IAMTHEMORNING

Ocean Sounds Kscope Russian masters seek splendid isolation in their first film.

One of the telling moments in this terrific studio film happens very near the start. Just before iamthemorning launch into the opener, Inside, singer Marjana Semkina plays with the control desk at the remote recording studio where the film is shot. She smiles with delight and taps various sliders with the enthusiasm of the ingénue, rather than the international star she is.

It’s a reminder that, for all the success and plaudits she and pianist Gleb Kolyadin have received, iamthemorning have not lost sight of the joy of making music. This joy spreads through the whole film.

If film is one of the tricksiest art forms – directors can concoct any number of fictions with artful cuts – it can also be an exposing medium. In that regard, Ocean Sounds reveals the intensity, focus and musical ambition of iamthemorning. Their choice of setting – a studio on the remote Norwegian island of Giske – is telling. The film captures how Giske is an ever-changing landscape, full of sound and wonder. It might be a metaphor for iamthemorning themselves.

The approach to filmmaking is simple: stick the live band in a room and let the magic unfold. It could be a recipe for dullness. Rather, it reveals the alchemy that makes iamthemorning more than the sum of their parts. Semkina, alone at the mic, commands the room, while Kolyadin, whether at the grand or electric piano, exudes mastery. His profile is magnificent, and as fierce as a general who knows that every detail of the plan matters. The supporting cast of string players, bassists and drummers are – at the risk of ruining the metaphor – his and Semkina’s troops to deploy.

Lest you think that this film is all moody smouldering and meaningful glances, Ocean Sounds holds more than a few surprises. We see Kolyadin in kick-back mode, improvising wittily at the piano to general laughter, and witness Semkina pulling silly faces at windows.

Set-wise, this film is a dream. It’s a best-of that covers their first three albums, including the fabulous tracks To Human Misery, K.O.S. and Os Lunatum. There’s a special bonus on the Blu-ray: an unplugged version of Blue Sea, the first track written for the new album. In its simple interplay between Semkina’s guitar and Kolyadin’s keys, we see how this duo work. Behind the clever arrangements of the fully worked tracks lies careful and searching songwriting.

Of the session, Semkina says, “It was the most inspiring place for us to work in, surrounded by the sea, mountains, wild flowers and gorgeous Norwegian sunsets.”

It bodes well for the forthcoming album.

IT REVEALS THE BAND’S INTENSITY, FOCUS AND MUSICAL AMBITION.