Tindersticks is set to score the upcoming A24 adaptation of Denis Johnson’s book Stars At Noon, a romantic thriller starring Margaret Qualley, Joe Alwyn, Danny Ramirez, Benny Safdie, and John C. Reilly and directed by Claire Denis. In tandem with the movie’s release, the Stars At Noon soundtrack will be out October 14 via City Slang. Today, Tindersticks are sharing the title track, which also has a video featuring some of the film’s stars.

Here’s a statement from Tindersticks’ Stuart Staples:

I stood in CDG, terminal 2, talking to Claire on the cell phone. She was preparing to leave for Panama to start filming Stars At Noon.

“And of course I need the song for the dance scene for the shoot,” she said.

“What dance scene? Is it in the script?” I replied.

“It’s in the new version of the script.”

“Ah, do I have the new version?..”

The line faded and I was left considering this, something that I expected to hit me in the months ahead but was suddenly all over me.

Stars At Noon had been in Claire’s thoughts for a long time, maybe even 10 years. We have had many conversations, I had a strong feeling for it and half a song somewhere in my mind.

I remembered the percussionist David Pattman, he played the bongos on the Trouble Every Day score 20 years before. He was happy to hear from me and we quickly arranged a recording session with Dan McKinna on double bass and Ross Stanley on Hammond organ. We had a blast those days, taking the ideas apart, putting them back together in many different forms.

At the centre was the song “Stars at Noon” – I was pushing it to be slower and slower, until it only just grooved, just on the cusp. Finding that tempo was key for me and the final version was recorded live in one take. Julian Seigel arrived later and played the beautiful tenor sax line.

I sent a rough mix to Claire in Panama, they were having production problems and she said the song cheered them all up – I heard all the crew singing along in the background.

Denis adds: “Stuart’s first reaction to the material is always important to me. As a musician, and the artist he is, he gives me advance knowledge about the story, like he’s one step ahead of me at all times… He boosts my confidence when he sends music, opening up new and wider landscapes to consider in movies.”

Watch the “Stars At Noon” video below.

TRACKLIST
01 “Introduction”
02 “Opening”
03 “Taxi Across Town”
04 “Hotel Bar”
05 “Dawn Walk Home”
06 “Los Periquitos”
07 “The Mercado”
08 “Motel Rain”
09 “The Costa Rican”
10 “Stars at Noon”
11 “Blood Hands”
12 “Burning Car”
13 “The Consultant”
14 “Blood Hands” (version)
15 “Apache”
16 “The Bridge”
17 “The Crossing”
18 “The Costa Rican” (reprise)
19 “Stars At Noon” (instrumental)

The Stars At Noon soundtrack is out 10/14 via City Slang.