New Model Army and Sinfonia Leipzig: Sinfonia

As has been the way of the world in recent years, only now are we seeing the fruition of many long planned musical events and ideas, and as such, this supposedly 40th anniversary celebration of New Model Army’s music, Sinfonia, comes into being some 3 years after that milestone was passed. As the band’s singer and leader Justin Sullivan acknowledges, there aren’t a huge swathe of excellent examples of rock bands teaming up with orchestras to reinterpret their music, although many have tried. With the Sinfonia Leipzig, NMA set out not to rework their songs, but to integrate and blend them into the orchestra setting.

There’s no doubt that this approach is the correct way to tackle this type of endeavour and across a mammoth two CDs and 21 songs (the show is also available on DVD), orchestra and band fully immerse themselves in the experience. Now, on a personal level, I’m a great believer in the four pillars of mediocrity that a band can build themselves - the cover album, the re-recording of their own classic tracks album, the acoustic album and, of course, the orchestral album. Thankfully New Model Army have resisted the temptation of the others, and when taking a step back, if any band had the understated grandiosity to revel in this setting, then it’s this one. “Winter� for example immediately feels natural in this stark, dark setting as Sullivan offers a masterful vocal for the orchestra to take perfect care of. This is not a song reworked, this is almost a new piece of music breathed into life from the ground up as strings swirl and woodwind adds poignancy. However, when the more rocking old classic “1984� finds its rotating drum beats pinpricked by brass and woodwind, so it feels a little like you’ve stepped into a West End show, and while that in itself isn’t a criticism, it does leave a slightly odd impression.

The whole album sounds fantastic and Sullivan proves once more what an underrated singer and storyteller he is. “Ballad� is heart-tugging and yet engaging, “Lullaby� unsettling in a way that almost makes it avant-garde jazz orchestral rock, whereas “Green And Grey� becomes an even more fragile plea. However, the atmosphere that comes from the crowd kind of sums up how I feel about this album as a whole - is this really how I want these rousing anthems to sound? Well, the crowd don’t seem to know whether to go wild like a rock audience or sit reserved in their seats and gently applaud. In truth it takes the more straight ahead “Vagabonds�, which ironically was written with violin in it, to truly rouse the rabble.

Sinfonia is quite magnificent in idea and construction and it’s been delivered with the reverence and authenticity that only New Model Army could ever bring. And yet, at the end of the day I can only really see myself listening to this on dark nights with a roaring fire to warm me as these crafted pieces heighten the mood. Outside of those surrounds some of Sinfonia knocks you sideways and other sections leave you unmoved. Arguably it’s maybe hit its own brief just a little too perfectly.

Track Listing
1. Overture
2. Devil's Bargain (Orchestral Version)
3. Devil (Orchestral Version)
4. Innocence (Orchestral Version)
5. Winter (Orchestral Version)
6. March In September (Orchestral Version)
7. 1984 (Orchestral Version)
8. Orange Tree Roads (Orchestral Version)
9. Marry the Sea (Orchestral Version)
10. Ocean Rising (Orchestral Version)
11. Ballad (Orchestral Version)
12. Passing Through (Orchestral Version)
13. Guessing (Orchestral Version)
14. Too Close to the Sun (Orchestral Version)
15. Lullaby (Orchestral Version)
16. Did You Make It Safe? (Orchestral Version)
17. Shot 18 (Orchestral Version)
18. Purity (Orchestral Version)
19. Vagabonds (Orchestral Version)
20. Green and Grey (Orchestral Version)
21. Wonderful Way to Go (Orchestral Version)

Added: September 13th 2023
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: New Model Army online
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Language: english

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