Montreal-based Frenchman Olivier Alary is a highly talented composer, who has previously collaborated with Bjork. Having released albums on FatCat and Aphex Twin’s Rephlex label under the lushly-orchestrated, experimental pop guise of Ensemble, over the past 5 or 6 years Olivier has moved away from that song-based project to focus on composing material for a stream of films and artistic collaborations. In June 2016 Olivier signed to 130701, and this album – a compilation of film soundtrack work – marks his debut under his own name. Largely self-produced, the material on the album was recorded at a variety of dates and locations, and utilises a range of instrumental set-ups. It features performances from the Babelsberg Filmorchestra, The Wroclaw Score Orchestra, Saint Stanislas de Kostka Choir, members of the Warhol Dervish String quartet, as well as pianist / arranger Johannes Malfatti, saxophonist Erik Hove and many other musicians from the hyper-dynamic Montreal music scene. Each track witnesses Olivier’s precision and attention to harmonic and textural detail, confirming his sheer talent at layering / arranging sound. From the rich, smoky, deeply atmospheric saxophone-led tracks like Yu Shui and Flooding to the lusciously-textured ascension of Nollywood (the closest-sounding thing here to Ensemble), they showcase the emergence of a composer of considerable talent.