The Cinematic Orchestra - Breathe 12"

2007
Ninja Tunes records
12”
45 rpm



A
To Build A Home

B
Breathe
Colours



To Build A Home - Wow. I bought this album blind, only knowing that Ninja Tune is probably one of my favorite record labels. They are forward thinking with acts like Mr Scruff and Bonobo, and a million others. The music they like is almost exactly what I like. Lots of experimentation, with a VERY moody underlaying layer. This song is a perfect example. It starts out with very slow beautiful piano played by Patrick Watson. Shortly after, he starts singing. And what a voice. Its a very controlled high pitch, soul wrenching tone. His lyrics are amazing. “And I built, a home... For you! For me. Until we disappear from me, from you”. The piano builds more, and the vocals really start getting some soul put into them. It builds until it feels it’s about to boil over, and stops. Back to the beginning piano part. More light singing and beautiful lyrics. Then one last small build up, and we’re done. Wow. This song touches on so many genres, the light strings in the background and the mesmerizingly beautiful and simple bass, it’s pure genius. The piano is, at-least to me, very reminiscent of Phillip Glass. Simple, repetitive, and goes right through you to your deepest emotional core. I would highly suggest this song to almost anyone, there’s really something to like for all!



Breathe - This is a very different song then i was expecting when I turned the record over to side B. One might expect, at-least from never hearing the band minus the previous song, more piano and vocal work. But what a surprise are they in for! the song starts out with a simple acoustic scale descending, then another guitar comes in with a higher pitched melody. Some trippy electronic sounds come in. The song feels scattered, but still together. Then out of no where an amazing deep soulful voice cries out, “Oh this song is singing. Singing in to me. Over everything, I used to be.“ and it all really comes together. The woman's name is Fontella Bass, and this song is an acoustic sort of ode to trip-hop, until the beat breaks in a half disorganized lovely mess for a couple measures and as soon as it’s here is gone, becoming a fully fledged acoustic trip-hop organism. A powerful beat with lots of scattered emotions. Fontella cries out, “Oh that wait. Is liftin’, liftin’ on me. It carries me, out to the sea, and swallows me.” Some acoustic work which feels like it’s winding down, and BOOM! Back to the head bumping beat and even more soulful singing! Again i’ll have to say, the bass is perfectly placed and really helps carry the song throughout. “Breathe out to me. Breathe out to me. Breathe out to me. Breathe out through me. Breathe, in, to meeee, ohhh breathe out” The lyrics on this entire EP are so good I cannot believe it. The song dwindles into nothing with Fontella leading us there.



Colours - Saxophone and a mellow, deep, electronic guitar noise follow each other in a beautiful intertwining ‘chase’ of sorts. the saxophone takes off in a really half funky, half soul small solo with wonderful backing by the guitar before they switch places. Another sax and another guitar come and join the party with a very tiny sounding glockenspiel backing it all. Just as it’s about to get intense, it falls back into a beautiful sort of game between the two instruments. I’m thinking this would be an amazing song for a movie, It’s so emotional! the song continues to dwindle down and et increasingly mellow over the next minute or so until it’s just the acoustic fading away playing a simple loop. I am truly taken aback by this record. With the surprising “Breathe” and the two immensely beautiful other tracks, this really is a bang for your buck. The production on the whole EP is perfect, to my ears at-least, and since it’s a 12” that plays at 45 rpm, you get an even better sound then if it were to be 33 rpm! On my half decent sound system, nothing special, it sounds like the acoustic guitars are in the room, the bass emanating from every corner of my room. And Fontella’s vocals? I swore she was right in front of me, the clarity and mastering is done so well.



All in all, listen to the previews, if you like em, go buy this. Even if you have to settle for an MP3 version of the album, do it! This album has definitely only solidified how amazing of a label Nina Tune is.