A rather small entry for one of Trent Reznor’s and Atticus Ross’ most abstract and deconstructed works as of late, their score for the 2019 film Waves, directed by Trey Edward Shults, known for his previous work on It Comes at Night.
I decided to tackle this score when I found out that on the digital release each track was embedded with unique artwork – a feat that has been pulled off on several of Trent Reznor’s releases, such as the Nine Inch Nails instrumental album Ghosts I-IV, or the debut album Welcome Oblivion of his side project How To Destroy Angels. I’m a sucker for these kind of stunts and it’s part of the reason why I publish so many alternative artworks here. For Waves, I took the embedded images and added the text from the official soundtrack artwork (#1). This may sound like a small thing, but it took me quite some time to find the original fonts and to adjust blend modes, blur and grain effects for each cover individually.
I am aware that this entry will probably find next to zero followers. To be honest, I’d be more than surprised if more than five people end up using these covers. But Waves is definitely worth it, because this film is nothing less than…
…a modern cinematic masterpiece! It is raw and intense and explores profound themes such as love, forgiveness and the resilience of the human spirit.
The film is an emotionally charged drama that follows the lives of a suburban African-American family. The first half focuses on Tyler Williams, a high school senior and wrestler, who crumbles under the immense pressure to succeed. The tragic unraveling of Tyler’s life, following a career-ending injury and a tumultuous relationship with his girlfriend, is depicted with a stark realism that will crush your heart. A crescendo of events that comes crashing down to a devastating tragedy which is both heart-wrenching and utterly compelling.
In stark contrast, the second part of the film shifts its focus to Tyler’s younger sister, Emily, as she struggles to cope with the aftermath of her brother’s actions and the impact it has on her family. Emily’s journey is one of healing and forgiveness as she navigates her own path in life. It could be seen as a layer of tenderness and hope that beautifully balances the film’s darker themes.
Watching this film is an exhausting experience that lingers on long after the credits roll. This is due in part to a haunting score by Reznor/Ross, which further elevates the film, adding an ethereal quality to the already intense emotional landscape. The music seamlessly weaves through the narrative, amplifying the film’s powerful themes. Though the score has received widespread acclaim, it might not appeal to those who prefer more traditional film music. This is not easy listening, folks! Not that traditional film music necessarily is, but Waves is a notch or two above that. You better be able to somehow enjoy highly experimental and abstract 10- or 20-minute ambient, noise or drone music tracks, otherwise you’ll definitely bounce off this one. And that would be a great pity, because it’s great and equally suited either as a background template for focused studying or an in-depth encounter via your headphones.
Either way, Waves is highly recommended, as it is able to beautifully paint the tragedies, fates and turbulences of a life, but also the special moments and small touches that make it all so precious.
HQCovers 
Beautiful work!
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