British composer Harry Escott and artist PJ Harvey have collaborated on ‘An Acre of Land’, a new recording that is the theme to Dark River, the latest film by Director Clio Barnard. The entire film is also scored by Escott, who says: ‘recording PJ Harvey’s vocal on ‘An Acre of Land’, a song we arranged together for Dark River, was a spine-tingling experience.’ The song is out now, via independent label Cognitive Shift Recordings - a collaborative label between One Little Indian Records and Manners McDade Publishing.

Escott first came to prominence in 2005 with his score to the influential psychological horror film Hard Candy, directed by David Slade. Since then, Harry has worked with such stellar directorial talents as Eran Creevy on both Shifty and Welcome To The Punch; Michael Winterbottom on A Mighty Heart, The Road To Guantanamo, and Face Of An Angel; Clio Barnard on the multi award-winning The Arbor; and The Selfish Giant, a contemporary adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s short story; as well as Nick Broomfield on Ghosts; and perhaps most prominently, on Steve McQueen’s seminal debut film Shame.

Escott describes Dark River as ‘a film that leaves me wanting to take more care of those around me, which is a good thing for a film to leave you with.’ The film premiered at the 2017 London Film Festival, and will be on general release on February 23.

In its 70th year The Edinburgh International Festival continues to attract top contemporary musicians alongside the more traditional cultural offerings of opera, classical music etc.

Having had a pretty sonically challenging programme last year (Mogwai, God Speed! You Black Emperor & Sigur Ros) 2017 promises to be a bit lighter on the ears but no less exciting.

PJ Harvey brings her Hope Six Demolition Project show to the Edinburgh Playhouse at the beginning of August, 2015 Mercury Prize winner Benjamin Clementine pitches up at the Festival Theatre a couple of days later with some special guests, Stephen Merritt, with an expanded version of The Magnetic Fields will perform their new album 50 Song Memoir at the King's Theatre over two nights towards the end of the month whilst the same venue plays host to Jarvis Cocker & Chilly Gonzales' Room 29 collaboration over three days just prior.

Add to that a celebration of the work of Edinburgh's own Incredible String Band, productions looking at the connections between Robert Burns, slavery & Scotland and elements of the Spirit Of '47 collaboration with The British Council celebrating the festival's anniversary (including performances from Anoushka Shankar) and yet again you have a world class event in the city to close out the summer with. 

Tickets (on general sale from March 25) and further information for all events can be found here.