Cinematic Orchestra, The - Ma Fleur

Millwood, Aug 27, 2007

I feel compelled to say something about this, the Cinematic Orchestras fourth full length album. It seems to be one of the most polarising releases of 2007, as far as popular opinion goes.

I listened to snippets of this album several months back on Itunes, and upon encountering the song-based, bold departure from their previous works, I decided not to buy it.. Because it simply wasnt what I was expecting. Five months on, and eagre to do some purchasing, I decided to give the album a second chance. Initially, I was quite disappointed.. The album lacked rhythm and continuity, and was a drastic departure from everything Id heard before. But, having sacrificed my money, I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt. And Im so glad I did.

Without wanting to harp on too much, I think the key to appreciating this album is forgetting everything that has gone before. Once I began to appraise it on its own merits, rather than comparing it to the bands previous efforts, I fell completely in love.. The lyrics, the composition, the flow of the album.. It all clicked. And I think this is the sad thing about artists like the Cinematics attempting to depart from their established sound; fans, both loyal and otherwise, will always have expectations. And this will more often than not blind them to the development and direction that artists chose to take.

Often this shift may well be a negative one, and the scepticism totally justified.. But I feel the need to stress that this is not one of those instances. Forget Motion, Every Day, and Man With The Movie Camera. This is something totally different.. But no less worthwhile. It is beautiful, beguiling, and intelligent.. And whether or not this is indicative of things to come is beside the point, because what Swinscoe has created here is something quite timeless. And those who open their minds (and hearts) to Ma Fleur will be duly rewarded.

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