Various Artists
Music Inspired By The Film Roma
Columbia Records
Alfonso CuarΓ³nβs legacy as a genius of cinematic storytelling will live on for ages, and his latest film, Roma, is now accompanied by Music Inspired by the Film Roma, a compilation of songs which includes compositions by a variety of artists including Beck, Billie Eilish, Patti Smith, and Jessie Reyez. Each contributing artist draws from his or her personal interpretation of the film and the results reflect Romaβs rawness and emotionality.
Music Inspired by the Film Roma opens with an audio clip by an artist called βCiudad de Mexicoβ which, as the writerβs name suggests, serves as a Mexico City soundscape. It is followed by Patti Smithβs spirited reinvention of βWingβ. Using an array of genres including orchestral, pop, Latin, and electronica to explore Romaβs depth, the album gradually increases its tone and tempo, before eventually returning to somber qualities and grounded messages.
Each track is melodic and mesmerizing, capturing its own unique perspective on the film in a captivating way, but when all the songs are played back-to-back, the compilation feels a bit unorthodox, as it bounces from Eilishβs poppy and moody βWhen I Was Olderβ to the classical Spanish of Reyezβs βCon El Vientoβ. The artists remain true to themselves and their sounds, but the albumβs narrative isnβt entirely fluid, which may take a listener out of the trance-like state imparted by its source material.
Nonetheless, Music Inspired by the Film Roma is a grandiose album, filled with well-orchestrated blends of personality and quality performances.
Roma MovieΒ Links
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – MUSIC INSPIRED BY THE FILM ROMA
Joseph Dominguez