YO LA TENGO - Old Joy

The soundtrack to Kelly Reichardt's “Old Joy” finally sees the light of day on record. The film won over not only cinephiles but also devotees of American music, thanks both to the presence of Will Oldham among the cast and to the aforementioned soundtrack by Yo La Tengo.

The album was recorded in a single afternoon with the help of guitarist Smokey Hormel, whose bluesy touch runs through the band's ecstatic, contemplative compositions, here working through a set of dark, mournful on the road instrumentals.

The record edition of “Old Joy” contains five tracks plus an alternate version of one of them, for a total of twenty-six minutes: a soundtrack that flows along conjuring up powerful, solitary images. It's an ambient-Americana record that holds up even without the visuals to back it. The elegant country–blues, with its velvety, gripping crescendo on “Driving Home”, and the pulsing guitar-and-rhythm beat of “End Credits” are just two of the standout moments on an album that at times recalls Labradford. The blend of country-western, road-blues and post-rock elements is so convincing that it will grab the attention even of those who haven't seen Reichardt's film.

For the record, it should be noted that some tracks had already appeared on the Yo La Tengo compilation “They Shoot, We Score”, and that one track from the original soundtrack, “Memories Of Abilene”, is missing here, perhaps left out for its livelier pace compared to the project's placid, mysterious atmospheres.

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11/03/2025