Cinematic Orchestra, The / To Believe
Album: To Believe   Collection:General
Artist:Cinematic Orchestra, The   Added:Apr 2019
Label:Ninja Tune  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2019-04-09 Pull Date: 2019-06-11
Week Ending: Jun 9 Jun 2 May 26 May 19 May 12 May 5 Apr 28 Apr 21
Airplays: 3 2 2 1 3 3 1 3

Recent Airplay
1. Aug 30, 2024: KZSU Time Traveler
A Promise (Feat. Heidi Vogel)
4. Nov 12, 2021: KZSU Time Traveler
To Believe (Feat. Moses Sumney)
2. Feb 24, 2023: KZSU Time Traveler
To Believe (Feat. Moses Sumney)
5. Aug 24, 2021: grapevine (rebroadcast from Apr 30, 2019)
A Caged Bird/Imitations Of Life (Feat. Roots Manuva)
3. Nov 17, 2021: KZSU Time Traveler (rebroadcast from Nov 12, 2021)
To Believe (Feat. Moses Sumney)
6. Apr 03, 2020: KZSU Time Traveler
The Workers Of Art

Album Review
Francis D
Reviewed 2019-04-03
“To Believe” The Cinematic Orchestra
Founding member, Jason Swinscoe, and longtime musical collaborator, Dominic Smith, are back with the English group’s first album since 2007’s acclaimed breakthrough, “Ma Fleur.” This is exquisite, lush, jazzy, sometimes soulful, orchestral electronica, which is difficult to categorize by genre. Most of the tracks would lend themselves to the soundtrack of a movie, TV show or ad. “To Build A Home,” from the Cinematic Orchestra’s 2007 album, has been used this way dozens of times — hence the name “cinematic.” Exceptional release…will fit into a lot of shows.
— Francis

Recommended: 1, 2, 7, 6, 5. No FCCs noted.

1. (5:28) To Believe (feat. Moses Sumney) — Peaceful and soulful. Airy and warm, starting with guitar or piano under longing and soulful male vocals, often harmonized — building into big orchestral crescendos. First single. ****
2. (6:55) A Caged Bird/Imitations of Life (feat. Roots Manuva) — Jazzy, with a hip groove. Cool electronic rhythm track, handclaps, piano, vocals almost spoken. Resolves into a wistful orchestral passage, and then ends with a bit of meandering piano, synth and quiet words. ****
3. (9:07) Lessons — Long, lively jam incorporating off-kilter rhythms that gallop along, electronic loops, uplifting strings, some guitar, and melodic keys. No vocals.
4. (7:11) Wait For Now/Leave The World (feat. Tawiah) — Beautiful, heartfelt love song. Halting pace. Keys and strings with gorgeous female vocals. Finishes with several minutes of a shimmering synth soundscape.
5. (6:17) The Workers Of Art — Inspiring instrumental. Swirling, sometimes soaring orchestral movements enveloping pulsing synth chords, piano and other keyboards. **
6. (7:04) Zero One/This Fantasy (feat. Grey Reverend) — More folky and emotionally deeper at times. Prominent strummed guitar, layered with mysterious and playful synths, and orchestral strings. Rich male vocals. ***
7. (11:35) A Promise (feat. Heidi Vogel) — Thrilling closer. Fragile and vulnerable at the start, building into an intense, edgy mix of reverbed loops and rhythm toward the end. Jazzy female vocals. Epic length. ****

Track Listing
1. To Believe (Feat. Moses Sumney)   4. Wait For Now/Leave The World (Feat. Tawiah)
2. A Caged Bird/Imitations Of Life (Feat. Roots Manuva)   5. The Workers Of Art
3. Lessons   6. Zero One/This Fantasy (Feat. Grey Reverend)
  7. A Promise (Feat. Heidi Vogel)