Racing the Storm

Emiliana Torrini and the Colorist Orchestra first paired up in the mid-2010s for a series of concerts that adapted highlights from the Icelandic singers catalog into strange chamber pop vignettes of almost puckish sophistication. The collaboration yielded a 2016 live album padded with two new original cuts that serve as a precursor to this, their first studio album together. Released by Bella Union, Racing the Storm is also Torrinis first album of new material in a decade. As a creative foil, she could do a lot worse than this inventive Belgian ensemble led by multi-instrumentalists Aarich Jespers and Kobe Proesmans. If any lingering Nordic frost still clings to her artful music, it is warmed by their quirky rhythm-forward style of orchestrated lounge pop. A smoky nightclub feel launches the set, as Torrini purrs over marimbas and jazzy guitars on "Mikos." Two songs later, standout "Hilton" takes an entirely different route, relying on a humid electro-worldbeat groove that is uplifting and deeply satisfying. While it would have been easy to settle firmly into retro cocktail mode, Torrini and her collaborators wisely mix things up, combining the electronic flourishes of her solo music with a range of interesting elements, from sweeping string sections to Latin percussion and eerie effects. "The Illusion Curse" is another enchanting track that defies expectations, moving between cinematic grandeur and growling menace. Best known for adapting previously recorded work, the Colorist Orchestra prove they can also build from the ground up. For Torrini, Racing the Storm is a potent return with quality songwriting that nods to her past, but introduces a new element that suits her quite well. ~ Timothy Monger