We’re very excited to introduce you to a brand new feature on Soundspheremag.com, it’s called Soundtrack Of The Month, and each month Samantha King will be taking us through a notable soundtrack that has touched the hearts and minds of many. This month (April), we take a look at the songs that accompanied 2010’s ‘Submarine’.
Submarine was the directorial debut of Richard Ayoade. A dark, brooding comedy/drama/romance about a 15-year-old boy who has only two objectives: lose his virginity and extinguish the flame between his mother and her ex-lover. The soundtrack was penned for the film by Arctic Monkeys front man Alex Turner, and takes the listener on a coming-of-age journey. The heartfelt, relatable lyrics document the journey that we all go through while growing up. Whether it be a first love, crippling awkwardness or simply trying to make sense of the world, all is conveyed in a simple eighteen minute soundtrack.
1. ‘Stuck On The Puzzle’ (intro)
A delicate piano and acoustic guitar duet, dusted with the soft vocals of Alex Turner, ‘Stuck On The Puzzle’ is a gentle introduction that conveys the fragility of emotion. At only 52 seconds long it’s over before you know it.
2. ‘Hiding Tonight’
The excessive reverb on the track gives it an almost dream like quality, blurring the lines between vocals and guitar. Including references to a coconut shy, the clever play on words describes how shyness has proved a barrier in achieving what the subject is dreaming of.
3. ‘Glass In The Park’
The excitement of a first love and the rush it gives is conveyed through this track. Once again the reverb creates a dream like feel which conveys the emotions being felt by the subject.
4. ‘It’s Hard To Get Around the Wind’
A gentle guitar intro sets the scene for a song about disappointment and how life can let you down. Despite the mellow tone, themes of how to get back up and carry on are evident in the lyrics despite it being “hard to get around the wind”.
5. ‘Stuck On The Puzzle’
A heavy drum beat kicks off the continuation of the first track, building on it with electronic instruments and a more confident vocal. The revisiting and reimagining of the introduction depicts how things have changed throughout the film
6. ‘Piledriver Waltz’
With its layering of electronic sounds and steady drum beat, ‘Piledriver Waltz’ is an extremely satisfying conclusion to the soundtrack. The emotional depth in Turner’s vocals fit perfectly with the electronic style, and the rousing melody keeps the listener captivated until the very last second.
