The Cinematic Orchestra will return with a new album in March, titled To Believe. 

To Believe explores a timeless question of vital importance in 2019: “what to believe?” Founding member Jason Swinscoe and longtime partner Dominic Smith have enlisted album contributions from collaborators old and new, among them Moses Sumney, Roots Manuva, Heidi Vogel, Grey Reverend (vocalist on Bonobo’s “First Fires”), Dorian Concept, and Tawiah. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson features on strings, and photographer and visual artist Brian “B+” Cross collaborated with Swinscoe and Smith on the album’s concept. The record was mixed by multiple Grammy winner Tom Elmhirst in Jimi Hendrix’ legendary Electric Lady studios. 

It’s been 12 years since The Cinematic Orchestra released their last studio album, Ma Fleur, in 2007. Since then, they’ve been touring, performing at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Philharmonie de Paris, Coachella, and Glastonbury, among others, and curated a series of events at London’s prestigious Barbican Centre. They also scored Disney’s feature length nature documentary “The Crimson Wing,” including the track “Arrival of the Birds,” which featured in the closing scene of the Oscar-winning Stephen Hawking biopic, “The Theory of Everything.” They also released a Late Night Tales compilation featuring music from Flying Lotus, Burial, and Björk.

The album announcement is marked by the general release of their new single, “A Caged Bird/Imitations of Life,” featuring Roots Manuva. The track, revealed via an innovative website only accessible on offline devices, was available initially on 12″ via independent record stores and sold out in a matter of hours. The artists first collaborated in 2002 on “All Things to All Men.” 

Tracklisting

01. To Believe (feat. Moses Sumney)

02. A Caged Bird/Imitations of Life (feat. Roots Manuva)

03. Lessons

04. Wait for Now/Leave The World (feat. Tawiah)

05. The Workers of Art

06. Zero One/This Fantasy (feat. Grey Reverend)

07. A Promise (feat. Heidi Vogel)

To Believe LP lands on March 15 via Ninja Tune and Domino (US) with “A Caged Bird/Imitations of Life” (feat. Roots Manuva) streaming below.