Jonny Greenwood – Norwegian Wood OST

For those Radiohead fans who were left searching for Jonny Greenwood‘s presence and influence on the predominantly beat-driven King Of Limbs, his moving and deeply affecting score for Norwegian Wood won’t satisfy those that long to hear Greenwood’s scorching guitar work, but it will give listeners yet another unique glimpse into the heart and mind of a truly talented virtuoso. Greenwood wrote all eleven original pieces featured on the soundtrack (which also includes three classic numbers from the avant-garde German outfit Can), which were in turn brought to dynamic life by the estimable BBC Concert Orchestra, directed by the steady hand of Robert Ziegler.

The arrangements are subtle studies in both emotion and tension, with a subdued ambiance threaded throughout the album that ties in well to the wistful, somber nature of Haruki Murakami’s masterful novel which inspired Tran Anh Hung’s film. It is the third soundtrack score that Greenwood has done, and like Bodysong and There Will Be Blood before it, Norwegian Wood is another stirring, poignant collection of predominantly string-based classical numbers imbued with Greenwood’s acute vision and modern aptitude. There are also two spare, acoustic guitar pieces that not only contain skeletal elements of Radiohead’s far more polished finished works, but are also a direct nod to the plot-line of the novel, where playing the acoustic guitar is deemed a therapeutic exercise for one of the main characters.

And while the tranquil, mournful nature of Greenwood’s compositions certainly craft a distinct, plaintive mood, the inclusion of the Can songs are ultimately somewhat jarring and are an odd inclusion to the set. Obviously, it gives Greenwood a chance to tip his hat to one of his musical inspirations, and it also gives a German touch to the soundtrack, which is another astute nod to the novel, whose modern-day moments are set in Hamburg. But when paired with such doleful arrangements, the experimental sound and structure of Can comes off as dissonant and a bit unsettling, especially given how harmonious and timeless Greenwood’s compositions are.

Without having the film as a backdrop (where both mediums only serve to enhance each other), it’s tough to judge these pieces without the visual accompaniment that will only help to clarify Greenwood’s artistic vision. But taken on their own, these delicate arrangements are all finely-crafted, impassioned works that create a striking mood and atmosphere. They are drenched in both sentiment and artistry, with the majestic talents of the BBC Orchestra and Greenwood shining through at all moments. This elegiac score is proof positive that Jonny Greenwood is indeed a musical wunderkind, capable of much more than the fitful, electro-pop leanings of Radiohead allow, and, if we’re lucky, hopefully far more than the prodigiously inspired soundtrack work that he’s graciously shared with us already.