Dans La Nuit

Music by Louis Sclavis for the silent movie by Charles Vanel

You may think this CD would automatically be of limited appeal - of interest only to those who are officianados of the silent movie, arthouse films, or loyal fans of French musician and composer Louis Slavis.

However, in true ECM form, this impeccably recorded work is an absolute delight to listen to.

The film Dans La Nuit was made in 1930 just as the new world of "talkies" was launched, pushing Vanel to the back of the cinema queue.

Seventy years later Slavis was approached to compose music to bring the archive masterpiece back to life.

A tricky job by anybody's standards.

He was left with the dilemma of whether to pen the music with an historical flavour, or use contemporary sounds to illustrate a film which is widely believed to be ahead of its time.

In short, Slavis has produced a highly intelligent and successful combination of aural delights which, he claims, pay tribute to the more traditional scenes in which he uses traditional motifs and voicings, sandwiched between tracks which are clearly bang up-to-date and highly evocative, even for the listener who has not had the advantage of seeing the film.

Scored for clarinet (and I'm sure I heard a soprano saxophone), played by Sclavis, himself together with violin, cello, drums, marimba and accordion, this intimate quintet is an absolute delight to listen to.

The composer uses a delicate and masterful touch to evoke elements of humour, tension, tradition and sheer beauty.

This is a CD to grace any collection of music for the connoisseur of contemporary music.

I can guarantee it will come off the shelf time and time again. ECM 1805