Atli Örvarsson's score for Rams is released through Lakeshore Records. In a secluded valley in Iceland, Gummi and Kiddi live side by side, tending to their sheep. Their ancestral sheep-stock is considered one of the country’s best, and the two brothers are repeatedly awarded for their prized rams who carry an ancient lineage. Although they share the land and a way of life, Gummi and Kiddi have not spoken to each other in four decades. When a lethal disease suddenly infects Kiddi’s sheep, the entire valley comes under threat. The authorities decide to cull all the animals in the area to contain the outbreak. This is a near death sentence for the farmers, whose sheep are their main source of income, and many abandon their land. But Gummi and Kiddi don’t give up so easily – and each brother tries to stave off the disaster in his own fashion: Kiddi by using his rifle and Gummi by using his wits. As the authorities close in the brothers will need to come together to save the special breed passed down for generations, and themselves, from extinction...

Given the intimate and moving tale that unfolds in Rams, and that the film's composer has roots in Bárðardalur - the Icelandic valley where the film is set - it comes as no surprise to discover that Atli Örvarsson delivers a very personal and moving score.

Örvarsson's mother’s family is from Bárðardalur. She was actually born in the farmhouse which was used as one of the brothers’ homes in the film.  In addition, his great grandfather was the organ player at the local church in the valley.

The composer felt it essential to reflect the fact that the way of life of the farmers, as depicted in the movie, has remained pretty unchanged for centuries. To illustrate this, Örvarsson employed the use of the instruments that people in the area have used for at least the last 100-200 years. The instrumentation is mainly the church organ from Lundarbrekka church in the valley, along with Örvarsson father's Borsini accordion. There is also violin and an old Norse instrument called Taglharpa which is a string instruments made from the hair of a horse's tail.

This, more than anything helps to give a solid grounding for the movie and deliver some personal, touching themes. The score contains 14 tracks (36 min, 46 sec) and while I enjoyed this album, as a whole, I particularly loved the vocal track 'Ökuljóð'; 'After the Storm'; 'The Ancestors'; and 'In the Valley'. Also, while I enjoyed it, the quirky 'Aðfangadagskvöld' sounded oddly out of place on this album.

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Darren Rea