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Oliver Coates - The History of Sound Original Soundtrack

Oliver Coates - The History of Sound Original Soundtrack

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Pre-order. Release date 28th August 2026

Following the cinematic release of The History of Sound earlier this year, London-based cellist, composer and producer Oliver Coates now releases The History of Sound (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). A sweeping historical romantic drama, from acclaimed director Oliver Hermanus and featuring standout performances from Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, the film, based on the short story by Ben Shattuck, has been described as “a cinematic romance for the ages” (ThePlaylist).

“The History of Sound is about the phenomenology of our lives. It is a film which tells the story of the sounds and different types of music we store up from childhood. This rich inner life includes the acoustics of spaces - of kitchens, churches or forests - which accompany us on a life-journey of emotion, memory and association. These acoustics form the backdrop to conversations, songs sung, and lives shared.

The music in this period film ranges from folk, orchestral, chamber, and choral music through to synthesized and sampled sound. In addition, the sound design of nature - wind, water, birds, insects and fire - is part of the tapestry.  

Lionel’s vivid musical memory tracks his emotional landscape. This ranges from bleak and empty following the death of his parents, to deeply Romantic when he finds love far from home -  violins and harps adding a bucolic and hyper-idyllic character.

The romance of David and Lionel is elegiac and told through unspoken words. Their path together is woven through a love for folk song and the chance to record it where it lives, in peoples’ homes, front porches and places of worship.

Folk songs are made unique by the people who sing them. The imperfection and character of each human voice enhances the music and its soulful qualities. Many of the vocal takes that we liked best were not edited for perfection, but had true spontaneity and a raw quality.  Likewise, we preferred to use an upright piano with a pencil stuck inside rather than a perfectly conditioned piano.

I am deeply indebted to the hard work of the musicians who poured themselves into this project and helped shape the full score with such warmth and good humour.”  - Oliver Coates

 

Tracklist:

  1. River

    Oliver Coates

  1. Silver Dagger (feat. Josh O’Connor)

    Oliver Coates

  1. Trickle Into Full-blown Love

    Oliver Coates

  1. Silver Dagger (feat. Paul Mescal)

    Oliver Coates

  1. Country Life (feat. Sam Amidon, Paul Mescal, Josh O’Connor)

    Sam Amidon

  1. The Snow it Melts the Soonest

    Sam Amidon

  1. Burning Wreck of Tunes

    Oliver Coates

  1. A Letter from After the War

    Oliver Coates & Nick Roder

  1. Grieved Soul (feat. Aedin Moloney)

    Oliver Coates

  1. Thankful – Here in the Vineyard (feat. Briana Middleton)

      Briana Middleton

  1. Happiness is Quietness

      Oliver Coates

  1. Feathers Twilight

      Oliver Coates & Nick Roder

  1. The Old Churchyard (feat. Paul Mescal & Briana Middleton)

      Oliver Coates

  1. Island

      Oliver Coates

  1. Darkness

      Oliver Coates

  1. All Is Well

      Peter Amidon

  1. Uppers

      Oliver Coates & Nick Roder

  1. House at Night

      Oliver Coates

  1. For the Last Time

      Oliver Coates

  1. Down by the Willow Garden (feat. Sophie Hearn & Peter Mark Kendall)

      Sam Amidon

  1. Maine

      Oliver Coates

  1. Across the Rocky Mountain (feat. Paul Mescal)

      Oliver Coates

  1. Fields

      Oliver Coates

  1. Book on TV

      Oliver Coates

  1. Suitcase of Cylinders (feat. Briana Middleton)

      Oliver Coates

  1. What If We Never Met?

      Oliver Coates & Nick Roder

  1. Here in the Vineyard (feat. Sam Amidon)

      Oliver Coates

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