Gruff Rhys announces soundtrack for The Almond and the Seahorse film with first single "Amen"

"Amen" is the first taster of Rhys' soundtrack for The Almond and the Seahorse - a new film directed by Celyn Jones and Tom Stern and starring Rebel Wilson, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Trine Dyrholm and more. The single is accompanied by a video directed by Ryan Owen Eddleston.

Rhys says "the yearning and frustration of the song seemed to fit the themes of the film perfectly and the song soundtracks the emotional final payoff at the very end of the movie."

The 22-track album was recorded throughout 2021 and 2022, and features contributions from members of the National Orchestra of Wales.

He says of the soundtrack, "The soundtrack for The Almond and the Seahorse was recorded largely in pandemic conditions so it was a matter of recording in bursts of possible activity in various friends’ studios, homes and even scout halls as chance permitted. It’s a varied quilt work as a result. As sonic flagpoles I wanted to signify the film’s location in Liverpool and the Wirral by liberally, but hopefully not too obviously, using the Mellotron synthesizer (as famously used in "Strawberry Fields" by the Beatles & therefore in my mind it represents that great city sonically) and the Cello as a nod to its use by Gwen’s character in the film."

"I was encouraged by Mike Jones the editor to take things to a more acoustic, emotional and ragged place," he adds. "That, I hope, roughly explains the trajectory of the recording and how the varied music contained in this record came about. I hope you enjoy this colourful scrapbook of a soundtrack and get a chance to watch the film."

The Almond and the Seahorse soundtrack will follow Rhys' 2021 album Seeking New Gods.