CINEMA ROYAL - Cinema Royal - LP - Vinyl [MAR 7]

LP - Standard Edition Black Vinyl.  

Long time friend of the label and Stones Throw alumni ‘Rejoicer’ joins forces with longtime collaborator, fellow Apifera band member and renowned pianist Nitai Hershkovits to present a new moniker and concept piece “Cinema Royal” - a delicate yet audacious album that quietly commands attention. Having previously collaborated on works for Raw Tapes and beyond, this body of work exists more on the modern classical plain with splices of ambient and jazz woven into the musical fabric of the compositions.

Led by piano, the album features a dizzying array of orchestral, percussive and traditional string instruments from around the world- flawlessly combined in a way that might sound contrived, but just fits effortlessly..

The fact that it’s such an easy listen distracts from its complexity. Synthesisers cozy up to Afro beat indebted drums, East Asian zithers swim amongst classical string arrangements whilst Ethio-jazz keys dance atop restrained but irresistibly funky drum machine patterns. Inspired to create a cinematic energy they saw the essence of Fellini in their album cover choice, striving to create an album that could exist as a film score.

The album exudes a sense of ease, a feeling of lightness that speaks to the virtuosic abilities of the players.The sense of fun is infectious and the playful improvisation is energising. Conceptually inspired by a simple drum loop and single take via the piano the two exist working in a deeply involved flow with collaborations from friends to enhance the initial piano melody.

Speaking on the process, Nitai remarks, “Cinema Royal emerges from years of collaborative writing and recording. Our initial experience with a complete one piano take on a drum loop was in Flying’ Bamboo, a collaboration with MNDSGN and animator Felix Colgrave that garnered millions of views on YouTube. Nearly a decade later, we revisited this unique method of improvising a single piano take throughout the album. We love Emahoy Tzegue, Ennio Morricone, Nino Rota, Lalo Schifrin and lots of music from the ECM catalog. There’s a lot of Africa, too - from Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas, Felt Kuti, and Ghana high-life, to more niche stuff from the Awesome Tapes from Africa’s catalog “

Rejoicer and Nitai have a rare synergy and have channeled it to create something that speaks without words, or rather - whispers, and in this quiet exclamation we are drawn in to listen closer and closer.

Tracklist: 

A1. The True North
A2. Food Bowl
A3. Cinema Royal
A4. Affair In Redondo

B1. Apryl's Velvet Dress
B2. The Orchard Dream
B3. Her, I
B4. Don't Wait For Us

PERSONNEL:
The True North: Nitai Hershkovits - Piano, Keys, Rejoicer - Bass, Drum Programming, iogi - Strings
Food Bowl: Nitai Hershkovits - Piano, Guitar, Rejoicer - Bass, Guitar, Drum Programming,
Daniel Dor - Cymbal, Eyal Talmudy - Tenor Sax, Yonatan Voltzok - Trombone, Assa Cook - Trumpet
Cinema Royal: Nitai Hershkovits – Piano, Keys,Rejoicer - Bass, Drum Programming,
Uzi Ramirez - Mandolin, Daniel Dor - Cymbal
Affair in Redondo: Nitai Hershkovits - Piano, Keys, Guitar, Rejoicer - Bass, Guitar, Drum Programming, Eyal Talmudy - Tenor Sax, Yonatan Voltzok - Trombone, Assa Cook - Trumpet

Apryl in Velvet: Nitai Hershkovits - Piano, Keys, Clarinet, Rejoicer - Bass, Drum Programming, Uzi Ramirez - Mandolin
The Orchard Dreamer: Nitai Hershkovits - Piano, Keys, Accordion, Bass, Rejoicer - Bass, Drum Programming
Her, I: Nitai Hershkovits - Piano, Keys, Bass, Guitar, Rejoicer - Drum Programming, Daniel Dor - Cymbal
Don’t Wait For Us: Nitai Hershkovits - Piano, Keys, Rejoicer- Bass, Drum Programming

Album produced by Nitai Hershkovits and Rejoicer
Mixed by Rejoicer
Mastered By Matt Colton
Cover Art by Nitai Hershkovits
Layout by Mali Baden-Powell