The Illusionist: Music from the Motion Picture

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The Illusionist: Music from the Motion Picture
The Illusionist Soundtrack.jpg
Soundtrack album by
various artists
Released14 December 2010
Recorded2010
Length42:13
Label
Producer
  • Emmanuel Chamboredon
  • Jean-Christophe Chamboredon
  • Terry Davies
  • Stefan Karrer
Sylvain Chomet chronology
The Triplets of Belleville
(2004)
The Illusionist: Music from the Motion Picture
(2010)
Attila Marcel
(2013)

The Illusionist: Music from the Motion Picture is the official soundtrack to the 2010 animated film The Illusionist . The album was released through Milan Records and Warner Bros. Records on 14 December 2010. The songs on the record were either or orchestrated by the film's director, Sylvain Chomet, or performed by Malcolm Ross under the fictional band name The Britoons. It was generally well received, with particular praise for the songs' storytelling and its "effortless" sound.

Contents

Background and development

Bob Last, a co-producer of the film, introduced Chomet to Malcolm Ross, a Scottish musician who was previously a part of the band Josef K. [1]

Composition

The soundtrackIn "Chanson Illusionist", voice impersonations of Juliette Gréco, Les Frères Jacques, Georges Brassens, Barbara, Yves Montand, Édith Piaf, Jacques Brel, and Serge Gainsbourg are performed by an ensemble of voice actors. [2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [3]

The soundtrack received generally positive reviews from music critics. William Ruhlmann from AllMusic claimed that the record was functional and "serve[d] the small-scale, melancholy treatment of the story" well. [3] Tampa Bay Times ' Steve Persall described the album as a "small marvel of music hall tunes" and congratulated Chomet for allowing the dialogue to be freely interpreted. [4] According to Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune , the ending result is effortless and acclaimed the track "Chanson Illusionist" for being a "gentle waltz". [5]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Performer(s)Length
1."Chanson Illusionist" Sylvain Chomet
  • Chomet
  • Didier Gustin
  • Jil Aigrot
  • Frédéric Lebon
4:05
2."Paris London"ChometChomet0:56
3."Military Opera"ChometChomet0:25
4."Molly Jean" Malcolm Ross The Britoons2:36
5."Love of Another Man"RossThe Britoons1:57
6."My Girl Blue"RossThe Britoons3:06
7."London Iona"ChometChomet1:55
8."Iona Oban"ChometChomet2:08
9."Oban Edinburgh"ChometChomet0:52
10."Blue Dress"ChometChomet0:33
11."Jenners"ChometChomet1:52
12."Fakir"ChometChomet3:06
13."The Clown"ChometChomet3:09
14."City Lights"ChometChomet3:45
15."North Sea"ChometChomet3:22
16."Arthur's Seat"ChometChomet1:07
17."Illusionist Finale"ChometChomet7:19
Total length:42:13

Release history

DateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
14 December 2010 Milan [6]

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References

  1. "Mongrel Media Presents: The Illusionist" (PDF). Mongrel Media. 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  2. Robert (28 February 2011). "What the Oscars Missed". Sketchy Details. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  3. 1 2 Ruhlmann, William. "Sylvain Chomet / The Britoons – The Illusionist". AllMusic . Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  4. Persall, Steve (9 February 2011). "'The Illusionist' relies on more than cheap tricks". Tampa Bay Times . Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  5. Phillips, Michael (13 January 2011). "'Illusionist' a plaintive sleigh-of-hand charmer". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  6. "The Illusionist: Music from the Original Motion Picture by Sylvan Chomet & The Britoons on iTunes". iTunes Store, Apple Inc. 14 December 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2016.