David Hirschfelder - The Dressmaker [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] (2015)

The Dressmaker's quirky soundtrack displays Hirschfelder's distinctive dark humour, with a deliciously wicked blend of "spaghetti western" and contemporary classical tones.

From the very first booming drums and big acoustic guitars, the Dressmaker's score instantly tells the audience, "Don't be fooled by the title - this is not a chic flick!" Director Jocelyn Moorhouse's brief was to hypnotise and intrigue the audience with a spell of "deliciously wicked" music, and that's exactly what David Hirschfelder did, from the first frame to the last.The sound of the score, whilst occasionally tipping it's hat to classic western genre films of the 50s and 60s, nevertheless has its own voice, with a bedrock of string orchestra, overlaid with earthy acoustic guitars, tenor mandolins, country fiddles, piano, various percussion instruments and assorted oddball delights - including washboard, bucket bass, and other misfit instruments such as 3-string guitars made from cookie tins strummed with coins. The resultant score is a beguiling juxtaposition of off-beat tones and classical minimalism, effortlessly bouncing from humour to unexpected flashes of deeper emotions; a perfect reflection of the quirky characters and complex wit ever-present in the wonderful narrative.