When the Sky Comes Down It Comes Down on Your Head
Encyclopedia
When The Sky Comes Down It Comes Down On Your Head is the second full length album released by Edinburgh
based shoegaze
band The Zephyrs
. It was recorded at The Substation in Cowdenbeath, Scotland. Additional recording took place at Blackwing Studios in London, and at the home of Rachel Goswell
(of Mojave 3
).
It includes several noteworthy guest musicians. Adele Bethel of Arab Strap
performs vocals on "Modern Beats", Rachel Goswell
sings on "Setting Sun" and Sean O'Hagan (The High Llamas
and Stereolab
) contributes string arrangements.
Allmusic called it "...a rare perfect record."
Southpaw Records folded on the very same week that they released this album. Unfortunately for the band, this meant that their publishing deal evaporated, as did their promotional and touring budget. And so, despite the critical acclaim this record received, the band did not have the finances to capitalise on it and each went back to their day jobs.
Bonus Tracks (Japan Only):
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
based shoegaze
Shoegazing
Shoegazing is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged from the United Kingdom in the late 1980s. It lasted there until the mid 1990s, with a critical zenith reached in 1990 and 1991...
band The Zephyrs
The Zephyrs
The Zephyrs is an Edinburgh, Scotland-based indie band. They have released five albums and two EPs containing their shoegazing folk-rock style.-Band history:...
. It was recorded at The Substation in Cowdenbeath, Scotland. Additional recording took place at Blackwing Studios in London, and at the home of Rachel Goswell
Rachel Goswell
Rachel Goswell is a singer-songwriter who was a vocalist with shoegazing pioneers Slowdive. Goswell, along with Neil Halstead, Ian McCutcheon and former Chapterhouse member Simon Rowe became Mojave 3 when Slowdive transitioned to a more country/folk rock style...
(of Mojave 3
Mojave 3
Mojave 3 are a British band, consisting of Neil Halstead, Rachel Goswell, Simon Rowe, Alan Forrester, and Ian McCutcheon. Goswell, Halstead and McCutcheon previously played in Thames Valley shoegazing band Slowdive....
).
It includes several noteworthy guest musicians. Adele Bethel of Arab Strap
Arab Strap (band)
Arab Strap were an indie rock band from Scotland that consisted of core members Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton. The band were signed to independent record label Chemikal Underground, and split in 2006...
performs vocals on "Modern Beats", Rachel Goswell
Rachel Goswell
Rachel Goswell is a singer-songwriter who was a vocalist with shoegazing pioneers Slowdive. Goswell, along with Neil Halstead, Ian McCutcheon and former Chapterhouse member Simon Rowe became Mojave 3 when Slowdive transitioned to a more country/folk rock style...
sings on "Setting Sun" and Sean O'Hagan (The High Llamas
The High Llamas
The High Llamas are a London-based musical group, formed by the Irish guitarist and songwriter Sean O'Hagan after the demise of his group Microdisney. O'Hagan writes and arranges the music and the rest of the group consists of drummer Rob Allum, keyboardist/cellist Marcus Holdaway, and...
and Stereolab
Stereolab
Stereolab are an alternative music band formed in 1990 in London, England. The band originally comprised songwriting team Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier , both of whom remained at the helm across many lineup changes...
) contributes string arrangements.
Allmusic called it "...a rare perfect record."
Southpaw Records folded on the very same week that they released this album. Unfortunately for the band, this meant that their publishing deal evaporated, as did their promotional and touring budget. And so, despite the critical acclaim this record received, the band did not have the finances to capitalise on it and each went back to their day jobs.
Track listing
(all songs written by Stuart Nicol except where noted)- "The Buildings Aren't Going Anywhere" – 4:24
- "Modern Beats" (G. Kilgour) – 2:34
- "Mount Misery" – 4:41
- "Setting Sun" – 5:31
- "The Green Tree" – 1:34
- "Paint Your House" (S. Nicol, D. Nicol) – 4:51
- "Murder Of A Small Man" (G. Kilgour) – 2:28
- "Stargazer" – 5:35
- "Ballad Of The Green Tree" – 4:39
Bonus Tracks (Japan Only):
- "Urges" first appeared on the Stargazer Single/EP (2000)
- "Tork / Dolphin Avenue" first appeared on the album It's Okay Not To Say Anything (2000)
Band members
- Caroline Barber
- Stewart CampbellStewart CampbellStewart Campbell was a Canadian lawyer and politician and a member of the Anti-Confederation Party.Born in Jamaica, he studied law in England and completed his legal training in Halifax, Nova Scotia, studying with William Young...
- Gordon Kilgour
- Jonathan Kilgour
- David Nicol - bass
- Stuart NicolStuart NicolStuart Nicol is a former Australian rules footballer who played forFootscray in the Victorian Football League during the late 1980s....
- lead vocals, guitar
Additional musicians
- Adele Bethel - vocals on "Modern Beats"
- Barry BurnsBarry BurnsBarry Burns is a Scottish musician best known for his work with post-rock band Mogwai.-Early life:Burns went to Cardinal Newman High School in Bellshill before enrolling with the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, taking up a Bachelor of Education degree in teaching music. He did...
- flute and piana on "Setting Sun", piana on "Modern Beats" and "Ballad Of The Green Tree" - Malcom Cochrane - lap steel on "Modern Beats" and "Paint Your House"
- Tom Crosshy - flute on "The Buildings Aren't Going Anywhere", piano and wurlitzer on "Murder Of A Small Man", wurlitzer on "Ballad Of The Green Tree"
- John CummingsJohn Cummings (musician)John Cummings is a Scottish musician and record producer, best known for being a member of Glaswegian band Mogwai, mostly playing guitar, as well as programming, keyboards and vocals.-Mogwai:...
- delayed guitar on "Setting Sun" - Caroline Evans - violin on "Stargazer"
- Rachel GoswellRachel GoswellRachel Goswell is a singer-songwriter who was a vocalist with shoegazing pioneers Slowdive. Goswell, along with Neil Halstead, Ian McCutcheon and former Chapterhouse member Simon Rowe became Mojave 3 when Slowdive transitioned to a more country/folk rock style...
- vocals on "Setting Sun" - Pete Harvey - cello on "Stargazer"
- Sean O'HaganSean O'HaganSean O'Hagan is a founding member of Irish indie band Microdisney. In the 1990s he formed The High Llamas and released a number of highly acclaimed albums showing influences as diverse as The Beach Boys, Ennio Morricone, Antonio Carlos Jobim and avant-garde electronica...
- string arrangements on "Mount Misery" and "The Green Tree" - Graeme SmithGraeme SmithGraeme Craig Smith is a South African cricketer and captain of the South African cricket team Test Match side, having succeeded Shaun Pollock after the 2003 Cricket World Cup...
- double bass on "Ballad Of The Green Tree" - Rage Man - starmachine on "Ballad Of The Green Tree"