Into forever

"With last year's (...) "When The World Was One" (...), Matthew Halsall eloquently blended the tranquil tone-poetry of Alice Coltrane and the jazz intensity of her husband, John, with sounds of a kindred spirit from Japan and the east. Into Forever expands that lineup with a string quartet and the gospel and R&B-infused sound of the powerful Manchester vocalist Josephine Oniyama ... The Gondwana Orchestra's sound palette is frequently gorgeous, and Oniyama's dramatic presence will undoubtedly broaden their appeal, even if the directness of lyrics may diminish some of their earlier ethereal attraction for some".

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"While the musicians are largely constant, this is not the same as saying that Halsall is treading water. The sound here is substantially developed and it is possible that this is what prompted Halsall to keep this group of trusted collaborators around him. The headline change is the inclusion of lead vocalists Josephine Oniyama on four tracks and Bryony Jarman-Pinto on album closer "Jamais Vu" and could have mis-fired badly yet actually works well taking the music in a different direction to past albums. First impression is of a jazz take on (...) 4Hero's stellar mid-1990s work with Ursula Rucker, but also suggests critical touchstones like Rotary Connection with Minnie Ripperton, and perhaps in its funkier moments the Art Ensemble Of Chicago with Fontella Bass ... Halsall shows no signs of stopping with this absolutely wonderful record. Another unequivocal triumph".

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