The Best Film Scores of January 2023

I can only laugh and chastise myself that I’m writing this column – about the best film scores of January 2023 – in November. Let’s just say that this series has somewhat fallen by the wayside… With that out of the way, it’s better to move forward than to dwell on my delays. That leads to, and leaves us with, covering some of the best film scores of January, including a number of more experimental, unusual pieces and one of the best, most gorgeous scores of the year. As always, if you think I’ve missed any scores from this month (or any past months), leave a comment or get in touch and I’ll check them out!

Once again there were (as always) too many scores released this month for me to me to cover! Make sure to scroll to the end of this article for a list of even more January scores to check out!

Have a quick read about each of these excellent scores below then give them a listen. Be sure to see what other scores you may have missed by reading past editions of this column or listen below to hear me discuss a few of these and other scores released in January, February, and March:

L’envol – Gabriel Yared

Given that I’m writing this in November, I can comfortably say that Gabriel Yared’s score for L’envol is one of the best, most beautiful scores of the year. It’s a lush orchestral score whose tendrils of romance and longing reach into your heart and squeeze it. Vocalist Juliette Jouan graces the album on a few tracks, whose gorgeous singing serves as the score’s highlight. Unfortunately, L’envol wasn’t able to make much of an impression in France or elsewhere, somewhat burying Yared’s score and keeping it from reaching a wider audience. His other score in 2023, L’ Amour et les Forets, is similarly lovely and similarly absent from the wider film music discussion.

Infinity Pool – Tim Hecker (Interview; Review)

January also saw the release of some great, more experimental scores. The first is Infinity Pool by Tim Hecker, one of the legends of modern ambient electronic music and someone I had the luck to chat with earlier this year. It’s a nightmarish, anxious score, with suffocating ambience and noise. Hecker dives deep into the world of strange sounds to accomplish this, including trawling through hours of Mediterranean Cicada sounds that he manipulated into a sort of “Baltic banjo”. It’s punishing and pummeling, with a sonic density that requires many repeat listens to fully digest.

Enys Men – Mark Jenkin (Interview)

The other intriguing experimental score came from Mark Jenkin for the film Enys Men (which Jenkin also directed). Jenkin recorded an old Korg synth into a tape loop, and then added unusual, locally sourced elements like rocks and scrap metal. The result is a droning and atmospheric score that slowly pulls the listener into the extreme, derailing isolation of the titular island. Coincidentally, Jenkin is also a composer I interviewed earlier this year, although my penchant for talking with composers of more unorthodox film scores shouldn’t come as a surprise…

Aftersun – Oliver Coates

Oliver Coates had a sneakily strong 2022, with his scores for The Stranger and Significant Other, and ended on an incredible high note with the widely acclaimed Aftersun. Although the film released last year, his score didn’t. Coates’s score traffics in memory, with an enveloping ambience that’s like being lost in thought or remembrance. Those memories bubble up, clashing with the present in a struggle of hope and despair. It’s a score that, candidly, took me several listens to really appreciate, but the persistence paid off. And given its surprising popularity, I’m not alone. Other than the delayed release of Aftersun, Coates has had a quiet 2023; I, for one, am eagerly waiting to see what he does next.

A Few More Scores

As often happens, there were simply too many great scores released in January to cover, so here are a few more:

• M3gan – Anthony Willis
• Dreaded Light – BMX Bandits
• The Offering – Christopher Young
• El fred que crema – Francesc Gener
• Fire of Love – Nicolas Godin
• La guerre des Lulus – Mathieu Lamboley
• Master – Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe (Interview)
• Neneh Superstar – Jean-Bohemond Leguay
• When You Finish Saving the World – Emile Mosseri
• Run Sweetheart Run – Rob
• Saloum – Reksider