Album Review: Various - Spirit Of Akasha Soundtrack

When it comes to surfing movie soundtracks, there's some stiff competition out there. Well, when Dark Side Of The Moon in its entirety has been featured as the companion music to a film of this ilk, you know, as music director, you have a big job to step up to. Spirit Of Akasha measures up nicely in this sense. Featuring Pond, Angus Stone, supergroup Atoms For Peace, Matt Corby and Xavier Rudd among others, the album is track after track a consistently great listen, and certainly seems like it would be a brilliantly suitable soundtrack.

Andrew Kidman and The Windy Hills bring this album in with To Be Young and the listener would be wise to listen to this track through a good set of speakers for a wonderful experience when the bass comes in, gently sliding up to its opening chord (yes, chord) and kicking the song into full swing – a musical moment to savour, for sure. Starcrossed Lonely Sailor is the next gem on the soundtrack, performed by the Chris Robinson Brotherhood. Reminiscent of Humble Pie or The Allman Brothers with the Black Crowes frontman's own spin, the song is transformational and experiential. Immediately following is Matt Corby, with disarming brilliance and worldly sonic ventures in What The Devil Has Made, while Corsaire provide the titular piece, one of sweeping orchestral and ethereal instrumental experimentation, and ominously reverberated vocals. The track builds and builds until cymbals and drums come crashing down around you and finishes with ostinato piano that stays with you long after the song has fallen silent.