World’s First Cinema
Something of Wonder
Rock
By: Bryn Van Horne
John Sinclair and Fil Thorpe, the duo behind World’s First Cinema, bring their
genre-bending skills to their full-length debut “Something of Wonder”, released via
Fearless Records. This LA-based pair opens the highly anticipated album with a soft,
cinematic piano intro—but it doesn’t take long before their pop-punk roots explode into a dynamic mid-song breakdown. It’s a strong start that sets the tone for what seems like a high-energy ride ahead. But by track three, hints of violin and bass-heavy electronic beats suggest that listeners are in for more than just a rock album.
In many ways, this album feels like a musical grab-bag showcasing the duo’s range.
From pop-punk influences to slower, emotionally resonant ballads, and even a song
seemingly inspired by circus music, there’s something here for most listeners. That said, the shifts in style can feel jarring at times, influencing the album's overall flow. Though possibly off-putting on first listen, that unpredictability just might be intentional, and greatly executed. After all, the band has always aimed to create music that feels cinematic—emulating the arc of a film with moments of joy, tension, confusion, mystery, and of course, climax, and resolution.
Much like picking up a stack of mysterious DVDs, the album ebbs and flows through a
variety of genres and themes, all anchored by the band’s rich, emotive vocal work. Fans of powerful, expressive singing will find much to appreciate here, as vocals often take center stage over complex instrumentation.
Tracks like "End of My Rope" use clap-driven beats and minimalist arrangements to
spotlight the vocals, while others lean into lush strings (The Underneath) or soft, yet
powerful piano (Say Anything). As the album transitions from its heavier, high-energy
first half into stripped-back, vulnerable ballads, it ultimately lands on an uplifting closer (Broken) featuring North West London rapper JD Cliffe. His distinctive contribution adds a refreshing twist and helps the album end on a very memorable note. While “Something of Wonder” occasionally plays it safe, it does so with intention and polish. This soft rock debut is laced with some electronic flourishes, a bit of pop-punk nostalgia, and soul. It is a successful reflection of World’s First Cinema’s evolution from their 2020 debut single “Can’t Feel Anything”, to a sound that fully embraces the musical influences they’ve picked up along the way.
Recommended track:
Paranoid: It’s catchy, creatively written, and blends pop with allusions to paranoia,
monsters under the bed, and the feeling of being truly terrified. Get ready for this to be your new October anthem. Though this song is so infectious, it will hold up just as well year-round.