Customer Reviews
It's jazz Jim, but not as we know it!! - By: Paul, 13 Sep 2008 
I was a bit dismayed to read some of the reviews pushing this as great jazz, mainly because I have a large collection of jazz (both old & new) & this is probably the least likely thing I've got that fallls into that genre. It feels overly repetitive, with the occasional high point - but they are too few to make it anything more than OK. It breaks no new ground, sounds quite derivative, but three stars for the quality of recording & it is well put together. But if you consider this to be great jazz you need to listen to more & cast your net wider.
Great?? - By: hiphop4eva, 15 Jul 2008 I bought this album after reading the rave reviews on Amazon. One reviewer has said it is better than Better than Miles Davis' 'Kind Of Blue' & John Coltrane's 'A Love Supreme'. Quite a statement. So does it live up to the hype? In short NO. For me there's nothing ground breaking here, just lots of repetitive noise. Never once was I completely drawn into the music. To fair there are a couple nice tracks on this album (And Relax & Diabolus). But to mention Cinematic Orchestra in the same breath as Jazz greats like Miles Davis & John Coltrane is insane! No actuallly its insulting. Can you honestly say this album can match the emotion & sheer genius of "Kind of Blue"?? Its a generous 3 stars from me ....
confusing and jarring - By: Ben, 04 Oct 2006 
I had heard the track "Channel One Suite" before (on Solid Steel) but I never knew what it was, so it was a nice surprise to find it on here. It's an accessible tune, but is nice & complicated. Some of the other tracks are a bit inaccessible, others are reallly brilliant. Lovely drums, nice & loud & gritty. "Night of the Iguana" is a real classic, meandering drums, evocative & atmospheric strings. Sometimes I find the odd time signatures a bit confusing & jarring though, & it makes it harder to keep up & appreciate the atmospheres being created. Mixed bag for me.
My Favourite Jazz Album - By: Mr. J. J. Niland, 28 Nov 2005 
In my own humble opinion, this is the greatest jazz album ever released. That's a pretty bold statement when there are albums like Miles Davis' 'Kind Of Blue' or John Coltrane's 'A Love Supreme', but I stand by it. It isn't your usual jazz album where the whole group comes together & records a session. Instead, band 'leader' Joe Swinscoe sampled each of the other members & then arranged them alll to produce 7 stunning tracks.
A dark mood pervades most of the pieces- 'Channel One Suite' & 'Night Of The Iguana' in particular. However, there are moments of a lighter nature, namely 'Ode To The Big Sea' & 'And Relax!'.
In conclusion: It's jazz, & it's very, very good jazz. You jazz can't listen to 'Channel One Suite' without thinking "WOw, this is amazing!". Get it, play it, & relax!
Dark brilliance - By: , 02 Nov 2004 I first listened to Motion while browsing a CD store in Brighton some years ago. I was completely, utterly bowled over & I knew I had to have this CD. There is certainly something cinematic about this music - it suggest familiar images from film noir territory. In my opinion, in terms of sheer mood impact "Motion" is up there with Miles Davis' minor masterpiece "Ascenseur pour l' Echafaud". "Motion" is an extraordinary CD, what with the perfect musicianship or the added detail of a cryptic sleeve that discloses very little about the band behind it. If you like brooding, late-night jazz with a whiff of dark foreboding then this is your ticket.
