Much like the works of the film-maker to which this is dedicated, Christopher Nolan, Cybersymphony is a complex and eclectic affair. But again, like that cinematic icon of the modern age, it is also an accessible, infectious and thoroughly satisfying experience.
Leyla Romanova is an artist who bridges worlds. She is just as comfortable deftly dancing through orchestral scapes as she is grooving through techno realms, as happy to create understated, neo-classical pieces as she is to tackle the full symphonic experience.
Here, all those worlds seem to ebb and flow through the piece, resulting in what she terms “cinematic music.” Such a term is perfect for a sound that hops genre and swerves style, instead finding influence and inspiration wherever it is relevant and mixing, moulding, and melding those musical elements into a genuinely filmic sound.
It is not just filmic in nature but anthemic in scope, flowing between classical crescendos and lulling lows, rousing lifts and drifting ambience. And if the overall feel of the piece is impressive, it is with a closer examination of the musical weaves that make up Cybersymphony that the real charm lies.
Electro-beats drive classical string sweeps; delicate piano runs give way to pulsing drums, and the brooding sounds of the bass section of the orchestra build tension whilst the sort of vocal stabs that the likes of Karl Jenkins used to such evocative effect add the atmosphere. And given the length of the piece, just under seven minutes, there is room to properly orchestrate the music, creating a flow of mood and musical demarcation as the track evolves and shifts, develops and changes.
It is in such composers as Leyla Romanova that the future lies. It is not to the tribalism of genre or the transience of fad or fashion that we should look for meaningful music; such allegiances are nothing to the fully evolved post-genre artist. And if you want an idea of what that might sound like, then her back catalogue is a masterclass in crossing such divides, and Cybersymphony is a benchmark for any exploratory artist to aim for.
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