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Live Review: LISTEN: The National 'Lean'

11 November 2013 | 11:11 pm | Lauren Payne

The National have written a haunting new track that will pull at your heart strings.

We all know that THE NATIONAL have a knack for creating tracks that have a wonderful ambience and mood. Their music has already been used on film soundtracks such as 'Runaway' in Warm Bodies, but the band have never actually crafted a track specifically for a film. Until now.

THE NATIONAL have written a song for the now famous film series The Hunger Games and its a tantalising new track that is full of wonderful strings and beautifully deep vocals.

The Hunger Games has already had one successful film in its series and with the sequel Catching Fire about to be released in cinemas, various artists who have made huge marks on the music industry have come together to create the soundtrack for the series' second film.

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PATTI SMITH has gotten on board as well as DIPLO (who has collaborated with SIA and THE WEEKND on a track), LORDE, SANTIGOLD and MIKKY EKKO. The soundtrack is shaping up to be pretty fantastic so far, but of course 'Lean' will be a track that will stand out on the soundtrack as it pulls at your heartstrings.

With a lovely acoustic guitar beginning the track in a soft, natural light, 'Lean' has an emotional bend in it's core. The lyric "Dying is easy" was actually going to be the original title of THE NATIONAL's contribution to the film soundtrack, but was apparently too violent for a film soundtrack. 'Lean' slowly builds itself up with pounding drums and a full sounding string section, as the lyrics reveal a story that feels like something that you would never want to experience.

The track suits the soundtrack, it suits the film and it has THE NATIONAL written all over it. It's a wonderful work that probably could have been released under it's original title by the band themselves as it still would have been liked just as much by fans of the band.

THE NATIONAL are heading over our way earlier next year so if you haven't bought tickets, get on it because you won't want to miss this show!

Words by Lauren Payne

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