Cinema The Discovering of Time Review by Gary Hill
The latest album from Cinema, this is a strong release. It's instrumental set. Often times that means "boring and redundant," but there is a lot of variety here. It ranges from things that are perhaps closer to Synergy to other songs that rock out like Pink Floyd. Some songs have both in one creation. All in all, this is an entertaining and potent disc.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2017 Volume 4 at lulu.com/strangesound.
Track by Track Review
Riding the Iron Horse
The sounds that opens this are electronic keyboard based, but they feel a bit like tuned percussion. The piece grows out into something that resembles Mike Oldfield quite a bit. As guitar joins around the one minute mark it gets heavier and begins to resemble a cross between metallic prog and techno music. There are some elements of Alan Parsons in the mix here, too. By around the three minute mark a screaming hot guitar has risen up and the mode feels a bit like Pink Floyd at times. This instrumental is an organically evolving piece that does a great job of opening the set in style.
Lost in Space
This rises with some trippy keyboard elements. They create drama and tension with this basic premise as it moves forward. This instrumental remains closer to the pure electronic sound throughout the piece. It's quite trippy and definitely "space music."
Frozen Time Another that comes in electronic and quite mellow, this is strong stuff. This one really resembles its title. It moves very slowly, yet there is a beauty to it. Some electric guitar creates slow lines of melody across it after the two minute mark. Multiple layers of guitar weave back and forth creating all kinds of cool melody as it seems that the time is starting to thaw.
Springtime
Again this resembles its title. It has bits of sound that rise up and gradually grow, sending sprouts of energy and sound upward. The patterns are hopeful and intriguing. Around the two and a half minute mark the song really explodes with energy. It becomes fast moving and inspired. There is some killer almost surf-based guitar playing. That whole section works through and then resolves to a mellower motif to carry it toward its conclusion.
Big City Night
I love the energized electronic sounds on this cool cut. There are some great bits of tribal percussion built into it, too. The keyboard lines on this are among the best here. I love the interplay and the echoey back and forth element on some of it. This is one of the most intriguing and effective pieces of the set.
Melting Ice Starting with the rhythm section, this works forward to some rather Pink Floyd like textures from there. In fact, it could be argued that this is the most Floydian piece here. It is also one of the most rocking.
Driving into the Devil's Hole
Piano leads this out of the gate. An energetic number that seems to merge the sounds of Synergy and Kraftwerk, this is another standout track.
The Children of Syria
Coming in mellower and rather mysterious, this grows out gradually from there.
Down to the Caves of no Return
Lots of sound effects, including a woman's scream, are heard at the start this piece. The music that rises up is more like electronic soundtrack music and seems to paint the picture described in the title. This piece is quite a dynamic one and leans toward appropriately cinematic classical sounds. There is a whispered voice saying "nobody will find us" late in the track.
The Discovering of Time
Mellow keyboards bring this into being nicely. It grows out into a number that calls to mind acts from Synergy and Kraftwerk to Alan Parsons and Pink Floyd. When the guitar solo rises up from the backdrop to really shine it definitely makes me think of David Gilmour.
