Quickening

Spencer Creaghan

 
" At times, the music is textural, but never without an emotional sense, which throughout is subtle to almost larger than life in expression, making you feel you are in half a dream or even a nightmare, isolated and in despair, but also not missing out on t "

Written by Joep de Bruijn - Review of the download only release


Quickening is a 2021 Canadian film directed by Haya Waseem, a visceral experience of an isolated mind featuring a staggeringly beautiful score by composer Spencer Creaghan.

In this coming-of-age film, we follow Pakistani-Canadian teenager Sheila and see her struggle with everyone and everything in her life, going through things that might be self-imposed or externally conflicted, going from the traditional problems of any first generation immigrant girl to everyday life issues. With minimal dialogue, counting much on a strong visceral experience to tell of her suffering, her separation, even leading to a nervous breakdown, and seeing her overcome all of that, is ever strongly strengthened by beautifully natural cinematography and the musical score.

Its music, a combination of strings, woodwinds, a solo trumpet, piano and a female vocalist, is organically used in a hybrid alongside modern (electronic and atmospheric) methods to accommodate her internal and alienated state of mind. At times, the music is textural, but never without an emotional sense, which throughout is subtle to almost larger than life in expression, making you feel you are in half a dream or even a nightmare, isolated and in despair, but also not missing out on the pathos aspect. It is overall deeply beautiful and memorable.

Other people receive 'featuring' credits alongside Creaghan - Nelson Moneo, Kishan Couhan and Armenia Sarkissian - who all worked with him before, but I think the tracklist isn't exactly accurate, as two of these contributors are heard on several other tracks that are not listed.

In the end, as Sheila finds consolation, it is underscored by a tremendous 9-minute cue called Sunrise. From the start, it is very low-key with textural, mostly electronic (minimal) music, and thematic content. Much of it is presented earlier in the score, and I find a lot of solace in how something so introvert can be so blisteringly emotional. When looking at it from an outsider's perspective, it's likely nothing special, perhaps only until it reaches its momentum. At 7:00 into the cue, it becomes very dramatic and expressive, with light and heavy strings, fluttering woodwinds, and at the end, a return to the introvert feel.

Spencer Creaghan' score for Quickening was released in 2022 digitally by DK records. This year alone, they released a staggering number of recommendable scores for purchase. Besides Quickening, I strongly recommend his score to Goliath, as these two represent his best output so far. They do share some common ground in terms of the inner conflicted feelings of the protagonist in both films, but Quickening is fairly more 'challenging' as a film and in musical terms. Given my preference for films and their scores, approached from a deep artistic sense, even given my appraisal of Quickening as a film and its score, especially the music could have been more subdued. I consider this the best work by Creaghan, a masterpiece, or perhaps even a swan song for now, regardless of the age of the composer.





Tracklist
1. Quickening (feat. Nelson Moneo) (2:16)
2. Eden (From ‘Quickening’ Soundtrack) (2:46)
3. Sunday Afternoons (1:19)
4. A Nice Family Diner (feat. Kishan Chouhan) (1:23)
5. Threshhold (1:47)
6. Apparition (feat. Nelson Moneo) (1:16)
7. Sheila’s Theme (From ‘Quickening’ Soundtrack) (feat. Nelson Moneo) (2:51)
8. Up With The Girls (1:32)
9. The Break Up (1:05)
10. Pregnancy Test (feat. Kishan Chouhan) (1:14)
11. Venus (From ‘Quickening’ Soundtrack) (feat. Armenia Sarkissian) (2:22)
12. Smoke Rings (2:17)
13. Sheila Opens Up (2:01)
14. A Wish (feat. Nelson Moneo) (0:46)
15. The Underworld (feat. Nelson Moneo) (4:52)
16. Sunrise (9:18)

Total duration: 39:01



(written 19-04-2023)
(click to rate this score)  
 
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(total of 2 votes - average 3.5/5)

Released by

DK records (download only release 2023)