Mogwai - Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait OST

The recently-released 'Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait' is not just a football documentary but an artistic, evocative think-piece that resonates beyond the touchlines of the Bernabau Stadium, and Mogwai's soundtrack is an integral part of this transition. In contrast to the earth-shattering 'Mr Beast', loud-Mogwai cedes the stage to quiet-Mogwai, the minor shifts and adagio-paced snare hits akin to 'Happy Songs for Happy People'. In the film, this thoroughly mournful music provides a striking contrast to the rapid-fire Spanish commentary and underscores Zizou's surprising solitariness in the game – on record it sounds no less haunting. But, like the flashes of brilliance that light up Zidane's play, there is a hidden beauty in these stormy compositions. People may question the relevance of a CD that will be part of the DVD later, but this soundtrack, often distorted on-screen by the directors, is a major addition to Mogwai's evolving oeuvre. [Nick Mitchell]