Singles

DeVotchKa - How it Ends

Rhian Daly 16/04/2009

Rating: 4/5

Now I'm not entirely sure exactly what Gears of War 2 is but when reading that How it Ends is the theme from the commercial for said game, I thought there must have been some mistake. What I was expecting was some heavy rock, maybe some bomb sound effects and something that makes you feel invincible. Instead, DeVotchKa provide a much mellower, sobering folk song that would reflect the loss that is a consequence of war rather than the apparent “fun” you'd presume would be being showcased.

DeVotchKa are no strangers to having their music played to an unwitting audience of millions though, as they provided 2006 film Little Miss Sunshine with an award-winning soundtrack. On How it Ends they mix sousaphone, bazouki and accordion along with more traditional instruments to create a soaring and emphatic score, which compliments singer Nick Urata's tremulous vocals to the point of perfection. If you don't have to resist the urge to cry your heart out by the end of this, you might want to check you're still alive.