The Time Traveler's Wife (Music from the Motion Picture)

The Canadian composer Mychael Danna frequently collaborates with the Canadian director Atom Egoyan and has also worked on prestigious projects such as The Ice Storm, Capote, and Little Miss Sunshine. The Time Traveler’s Wife, adapted from a popular book by Audrey Niffenegger, details the romance of a woman and her love, a man with a genetic disease that involuntarily sends him on time-traveling episodes. “I’m You Henry,” with its gamelan percussion, electronics, and strings is a good example of Danna’s gift for fusing distinct elements in subtle ways. “Meadow” features fine string writing and a memorable melody for flute; it’s a gorgeously evocative slice of movie music. “How Does It Feel?” continues in a similar orchestral vein, but once again Danna incorporates gamelan tones. Even though the Indonesian sounds only make a fleeting appearance, they add an unusual twist to the queue. The soundtrack also includes two pop songs, “Broken” by Lifehouse, and a slowed-down cover of Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” by Broken Social Scene.