Ma Fleur

Cinematic Orchestra | Format: MP3 Music

Product Details

• Original Release Date: June 5, 2007
• Release Date: June 5, 2007
• Label: Domino Recording Co.
• Copyright: 2007 Ninja Tune Under Exclusive License To Domino Recording Co. LTD For North America
• Record Company Required Metadata: Music file metadata contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
• Total Length: 49:08
• Genres:
  • Rock
• ASIN: B00122S7D2
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,277 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 26 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Mixed feelings June 6, 2007

By Patrick G. Hodo

Format:Audio CD

There have been plenty of professional reviews of this album that have either loved the new direction that TCO has taken or lamented the passing of a torch-bearer of new jazz. I have to say that I feel both ways. I must pre-condition my review by stating that I am a huge fan of TCO. I own Horizon (a little known release) and have multiple copies of live performances through the years, including their Solid Steel works that are excellent. My interest in them stems from a love of the symbiosis of jazz and downbeats that they perform better than anyone.

When I first heard the single "To Build a Home", I thought it beautiful. I eagerly wanted to hear the rest. When I heard the rest, which is a significant departure from their earlier work, I was a bit let down from the perspective of "jazz and downbeats", but willing to give the album a real listen. My overall impression is that the album is good, but not great. Event the tracks that are closest to the old-TCO style are not as strong as previous work (and sometimes is previous work). Most of the album has replaced the jazz with vocals and replaced downbeats with sparse orchestration. As a result, the album leaves you a bit cold.

1. "To Build a Home". Beautiful track featuring Patrick Watson and piano. My initial reaction has faded into disinterest due to its simple structure and sparse orchestration.

2. "Familiar Ground". Is basically a rehash of their Solid Steel work with the exception of the sweeping sax in the original is gone, losing some of its flare. Fontella Bass is still here, which is great.

3. "Child Song". Closest song to "jazz and downbeat" TCO. Great.

4. "Music Box". Sparse acoustic guitar, with Watson and Lou Rhodes which remind me of a song you would hear in a spa somewhere. Nondescript and empty of signature TCO arrangement.

5. "Prelude". Simple orchestration that seems to want to build to something, but never does.

6. "As the Stars Fall". Another song that hints at older TCO, more along the lines of "Motion" than "Everyday" as far as pace and sound.

7. "Into You". Brings back the sparse acoustic guitar but with Patrick Watson singing almost in the background. Again, nothing special and is gone before any resolution is generated song-wise.

8. "Ma Fleur". A simple orchestration of guitar, bass and sax that builds on a single theme with what seems like a bridge rather than a song. I could see how one could claim that this is similar to Paul Motian's work in its sparseness. It's interesting and has grown on me.

9. "Breathe". A Fontella Bass song that I like and does hint at old-TCO type arrangements. It is slow, however, and takes some listens to warm up to.

10 "That Home" Another Patrick Watson song that revisits the theme set in "To Build a Home" with piano and cello. Beautifully written if not simple in form. However, it finishes before any resolution (again).

11. "Time & Space" . A plodding song of bass and vocals that evolves into a more TCO-type song with piano and a Swincoe background downbeat. The first two minutes are boring, with the last six having some real merit.

So while I like the album, I wish it had more of what I like TCO for.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars well developed September 13, 2007

By lokey

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

After having heard all previous albums, I was surprised to hear the vocals - but they mesh so well with the Cinematic sound. Each song flows well from one to the next, and from the last to song back around to the first... if put on repeat...it's a fabulous concept album; a short story or perhaps a novel put to music. Listen to it forward and over again. If you like their previous outputs, and you can get into both the pop/ethereal and RnB/hip hop vocals you get here, you just may get into this.... a la Fila Brazillia's jump leads or Jazzanova's latest series of Secret Love compilations. And I love the photos included with the CD - must buy for fans.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't de fooled or disappointed September 4, 2007

By WallyJac

Format:Audio CD

This album has been out a couple months now... I've been a Cinematic fan since Everyday and have picked up everything they're released with excitement and delight. Never have I been let down, nor do I expect to be. I didn't jump on this album the day of it's release because I had read mixed reviews and maybe that is why I got a pleasant surprise when I decided to put my trust in the musical genius of this fantastic group of musicians.
Ma Fleur is great. The problem is, very much like Air, their new albums have a more simplified sound whereas their earlier releases nearly exhausted the instruments they may have had at hand. Air's Pocket Symphony took this path and Cinematic's Ma Fleur did as well. The rich orchestrations and complex movements found in Everyday are traded for a simply beautiful arrangement of more simplified tones and movements. This CD in its entirity is not a let down, to me at least.
The first time I played it, I thought it was pretty good, but I was somewhat unaffected by it. The second time I played it, I couldn't have picked a favorite song if I tried.
The lesson being, Cinematic Orchestra has not failed to disappoint us at all. You just might find yourself looking for something that isn't there - and you don't slay an album just because of expectations...