"Mathematics" is the debut single from Manchester

Manchester

Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...

 band Cherry Ghost

Cherry Ghost

Cherry Ghost is an indie rock band from Bolton, England. Their debut album, Thirst for Romance, was released in July 2007 and entered the UK Album Charts at #7...

. It was released as a digital download on March 26, 2007 and on CD and 7" vinyl on April 9, 2007. It went to #57 on the UK singles chart. "Mathematics" acquired the title "song of the week" on BBC Radio 2

BBC Radio 2

BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...

 in early 2007, and Zane Lowe

Zane Lowe

Zane Lowe also known as 'Zipper', is a radio DJ and television presenter. He was born in New Zealand and grew up in Auckland, where he was a presenter on the local music station Max TV, before moving to England...

 of BBC Radio 1

BBC Radio 1

BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...

 declared the song "the hottest record in the world" in February 2007. Jimi Goodwin

Jimi Goodwin

Jimi Goodwin is the bassist, vocalist and guitarist for Doves. Before their incarnation as Doves, the three members were a dance-club music trio called Sub Sub....

 of Doves plays bass and drums on the single. The B-side "Junebug" is a Sparklehorse

Sparklehorse

Sparklehorse was an American indie rock band led by the singer and multi-instrumentalist Mark Linkous.-History:Sparklehorse's first album, Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot featuring Bob Rupe of the Silos and Cracker, was a modest college radio success...

 cover.

The song is also coincidentally appropriate for the band, as songwriter Simon Aldred has a B.Sc in Pure Mathematics

Pure mathematics

Broadly speaking, pure mathematics is mathematics which studies entirely abstract concepts. From the eighteenth century onwards, this was a recognized category of mathematical activity, sometimes characterized as speculative mathematics, and at variance with the trend towards meeting the needs of...

 from the University of Leeds

University of Leeds

The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...

.

Two music videos were made for the song. The first, a self-produced video featuring a man in a bird costume, was posted in late 2006. The second, featuring Simon Aldred's family home movies, appeared on Heavenly Records

Heavenly Records

Heavenly Records, aka Heavenly Recordings, is a London-based record label, distributed by EMI. Founded by Jeff Barrett, a former press officer for Creation Records and many successful indie bands of the time including Happy Mondays, Heavenly Recordings' first releases were 7" and 12" singles for...

' website in early 2008.

Track listings

All songs written by Simon Aldred except where noted.

Promo CD (HVN167CDRP):

• Released in March 2007

1. "Mathematics" (Edit) – 3:58
2. "Mathematics" (Album Version) – 4:34

CD (HVN167CD):

1. "Mathematics" – 4:34
2. "Throw Me to the Dogs" – 3:44
3. "I Need You" – 4:56

7" vinyl (HVN167):

1. "Mathematics" – 4:34
2. "Junebug" (Linkous
   Mark Linkous
   Mark Linkous was an American singer, songwriter and musician, best known as leader of Sparklehorse. He was also known for his collaborations with such notable artists as Tom Waits, PJ Harvey, Daniel Johnston, Radiohead, Black Francis, Julian Casablancas, Nina Persson, Sean Terrington Wright, David...
   
   ) – 2:01

Digital download (UK iTunes only):

1. "Mathematics" – 4:34
2. "Throw Me to the Dogs" – 3:44