Ma Fleur: The Cinematic Orchestra: Amazon.co.uk: Music

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Mojo, 4/5 - A Lead Review
"A raw and overwhelming surge of soul. Deeply moving."

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"You'd be very fortunate to hear another record this incredible this year."

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Customer Reviews

42 Reviews

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(2)

Average Customer Review

4.0 out of 5 stars (42 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Different, 13 Jul 2007

By	BJ (London, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ma Fleur (Audio CD)

I'm a little tired of reading reviews by people who expect artists to keep churning out the same old stuff. It's particularly disappointing from Cinematics fans - who you would have thought would be more open minded than most.

If you're looking for a rehash of Everyday or Motion, you will be disappointed with this. It is a pretty big departure from those two outstanding records. On Ma Fleur, Swinscoe has gone for a more song-based approach. I think the most interesting comment of the reviews on here so far is the comparison with Antony & the Johnsons - the songs featuring Patrick Watson definitely share something in common with those guys. And I guess maybe that shouldn't have been such a big surprise when you combine the Cinematics' lush orchestration with broken-hearted torch songs. For me, this combination - new territory for this group - works wonderfully well.

I think the biggest disappointment for old school Cinematic Orchestra fans may be the marked absence of rhythm on this record. Luke Flowers is a brilliant drummer, and his propulsive beats were a key feature of Motion and, in particular, Everyday. He barely features here. But then this is entirely in keeping with the whole feel of Ma Fleur - intimate, downbeat, tender and heartbroken.

Is it as good as Motion and Everday? Probably not, when it comes down to it. Ultimately, I think the Cinematic Orchestra are better at creating powerful, brooding instrumentals than they are at writing torch songs. But this is still an excellent - and brave - record.

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12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delicate, mesmerising and passionate., 10 May 2007

By	T. Moss "tim_moss10" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Ma Fleur (Audio CD)

It never surprises me when people can be polarised on a matter of taste. For example, look at the voting on any film reviewed on IMDB - there will always be at least one person giving the film 10 and at least one person giving it 1 regardless of your perceived quality. In truth, very few works merit 5 stars in my opinion, but I simply find Jason Swinscoe's latest collection to exceed my expectations in so many ways, and it is an utter delight in life to have one's expectations exceeded.

From the percussive piano and acrobatic vocals of the hugely talented Patrick Watson to the heartrending strings to the folky soul of Lou Rhodes to the beautiful acoustic guitar arrangements to the smoky wisdom of Fontella Bass to the jazzy Rhodes to the.... it goes on an on, highlight after highlight.

Its an album of dichotomy - it is sparse but rich, melancholy but uplifting, measured but exciting. It is music pared down to the barest of emotions. I think this is the sort of music that Hans Bemman was referring to in "The Stone and the Flute".

Anyway, enough of my pseudy musings... buy it! Its an album of 11 superbly written, superbly arranged, superbly produced tracks performed by a group of professional musicians who are experts in their craft, at the top of their game and in "the zone".

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9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!, 29 Jun 2007

By	Lukey Boy (Southampton, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ma Fleur (Audio CD)

I don't think i've ever known an album to split opinion quite so much. Is this the sign of a truly great album? Possibly. Yes it's a bit different to their last albums, but look at other bands born out of the big chill / nu jazz scene, where are they now? Exactly. They have matured, these songs are growers, they're unpretentious, universal. There is no other album to compate it to, it stands alone and complete. If Autumn leaves could sing this is how they'd sound. There are less beats tho, its folkier so that might be a clue as to whether you'll like it or not. BUt i find it refreshing, modern music is based too much on beats, its nice to have such a chilled listen, and when the drums do kick in it sounds all the better for it.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars one track is all i like but its a real good one
most of this stuff is pretty boring for me but there again im not a longterm follower of cinematic orchestra i bought it for the track "to build a home" which i think is... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Terence G. Callachan

1.0 out of 5 stars Smoke and Mirrors
After the Cinematics epochal 2002 release, 'Every Day', the bar was always going to be high for any follow up and perhaps higher still given that little was heard of them in the... Read more

Published 3 months ago by J. M. Fellows

4.0 out of 5 stars i like it
is good yes? yes. like good that is nice. not like good like man wiv camera. no. not like him. maybe more songs on this one. Read more

Published 15 months ago by Mr. Christopher J. Hopkinson

2.0 out of 5 stars Oh, I tried, I tried...
Preamble: big fan of Motion and Everyday. Mesmerised and fasinated. They were pretty much the soundtrack to my life and continue to be essential listening. Read more

Published 15 months ago by Jonathan C. Ward

5.0 out of 5 stars Genius
Buy this record. Seriously that's all you need to know.

It doesn't matter who this is by or what they used to sound like, this collection of songs stands on its own... Read more

Published 15 months ago by Scott MacGregor

5.0 out of 5 stars Seriously Chilled Out Stuff
I first got into the Orchestra with "Man With a Movie Camera", and I can't understand the previous comments about this being a bad album of theirs. Read more

Published 16 months ago by P. Bannon

3.0 out of 5 stars Mellow jazz
I'm new to the Cinematic Orchestra but I enjoyed this album as a simple, mellow collection of jazz tracks, some more modern than others in style. Read more

Published 18 months ago by DaveW

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning
If you are simply looking for a rehash of previous albums you might be disappointed.
If you are more open minded than this though, you may find this album to be an utterly... Read more

Published 18 months ago by Jonathan Heddle

2.0 out of 5 stars What happened to the drummer ?
Its true that we can't expect bands to recreate the same album over and over again.... but that said neither should they forget what they are good at. Read more

Published 20 months ago by M. Brunt

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
I know a lot of the reviwers on this page have been kicking off & giving the album a bad press, but i just dont see it!! Read more

Published 20 months ago by JA White

› See all 42 customer reviews...

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	76% buy the item featured on this page: Ma Fleur 4.0 out of 5 stars (42)
	12% buy Motion 4.4 out of 5 stars (12) �4.98
	5% buy Everyday 4.8 out of 5 stars (24)
	5% buy Live at the Royal Albert Hall 4.8 out of 5 stars (4) �6.98


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Ma Fleur [Limited Edition]

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