaded/streamed here.

“It was an honour to be invited by Craig to compose the score for The Last Glaciers’,” said Above & Beyond’s Jono Grant.

“For the musical direction, we felt it important for the score to reflect the beauty of our changing planet that Craig had elegantly captured. Stylistically we wanted to combine our largely electronic musical background with live orchestra to create a hybrid score. It was important to us that the score both reflect the challenges facing the world today, and those faced by Craig as an individual and filmmaker over the course of filming.

“As well as conveying a sense of urgency, we wanted the score to portray an optimistic tone, and to encourage a positive call to action from the viewer.”

Set across a four-year period, the documentary explores the cause and effects of climate change in Antarctica, the Himalaya, Alps, Andes and other regions of the world.

A story of both caution and hope, it seeks to convey optimism about combating climate change while continuing the conversation and motivating individuals to make a difference.

The score was written in conjunction with producer, composer, and performer Darren Tate, a longtime friend of the group, whose credits include film scores for Frontera and How Do You Write A Joe Schermann Song.

“When it came to the score we wanted to convey the challenges Craig faced, not only in getting this movie made and getting the message across but the physical challenges he had to endure; while appreciating the magnificence of the glaciers in all their beauty and the awe-inspiring cinematography,” Tate commented.

The result was a soundtrack permeated with broad, triumphant themes and underlined with percussion and electronica which re-enforces the seriousness of the task ahead.

The soundtrack to The Last Glaciers can be downloaded/streamed here.