Following contributions from guitar bands
Arctic Monkeys and
Snow Patrol, the critically acclaimed
Late Night Tales series invites an outfit more associated with their early laid-back electronica-based installments to compile their own playlist in the shape of British experimental jazz collective
the Cinematic Orchestra. While their selected 19 tracks lack the surprise element of their two indie predecessors, both of whom divulged an unexpected love of hip-hop, it's still a highly eclectic affair, taking in '60s lounge-pop (
Burt Bacharach's "South American Getaway"), fingerpicking acoustic folk (
Nick Drake's "Three Hours"), and retro Italo house (the Songstress' "See Line Woman"). Showcasing their influences, there are traces of their lush widescreen orchestration on
Björk's "Jóga" and
Imogen Heap's instrumental "Cumulus," their ambient electronica on U.S. producer
Flying Lotus' "Auntie's Harp" and dubstep pioneer
Burial's "Dog Shelter," and improvised jazz leanings on trumpeter
Eddie Gale's "The Rain" and
the Freedom Sounds ft. Wayne Henderson's "Behold the Day." Elsewhere, the album unexpectedly has two artists in common with
Gary Lightbody and company's selections in blues-soul vocalist
Terry Callier ("You're Goin' Miss Your Candyman") and
DJ Food's "Living Beats" (whose turntablist, Patrick Carpenter, now plays with
the Orchestra); Sebastian Tellier's "La Ritournelle" and
St. Germain's "Rose Royce" reveal their love affair with Gallic jazz-pop; and
Radiohead's
Thom Yorke ("Black Swan"), minimalist composer
Steve Reich ("Electric Counterpoint"), and '60s R&B star
Shuggie Otis ("Aht Uh Mi Hed") complete their predominantly chilled-out soundtrack. Fans intrigued by their two own new compositions may feel slightly let down by the brief 39-second forgettable instrumental "Restaurant," but their atmospheric and soulful cover of
Syl Johnson's "Talking About Freedom," featuring the impassioned tones of previous collaborator
Fontella Bass, should more than make up for the disappointment. A brief insight into the musical mindset of one of the British nu-jazz scene's most exciting acts,
the Cinematic Orchestra's addition to the series is a veritable treasure trove of lost classics, obscurities, and high-quality dream pop that takes the concept back to basics. ~ Jon O'Brien