Submotion Orchestra in Wrocław: Ruby Wood, “Finest Hour” and soul with a dubstep pulse
Submotion Orchestra is a fresh name on the music scene, although one that immediately evokes fond associations for Polish listeners: the group's singer Ruby Wood made an excellent impression as the lead voice on Bonobo's recent Polish tour. In Submotion she is supported by superb musicians with jazz leanings. “The Finest Hour” is a wonderful debut and strong competition for Bonobo or The Cinematic Orchestra.
The seven-piece from Leeds debut with “Finest Hour”, a refined fusion of melancholy downtempo, soulful depth in the spirit of Marvin Gaye, jazzy references and a subtle dubstep production polish. The British band's record delights with its breadth of reference, sounding from the first listen like a familiar classic.
Unusually, Submotion Orchestra combine instrumental virtuosity with a superb sound that is warm yet deeply atmospheric. Then there are Ruby’s unique vocals, somewhere between Sade, in the dreamily languid “Perfection”, and Tracy Thorn — just listen to the beautiful “Suffer Not”. “Finest Hours” is an exceptionally mature debut, reconciling pop charm and atmosphere with rich arrangements of piano, deep bass and beautiful trumpet, contemporary rhythmic approaches and production artistry.
Ruby's beautiful vocals and excellent instrumental parts sometimes resonate wonderfully in almost dub-like space, as on “Angel Eyes” and the title track. The group can also take flight into brilliant jazzy passages recalling The Cinematic Orchestra's finest moments, on “Pop And Lock” and “Secrets”, or play danceable nu-jazz in the Jazzanova mould, as on “Always”.
It is hardly surprising that over the past 12 months the band have built an excellent reputation among both dance music fans and lovers of deep soul and new jazz. In the studio and on stage alike, Submotion Orchestra are a remarkably accomplished 7-piece, impressive in their ensemble playing and musical imagination. The album's closing track was not called “Perfection” by chance.
The group proudly enjoy the support of Gilles Petterson, the BBC1 star and one of the leading champions of forward-looking music, who fell in love with the Orchestra on hearing songs from “Finest Hour”. Their recording “All Yours”, a beautiful song graced by an excellent trumpet part, also appeared on Peterson's “Brownswood Bubblers” compilation series, which helped promote artists including Flying Lotus and Jamie Woon.
Event details
Submotion Orchestra
18 October 2011
Firlej
Wrocław