Cinema Cinema
Man Bites Dog
7 Track Album
Polymath PR
Release Date: 28th April 2017
By: Pagan Hel
Cinema Cinema – Brooklyn, NY
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/cinemacinemaband
Genre: Experimental Art Punk
It would seem that experimental punkster’s Paul Claro and Ev Gold who formed in 2008 have in the past nine years established themselves within the music scene, be it in Brooklyn, NY and since then appeared in 40+ states, as well as in Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Poland, however, on listening to the first track ‘Bomb Plot’ there is something that just doesn’t sit right with me and that something must be the word ‘experimental’ for me it feels that if a band has this genre attached to them they can throw out any old garbage and it will suffice. Maybe, I am in the minority here, but I just find it noise-ridden and unnecessary!
L-R: Paul Claro & Ev Gold
However, I am beginning to enjoy the second track ‘Run until you’re out’ as this has some soaring melodies attached to it and the vocals are really powerful and edgy, so maybe there is hope somewhere along the line for Cinema, Cinema! And another plus point is they understand the words you are and you’re, cannot fault their spelling at all! Exotic Blood really takes its time getting off the ground but then explodes into a tidal wave of harsh rhythms but doesn’t really do a lot for me and that saxophone feels so out of place among the ruins and shenanigans of the track. Digital Clockwork Orange is just bass and drum and a whispered voice that is starting to send me to sleep as it doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. Taxi Driver sounds slightly psychedelic in delivery and spaced out with a shrieking voice. It is like the band are having a fight with themselves and using dustbin lids to clout each other! Maybe this is the case but this is starting to grate a lot now.
Mask of the Red Death is it that time already? This track gives the impression it is sitting in on a music lesson for a 5-year-old. Shiner No. 5 just no words to describe this so I will give up while I am ahead.
Experimental and jazz are probably the worst concoctions for me to review as I find listening to it boring and complicated. The second track is the only track on the album that I would entertain, finding the rest of the album perplexing, baffling and certainly convoluted. It doesn’t really have any paths to follow, so listening becomes impossible without getting edgy and restless. It doesn’t hold the attention span, it doesn’t really grip with any firm belief so for me a bit of a non-starter. However, reading of the band’s struggles during Hurricane Sandy one cannot deny that the band have done all they can to survive, even after having their gear stolen – so hat’s off to them for coming through the other side and being determined to succeed through the eyes of adversity, but sadly your music isn’t for me guys! I like my music extreme and quirky but not experimental and jazzy!
The band’s cover 10 of swords means that you feel like a ‘victim’ well that for me sums it up nicely, although the band will probably feel backstabbed after this review, but you really can’t like everything you hear it is virtually impossible!
5/10
Track List:
Bomb Plot
Run until you’re out
Exotic Blood
Digital Clockwork Orange
Taxi Driver
Mask of the Red Death
Shiner No. 5
Line-up:
Ev Gold
Paul Claro