Album Club, April 2017: The Cinematic Orchestra - 'Everyday'
The album Club choice for April comes courtesy of Neil (Dalek Supreme DL) with The Cinematic Orchestra - 'Everyday'. As always, please listen to the Album in its entirety before you comment and/or vote.
The Cinematic Orchestra is a British nu jazz and electronic music group, created in 1999 by Jason Swinscoe. The group is signed to independent record label Ninja Tune. Other musicians involved in the group include:PC (Patrick Carpenter) on turntables, Luke Flowers (drums), Tom Chant (saxophone), Nick Ramm (piano), Stuart McCallum (guitar) and Phil France (double bass). Former members include Jamie Coleman (trumpet), T. Daniel Howard (drums), Federico Ughi (drums), Alex James (piano), and Clean Sadness (synthesizer, programming). The most recent addition to the band is Mancunian guitarist Stuart McCallum.
The Cinematic Orchestra create a fairly unique sound, featuring both live and studio contexts, this employs a live band which improvises alongside a turntablist and electronic elements, such as samples provided by Swinscoe. In their studio releases Swinscoe will often remix the live source material to produce a combination of live jazz improvisation with electronica, such that it is difficult to tell where the improvisation ends and the production begins.
Everyday is their 2002 second album and has at times a strong jazz vibe, particularly on the first track featuring Fontella Bass on vocals, All that You Give and the track Evolution also featuring a very impassioned Fontella vocal.
Second track, Burn Out has a strong 70s vibe mixing chill out electronica with jazz and there are also some slight prog rock elements present.
Track three, Flite at times reminds me of Pierre Moerlen Gong, with a very percussive almost drum and bass vibe.
Track five, Man With The Movie Camera (later expanded on in the album of the same name) is a strong nod to the film score music of Bernard Herrmann and has a somewhat minimalist almost avant garde aspect to it. The track starts of very simply and builds as new elements are added, drums, percussion and beautifully haunting keyboards. There is a jazz aspect to this track as well towards the end, having started with an almost classical music intro.
Track six, All Things to All Men is a wonderfully haunting piece of music which features samples from John Barry's film soundtrack to the 1968 film Petulia. Roots Manuva provides rap vocals during the track.
Track seven, Everyday is a somewhat weaker composition and while it works ok does provide a slightly poor end to what is in my opinion an overall wonderful album.
Later in November 2002 the album was re-released with two extra tracks.
Oregon - is a minimalist piece with everything underpinned behind a mournful instrument soloing.
Horizon, track nine on the re-released album, is a beautiful end to the new version of the album and leaves Everyday with a much more upbeat ending. Niara Scarlett provides the vocal and the track has a somewhat 70s soul vibe, mixed in with some jazz and chill out electronica elements. Horizon like much of the album sounds like the music for a film.
This was my first encounter with this group and it immediately drew me to buy as many of their other albums as I could, this groups music excited me. As this was my first exposure to this somewhat unique electronica/dance group it is so far my favourite album by them, but their other material is also well worth seeking out, both studio albums, soundtracks and live recordings.
Neil
Extended version of the Album on You Tube
Also worth checking out is their album Man With A Movie Camera, a somewhat more minimalist stripped down affair at times but wonderful in its beautifully haunting chill out melodies.
03-04-2017, 14:18
Spectral Morn
I voted 9 out of 10
No surprise there ;)
10-04-2017, 21:45
Barry
Utterly brilliant - I love this sort of stuff! Really imaginative use of sampling; the harp work sounds like the playing of Alice Coltrane.
I'm going to see if this is still available and get a copy.
10/10 from me!
Nice one Neil.
10-04-2017, 22:39
struth
Not really me tbh, as I suspected alas. I kinda like my music to go somewhere, and always found electronica in general doesnt.(just my take of the genre as a whole):sofa:
After saying that, I would think if you like this style you would really like this as it does sound technically good.
11-04-2017, 11:59
Spectral Morn
Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry
Utterly brilliant - I love this sort of stuff! Really imaginative use of sampling; the harp work sounds like the playing of Alice Coltrane.
I'm going to see if this is still available and get a copy.
10/10 from me!
Nice one Neil.
Glad you like it Barry :) They haven't really released a bad album, so their other material is worth looking into as well.
11-04-2017, 12:00
Spectral Morn
Quote:
Originally Posted by struth
Not really me tbh, as I suspected alas. I kinda like my music to go somewhere, and always found electronica in general doesnt.(just my take of the genre as a whole):sofa:
After saying that, I would think if you like this style you would really like this as it does sound technically good.
That's ok Grant, thank you for taking the time to have a listen.
14-04-2017, 09:44
Jac Hawk
loved it Neil, the sort of thing i put and just let the sound wash over me, similar in some ways to Bob Zopp
14-04-2017, 10:54
WAD62
10/10 for me a work of true genius, fantastic musicianship, possibly the best drummer I've seen live...Also treat yourselves to the Man With a Movie Camera DVD/CD another 10/10 :)
15-04-2017, 17:03
Spectral Morn
Quote:
Originally Posted by WAD62
10/10 for me a work of true genius, fantastic musicianship, possibly the best drummer I've seen live...Also treat yourselves to the Man With a Movie Camera DVD/CD another 10/10 :)
Glad you enjoyed it Will, thank you for listening.
15-04-2017, 17:04
Spectral Morn
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jac Hawk
loved it Neil, the sort of thing i put and just let the sound wash over me, similar in some ways to Bob Zopp
Glad you loved it Mike, thank you for listening.
15-04-2017, 20:09
Havana
One of my favourites - great for listening in the dark....
16-04-2017, 10:27
high.spirits
Thanks for the suggestion Neil.
I thought it was going to be interesting at the start with the Argentine Tango flavour, however after a while I was saying to myself "get on with it".
So I guess its not my sort of music. Always good to listen to something different and it would be boring if we all liked the same old stuff.
17-04-2017, 09:23
Spectral Morn
Quote:
Originally Posted by Havana
One of my favourites - great for listening in the dark....
Agreed :)
17-04-2017, 09:23
Spectral Morn
Quote:
Originally Posted by high.spirits
Thanks for the suggestion Neil.
I thought it was going to be interesting at the start with the Argentine Tango flavour, however after a while I was saying to myself "get on with it".
So I guess its not my sort of music. Always good to listen to something different and it would be boring if we all liked the same old stuff.
No worries Martin
17-04-2017, 13:59
Dynamics
It reminds me of zero 7 a lot, if you like this you will really like the zero 7 albums, if you haven't heard them. All those bass lines, electronic pianos and use of wind instruments and add in a good vocal.
Added to my tidal playlist I think. Thank you
Check out the latest Tosca album called going going going, if you like electronic stuff - came out in Feb 17. Fantastic dorfmeister/huber collaboration group.
17-04-2017, 14:31
Spectral Morn
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dynamics
It reminds me of zero 7 a lot, if you like this you will really like the zero 7 albums, if you haven't heard them. All those bass lines, electronic pianos and use of wind instruments and add in a good vocal.
Added to my tidal playlist I think. Thank you
Check out the latest Tosca album called going going going, if you like electronic stuff - came out in Feb 17. Fantastic dorfmeister/huber collaboration group.
I like Zero 7 and I just spotted your Tosca post - nice one :)
22-04-2017, 00:29
Dynamics
I'd happily contribute a review for May if available. I think I know what it will be judging what I'm listening to a lot of. Easily best new electronic album of 2017 so far for me. Sorry I'm going going going now (and should get to bed) and a clue but no Puccini opera too. Now thats made it obvious.
22-04-2017, 06:33
HackneyRF
This turned out to be a little lesson for me. Checking out music on my headphones during my lunch break is far from ideal. At home with lights down and a nice glass of the red stuff is more like it. I really enjoyed this album, coming alive on my HiFi at home as opposed to rather dull on the headphones. Great textures, great musicianship. The vocal tracks grabbed me less so but it's going to get further listens so I may change opinion on that part.
I used to have an EP of theirs years ago called 'Diabolus'. Terrific track. Anyway listening to this prompted me to pull out some other stuff from that time in my life when I was listening this kind of thing such as Red Snapper, Thievery Corporation, Fila Brasillia etc. All good stuff.
Thanks for the suggestion Neil. A very good record. I'll give it a limp 5/10 on my lunch break! But a sparkling 9/10 on the sofa in the sweet spot.
Cheers
Loz
22-04-2017, 12:00
MikeMusic
Fabulous album and superbly well made
22-04-2017, 14:19
Spectral Morn
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeMusic
Fabulous album and superbly well made
Glad you enjoyed it Mike.
22-04-2017, 14:20
Spectral Morn
Quote:
Originally Posted by HackneyRF
This turned out to be a little lesson for me. Checking out music on my headphones during my lunch break is far from ideal. At home with lights down and a nice glass of the red stuff is more like it. I really enjoyed this album, coming alive on my HiFi at home as opposed to rather dull on the headphones. Great textures, great musicianship. The vocal tracks grabbed me less so but it's going to get further listens so I may change opinion on that part.
I used to have an EP of theirs years ago called 'Diabolus'. Terrific track. Anyway listening to this prompted me to pull out some other stuff from that time in my life when I was listening this kind of thing such as Red Snapper, Thievery Corporation, Fila Brasillia etc. All good stuff.
Thanks for the suggestion Neil. A very good record. I'll give it a limp 5/10 on my lunch break! But a sparkling 9/10 on the sofa in the sweet spot.
Cheers
Loz
Great you had an about face with it. Ahhh yes Thievery Corporation very nice.
22-04-2017, 14:22
Spectral Morn
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dynamics
I'd happily contribute a review for May if available. I think I know what it will be judging what I'm listening to a lot of. Easily best new electronic album of 2017 so far for me. Sorry I'm going going going now (and should get to bed) and a clue but no Puccini opera too. Now thats made it obvious.
I've listened to this album throughout a few times and whilst I think it's pretty good I don't quite think it's as musically engaging as some in terms of the quality of the melodies on offer. It offers very good musicianship in its structure but it's lacking in tunes a bit for my tastes.
Compare it to say zero 7's simple things album which came out in 2001, a year before, and this zero 7 album not only has the similar quality of instrumentation and how the tracks are put together, but melodies are better too. I think this cinematic orchestra album is as close in style with this zero 7 sound in terms of the bass line, electronic pianos and jazz wind instruments, plus a vocal on top. If only maybe zero 7 is a bit more 'samey'
But then something like zero 7 is a bit more commercial so its maybe someone's preference to have less 'tune' and more original 'sound', if that makes sense. Every album has a place and this is great for putting on and chilling out and reading a book, whereby you maybe don't need the mental busyness that melodies sometimes might bring in music.
But some thievery corporation albums and albums from bonobo (e.g. Animal magic, which also came out in 2001) beat it for me, with similar jazz esque inspired lazy down and mid tempo electronica. Listening to something like the track 'futures' on zero 7s album 'the garden' and you get this jazz sound and a hugely pleasing melody. Or 'the plug' of bonobos animal magic, too. Or mixing it up a bit more try 'hushed' on hidden orchestras album called archipelago. It brings the same instruments but you get a melody you just want to play again. The same deep bass line with lovely clarinets. A lovely piece of music, if a bit melancholic. I'd maybe add some groove armada into the mix too, in this category.
But i did like the way this cinematic orchestra album infused lots of different instruments and sounds into a relaxed downtempo composition on some tracks, particularly the track 'burn out'. On others it went more mid tempo and a bit faster to change the pace a bit. I like the track 'evolution' which came closest to getting a really good melody out, with the way the song is split into two components parts.
So it's definetely not on a level of a massive attack blue lines or protection 10/10, or a underworld dubnobasswithmyheadman 10/10, as far as electronic albums go. But I'd definetely buy it and I'd give it 7/10 for its relaxed sound if short of melodies a bit I thought.
24-04-2017, 16:45
flapland
Excellent album and scored 9/10 although I think Ma Fleur is better. New album due out this year which I am keen to hear.
26-04-2017, 19:58
Spectral Morn
Thank you Paul and Simon for listening :) And liking the album.
27-04-2017, 16:40
MikeMusic
If you like this try
Motion (also known as In Motion)
As good as Every day
Remixes 1998-2000 also worth a listen
27-04-2017, 21:36
Spectral Morn
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeMusic
If you like this try
Motion (also known as In Motion)
As good as Every day
Remixes 1998-2000 also worth a listen
Thank you for the suggestion, I will check that out.
20-05-2017, 08:24
reubensheldon
I'm a fan of this album. It's one I listen to whenever I change a component in my system. If you like this kind of thing I rate gogo penguin.
20-05-2017, 14:59
Spectral Morn
Quote:
Originally Posted by reubensheldon
I'm a fan of this album. It's one I listen to whenever I change a component in my system. If you like this kind of thing I rate gogo penguin.
