The Cinematic Orchestra – To Believe
To Believe is a triumphant showcase of The Cinematic Orchestra and their collaborators, and the finished result is stunning
It feels somewhat incomprehensible that over a decade has passed since The Cinematic Orchestra introduced listeners to instant classic Ma Fleur. Twelve years later, they look set for similar critical acclaim in this long-awaited return, To Believe.
The overarching theme of the album appears to be belief in the harsh face of such a new and different world. Jason Swinscoe and company ambitiously circumnavigate the darker times and broader musical landscape of the late-2010s, without relinquishing their trademark orchestral, jazz-soaked sound.
Collaboration is the name of the game: echoing previous material, To Believe focuses on guest vocalists ranging from the tried-and-tested Roots Manuva, to the grandiose voice of Heidi Vogel, to LA stalwart Moses Sumney – a name to remember – who delivers a solid, understated opener with To Believe, accompanied by sombre guitar riffs. Quite frankly, this could all have veered into chaotic territory in less capable hands, but each contributor not only keeps their head above water but puts in a commanding performance. Only two strictly instrumental tracks are featured and while they naturally do not generate the same level of firepower as their counterparts, they help to balance out the other vocal-heavy material.
Many will recall the beautifully bleak All Things to All Men, the memorable 2002 anthem that saw Roots Manuva and The Cinematic Orchestra begin their partnership. Here, A Caged Bird / Imitations of Life is noticeably less haunting than its predecessor, but still manages to resonate on a deeper level. Choruses engineered with banging drums, crashing cymbals and celestial strings send us high into orbit but on a more hopeful tangent than before. This is hardly the boldest of predictions, but we reckon there will be little struggle in A Caged Bird reaching similar legendary heights – perhaps proof that lightning can strike twice when this pairing comes together. Time will tell, of course.
The final track of the album, A Promise, belongs to Vogel's richly complex voice. It's an avant-garde voyage through time and space, and a brilliant showcase of Vogel’s vocal capability. The band's use of drums here has never sounded better – in fact, the entire album is a triumphant showcase on how to master percussion, and the finished result is a dreamy 53 minutes that seems to end as quickly as it began. Stunning.
Listen to: A Caged Bird / Imitations of Life, To Believe