Band : The Cinematic Orchestra

Album title : Live At The Royal Albert Hall

Label : Ninja Tune

Distributor : PIAS

Release date : 07/04/2008

Release : CD

Aha...a new album by The Cinematic Orchestra . Well, it's "only" a live album, but one which even before I had started a second listening session had creeped itself into the deepest crevaces of my music-loving heart.

Somewhat removed from the usual stuff we get to review on this website, as it lives in the realms of Jazz, Soul, and Electronics...but therefore not the less appealing. Of course, I was somewhat prejudiced about this act (the brain exploits of one Jason " Jay " Swinscoe ) already, as I was unabled by their label's Belgian distributor ( PIAS ) to review the remixes EP To Build A Home , a review which was posted 30/09/2007, and a place to which I would like to redirect you for all your fact-finding needs.

Last year Jason took his act on the road for a European tour (actually TCO is very much a band that líves for the live circuit), and on Nov. 11 Th , they recorded their performance at London's Royal Albert Hall for the needs of the band's first full-length live album. The set opens with "All That You Give" , a song which simply óózes Soul thanks to the female vocals (I'm guessing those are by one Fontanella Bass , who also worked on the album)...female vocals which dó come back in a more backing mode for the ensuing "Child Song" , which has an overall Jazz mood, in spite of the female vocals on it. What follows is a somewhat soundtrackish instrumental which kinda leans towards Ambient. The first obvious use of electronics (or is it really a very well-played and pedal-effects distorted guitar?) comes with the atmospheric/ futuristic opening of the lengthy "Familiar Ground" , which also sees some playing on trumpet or trombone done, as well as some beautiful piano. Again, that Soulful female voice comes in for a sparce amount of words repeated and vocal backings. A perfect blending of Soul and Jazz if ever one was. Next up is "To Build A Home" , which sees Patrick Watson (or a very good facimile) come to the forefront, as he's accompanied by a sole acoustic guitar (and a male backing) only (which somehow makes the song come close to a truly good Country ballad). Follows the short instrumental "Prelude" , which is again somewhat minimalistic with "strings" only...but oh-so-beautiful. For the calmer "Breathe" the help of the female vocalist is again called in, resulting is a song which combines elements of both soft Jazz, Soul, and electronics. The nearly 15-minute not only sees the return of the female vocals, and trumpets in a latter part of the song, but also a bit of Free Jazz improv including a drum solo and some play between horns and...well, some kind of electronics gadget! In any case the audience loved the freaky display, as prooven by their applause afterwards. Info found just now in a blog on Myspace tells us that, that night at the sold-out RAH , the line-up was enhanced to incorporate the 24-piece Heritage Orchestra , meaning that at moments over 40 musicians were playing in front of the more than 4000-headed audience (from the same info, I now have to find out that vocal contributions came from Heidi Vogel and Lou Rhodes (the latter formerly of Lamb , and also on the previous studio album), and Grey Reverend , and that original member PC could be found behind the turntables). Album closer "Time And Space" sees another female singer coming to the fore, and Jason again displaying some of his Ambient guitar play before turning over to keyboards. Regrettably, the promo disc we got shows a deficiency somewhere in the nearly 9-minute song, cutting if short.

Pity for that little negative detail, but then I can always go and get myself a decent (regular retail) version of the album in the record store. Because I do lóóve this little jem! About time I went out to buy the other TCO albums too, by the way! Year-list material for anyone open-minded enough to take in his music while laying back lazily in his comfi-chair,even if it transcends the usual musical fields our "normal" reader will be listening to. In fact, it's year-list material for anyone who's actually into THIS stuff too, you know!!!

98/100

Tony.