Every Day

With Every Day, Cinematic Orchestra move beyond the electro-jazz fusion of their debut to make a record more natural, more paced, and, surprisingly, better than the justly hyped Motion. J Swinscoe is more the arranger/conductor here than the producer, but of course, there's little need for samples or effects with such an accomplished band sharing the burden. For the opener "All That You Give," Swinscoe and Co., plus harp player Rhodri Davies, spend a few minutes delicately paving the way for a deeply felt vocal by soul hero Fontella Bass. "Burn Out" is a lush, meditative track with a pleasantly ambling solo from Phil France on electric piano, a few appropriately cinematic-sounding horns, an age-old vocal sample, and occasional creaking static phasing through. Bass returns for another splendid track ("Evolution"), and the mighty Roots Manuva appears on a magisterial, spoken-word quasi-autobiography, "All Things to All Men." Except for a pair of detours into highly programmed "broken beat" production, Every Day is a textured, acoustic work; Cinematic Orchestra take their time setting up these songs -- of the seven tracks, four last over nine minutes. The sounds and styles heard may not be revolutionary, but instead of simply pushing stylistic boundaries, Cinematic Orchestra display a real gift in making emotional, artistic music. ~ John Bush

プログラミングと生楽器演奏との有機的な融合を通じて、奇を衒うことのない本質的な音楽を追求していた99年の『Motion』。そこからほどよいブランクを経て届けられた今作からまず受けた印象は、すっくと顔を前に向け大空を仰いでいる野性の動物のような、凛とした強さ。作曲、プログラミングなどを手掛けるジェイソン・スウィンスコーを中心に、現時点では5人のミュージシャンから成る彼らだが、その演奏力、そして各々が叩き出す音の整合性は格段にアップし、結果として圧倒的にエモーショナルで説得力のあるサウンドを創り上げている。スピリチュアルで示唆に満ちたヴォイスを披露するディーヴァ、フォンテラ・バスや、UKヒップホップ随一のリリシストであるルーツ・マヌーヴァなど重量感あるゲストもフィーチャー。緩やかで確かな時の流れを感じさせる、ゆったりとした構成も秀逸だ。
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