The Cinematic Orchestra started out with a clever twist on rare groove's archaeological vinyl digs: Bandleader Jason Swinscoe sampled decades-old jazz records, added contemporary players, and rearranged the results into a lush, ersatz take on his '60s inspirations. Their debut, 1999's Motion, was a tour de force of noir atmospheres, as filmic as their name. Along with proper soundtracks, Swinscoe quickly graduated to original songwriting, extending his talents to affecting soul-jazz lullabies and melancholy folk. The sound was as moody as ever, displaying an unusually exquisite sense of craftsmanship.