Decoder Ring 'Somersault' album

Since its debut in Australia in late 2004, “Somersault” has gone on to become the country’s most critically-acclaimed film of all time, winning 13 AFI awards (the Australian OSCARS), including best music. “Somersault” is set for US release in May 2006.

Decoder Ring’s self-titled debut album, released in 2002, gained them a huge following while garnering the kind of praise in the Australian media that most bands can only dream of. Reviewers stretched their vocabularies and wrestled with superlatives as they tried to capture the sheer scope of their sound, comparing them to the likes of Royksopp, Mogwai, Sigur Ros, Bjork, My Bloody Valentine, This Mortal Coil, and Air.

Decoder Ring’s songs are textural and atmospheric soundscapes, combining rich organic sounds and electronic meanderings in a musical journey that is as expansive as it is emotive. On the live stage their songs are beautifully complemented by the stunning visual montages of the band's ‘fourth member’, Simon K. In fact, Decoder Ring's music never strays far from its cinematic underpinnings. They treat the visual and the sonic as one, achieving in their live performance a flow of images and music that is close to dreamlike.

It was therefore a natural progression for Decoder Ring to become involved in writing music for film and their opportunity arrived when ‘Somersault’ writer / director Cate Shortland asked them to compose the music for her new film. A visually haunting story of sex, guilt, love and the confusion these forces can cause, ‘Somersault’ is based around a young girl’s journey of self discovery set in the stark yet stunning landscapes of Jindabyne in southern New South Wales during winter.

The exquisite glacial sounds of Decoder Ring marry beautifully with the breathtaking visual elements of ‘Somersault’. As one reviewer put it "the soundtrack says more about the film than any review could."

Working the film score into an album complete, Decoder Ring have created an astonishing record that works both as companion to the film, and as a remarkable stand-alone album.

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Tracklisting

Decoder Ring - Somersault