James Holden has announced a new album, comprised of soundtrack music for a film called A Cambodian Spring. Above, you can hear ‘Solidarity Theme (Release)’ from the album.
The Christopher Kelly-directed documentary follows political happenings in Cambodia, including protests that sparked the Cambodian Spring and the aftermath of those protests. Holden’s work on A Cambodian Spring marks his first time providing the soundtrack to a film and follows on from his 2017 LP The Animal Spirits which he produced alongside a backing ensemble of musicians.
Kelly asked Holden to work on the film after originally wanting to use his 2013 track ‘Self-Playing Schmaltz’. The soundtrack sees Holden making use of the Prophet 600 synth – which he used on The Inheritors, the album on which ‘Self-Playing Schmaltz’ featured – as well as as a Hammond organ that died some way into the production of the record.
Holden’s soundtrack for A Cambodian Spring will be released via his own Border Community label on January 25.