The title here certainly gets it right – as the album marks a huge new step for Thievery Corporation – the first full record in which the group works with orchestral accompaniment – a move that's maybe long overdue, given how much these guys were initially influenced by older soundtracks and instrumental records! The use of orchestrations is wonderful, and really helps breathe new life into the duo's music – giving them a richness that we never would have expected, and maturing them far past some of their earlier modes – which were appealing, but never this complex or satisfying. As usual in recent years, there's a huge host of guests on the record – artists who include Puma, Frank Orrall, Natalia Clavier, Elin Melgarejo, Mr Lif, Shana Halligan, and Lou Lou Ghelichakhani – on songs that are reworkings of older Thievery tracks, taken into new territory with the orchestrations. Titles include "Ghetto Matrix", "Until The Morning", "Love Has No Heart", "Marching The Hate Machines", "Weapons Of Distraction", "The Forgotten People", and "Sweet Tides". ~ Dusty Groove
One of the few large group sessions ever recorded by the Posi-Tone label, but a set that definitely keeps the soulful vibe of the well-respected imprint – as you might guess from the "Swinget" in the group's name! The lineup is a nonet, but moves with the energy of the smaller combos on the label – no surprise, as players include Farnell Newton on trumpet, Michael Dease on trombone, Diego Rivera on tenor, Patrick Cornelius on alto, Lauren Sevian on baritone, Art Hirahara on piano, Theo Hill on piano and Fender Rhodes, Boris Kozlov on bass, and Rudy Royston on drums! The rhythm players are more than enough to keep things moving – and the group soars strongly through a set of original material that allows plenty of room for the very strong individual voices in the lineup – titles that include "Simon", "Major Waltz", "Dry Clean Only", "You Dig", "Avalanche Suspended", "Projection", and "Where With All". ~ Dusty Groove
A really amazing step forward for Matthew Tavares and Leland Whitty – two musicians best known as founders of BADBADNOTGOOD – but emerging here in an even more mature blend of jazz and larger instrumental ideas! The record mixes core solo voices with some larger touches here and there – shifting effortlessly between focus and scape, with the subtle majesty of similar Brazilian efforts from the 70s – lofty, but never too full of itself – sophisticated, but very down to earth! Tavares plays guitar and piano, Whitty handles saxes and flute – alongside bass, drums, and some nice larger strings, used very lightly, and in all the right ways. Titles include "Blue", "Symbols Of Transformation", "Visions Of You", "Heat Of The Moon", "Black Magic", "Living Water Assembly", and "Eyes". ~ Dusty Groove
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