Musical treasures await when the Hidden Orchestra are found. This album will cater for fans of some very different genres – classical lovers will appreciate the intricacy of its orchestration, while those used to a bit of Bonobo or Cinematic Orchestra will recognise the clever interweaving of hip hop influenced beats. The production is in fact good enough to give the likes of Nellee Hooper a run for their money, with imaginative textures used for the loops and hooks that crop up frequently. ‘Flight’ has an inner power, harnessing what sounds like a traditional melody, while the clarinet and cello on ‘Hushed’ play beautifully. ‘Reminder’ is more ominous, like a dark film score, while the touches of instrumentation such as the muted trumpet on ‘Spoken’ and what sounds like a cimbalom on ‘Flight’ are applied by a master’s hand. What the Hidden Orchestra have come up with is a winning blend of experimentation and convention that has the added bonus of setting an enchanting atmosphere.
5 out of 5
Reviewed By Ben Hogwood
