Young Pilgrim
Encyclopedia
Young Pilgrim is the debut studio album
by British singer-songwriter
Charlie Simpson
. The album was produced
by Danton Supple (Doves, Coldplay
) and was released on 15 August 2011 through independent label PIAS Recordings
.
Following the extended hiatus
announced by Fightstar in 2010, Simpson began writing solo material in conjunction with fan funding website Pledge Music. The platform was launched in 2009, as an innovative new way of involving fans in the record making process. Fans "pledge" to receive a copy of the completed project (an album
or EP
), while also having the chance to purchase exclusive extras such as private gigs, music video
appearances, or even providing backing vocals during recording.
Simpson first issued new material on Christmas day 2010, releasing a "pledgers only" EP
entitled When We Were Lions
. The EP and subsequent singles, garnered praise from music critics, seeing "Down Down Down
" selected as "Record of the Week" by BBC Radio 1
presenter Fearne Cotton
. Simpson has described his solo work as "something completely different", while it has been noted the album contains elements of melancholy, similar to the works of The National
, Bon Iver
, and Jackson Browne
.
Young Pilgrims physical release was put under strain after all 30,000 copies of the album were destroyed in an arson fire at the warehouse and distribution center for PIAS Entertainment Group
during the 2011 London Riots on 8 August 2011. However, it was confirmed the following day that despite the damages, the album would still be released as planned on 15 August. The release proved a success for Simpson and the independent label, entering the UK Albums Chart
at number six.
issued by The Official Charts Company and published by BBC Radio 1
on 17 August, Young Pilgrim was projected to debut on the UK Albums Chart
at number five. It was reported by Music Week
that at the time of the midweek data, the album had sold some 4,663 copies with 55% of the sales being physical copies. The album eventually debuted at number six on the UK Albums Chart, whilst also entering the UK Independent Albums
chart at number three, and the Scottish Albums Chart at number seven. The albums commercial success marked the first chart hit for the Pledge Music programme. Craig Jennings, CEO of Simpson's management group, stated, "We are delighted to achieve a top ten album with ‘Young Pilgrim’, and it would not have been possible without PledgeMusic putting together such a great direct-to-fan plan to launch the project. This is an example of the PledgeMusic model working perfectly."
critic Fraser McAlpine gave a favorable review and reported that Simpson is "clearly a gifted singer and songwriter. There’s a lot of walking streets alone, blisters cracking over skin, melancholy trips to childhood haunts, and a lot of soul-searching: classic singer-songwriter fare. Thankfully, our hero has two important things on his side: a robust way with a tune and a swag-bag rammed with glorious multi-tracked harmonies." James Lachno of British broadsheet The Daily Telegraph
gave a more mixed review. While awarding the album three stars out of five, he opined, "Simpson’s husky voice and warm melodies show promise, but his bitterwsweet, pastoral romanticism – all “old oak trees” and “morning snow” – is clichéd." Similarly, Dave Simpson of The Guardian
also awarded three stars out of five, writing, "His first offering in this guise is solid rather than spectacular, his Eddie Vedder
croon occasionally let down by a lyrical clunker. He sounds much more convincing on "Parachutes" and "All At Once", melancholy Lemonheads
-y pop full of regret for broken relationships." In contrast, Lewis Corner of Digital Spy
awarded Young Pilgrim four stars out of five and explained, "Simpson showcases his singer-songwriter sensibilities best on tracks "Riverbanks" and "All At Once" - the former a breezy anthem that climaxes with a crescendo of guitars and strings that wouldn't sound out of place at a Snow Patrol
gig, while the latter is a barnyard knees-up of pacey folk beats and brash guitar strums." Tom Spinelli of Melodic.net
also gave highly favorable feedback. Awarding four-and-a-half stars out of five, he noted that, "Simpson takes the folk rock route drifting away from his previous bands and most recent rock outfit Fightstar. Whether it’s his band or his solo material, this man is a force in the music industry. I have stood by this statement and will stand by this as time goes on. Everyone needs to check out this album and support this talented artist." Sunday Mercury
critic Paul Cole was impressed with the album, writing that, "Simpson has delivered a subtle set of songs. Musically, there’s more than a little Coldplay
in here; a dash of David Gray
; a new baritone vocal that nods to The National
’s Matt Berninger
. Highlights include "Hold On" – an Imogen Heap
-style experiment with multi-tracked vocals – and finalé "Riverbanks", a crescendo of guitar, piano and strings. Paid for by the fans through the Pledge programme, this is worth making a pilgrimage for."
Roy Gardener of the Yorkshire Post
reported that, "His first solo-record sees the 26-year-old acting his age with a pleasant dose of acoustic-pop. Eschewing his small-town Suffolk roots for an affected, Americanised bellow, moments of petty angst are balanced with a playful country bounce. Producer Danton Supple offers emotive, indie-flick arrangements and aching arpeggios into the mix." Rock Sound
writer Andy Ritchie was also impressed with Young Pilgrim. Awarding the album eight out of ten, he noted that "Young Pilgrim is a hauntingly beautiful affair, that paints Simpson as a jack of all trades; a songwriter capable of tugging your heartstrings and not just a frontman. The highlights come where Charlie’s voice is at it’s softest, as in "Parachutes" and "Thorns", but overall, this a solid, refreshing and somewhat unexpected output from Simpson." Writing for webzine This Is Fake DIY
, Heather McDaid awarded the album seven out of ten and opined, "What he, in turn, created is a 12 track album that flaunts his versatility as an artist, exploring a new style that he hadn’t dabbled in before through his official releases. As acoustic albums go, he has captured that easy listening quality alongside his raw vocals and certified himself a successful solo artist." Less receptive reviews came from MusicOMH
writer William Grant, who awarded the album 2 ½ stars out of five and critiqued "Leaving Simpson alone to his songwriting devices, a box of inherited vinyl and a comedown does not a nu-folk star make." While Scottish publication The Fly
awarded the album two stars out of five with Harriet Gibsone stating, "Young Pilgrim will be a hit with anyone who’s ever brought an acoustic along to a festival, but, sadly, it’s not for us."
Musicians
Production
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by British singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Charlie Simpson
Charlie Simpson
Charles Robert Simpson , is an English musician, singer and songwriter. He was the youngest member of multi BRIT Award-winning band Busted, and is the lead vocalist, guitarist and co-lyricist in alternative rock band Fightstar...
. The album was produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Danton Supple (Doves, Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
) and was released on 15 August 2011 through independent label PIAS Recordings
PIAS Recordings
[PIAS] Recordings is the recorded music division of the [PIAS] Entertainment Group, a European independent artist and label services company.The record labels that operate under the [PIAS] Recordings umbrella are: Play It Again Sam, Wall of Sound and Different Recordings.Aside from the three London...
.
Following the extended hiatus
Hiatus
Hiatus may refer to:*Recess *Hiatus, a small difference in pitch between two musical tones *Hiatus , a phonological term referring to the lack of a consonant separating two vowels in separate syllables, as in co-operation*Hiatus , a break of several weeks or more in television scheduling*Hiatus...
announced by Fightstar in 2010, Simpson began writing solo material in conjunction with fan funding website Pledge Music. The platform was launched in 2009, as an innovative new way of involving fans in the record making process. Fans "pledge" to receive a copy of the completed project (an album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
or EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
), while also having the chance to purchase exclusive extras such as private gigs, music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
appearances, or even providing backing vocals during recording.
Simpson first issued new material on Christmas day 2010, releasing a "pledgers only" EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
entitled When We Were Lions
When We Were Lions
When We Were Lions is the debut EP by Charlie Simpson, confirmed to be followed by his first solo full-length debut album in 2011. In the live shows promoting Young Pilgrim he played 2 songs live from the EP which were 'If I Hide Will You Come Looking? ' and 'Farmer & His Gun' which is also a bonus...
. The EP and subsequent singles, garnered praise from music critics, seeing "Down Down Down
Down Down Down
"Down Down Down" is the debut single by English singer-songwriter Charlie Simpson, from his upcoming debut studio album Young Pilgrim . It was released on 11 April 2011 as a digital download in the United Kingdom...
" selected as "Record of the Week" by 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...
presenter Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton is an English television and radio presenter who is known for presenting a number of popular TV programmes such as Top of the Pops and the Red Nose Day telethon. In 2007, she became the first regular female presenter of BBC Radio 1's Chart Show...
. Simpson has described his solo work as "something completely different", while it has been noted the album contains elements of melancholy, similar to the works of The National
The National (band)
The National is an indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1999 and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The band's lyrics are written and sung by Matt Berninger, a baritone...
, Bon Iver
Bon Iver
Bon Iver is a Grammy nominated folk band founded in 2007 by American indie folk singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. It includes Michael Noyce, Sean Carey, and Matthew McCaughan. Vernon released Bon Iver's debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago independently in July 2007. The majority of that album was...
, and Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
.
Young Pilgrims physical release was put under strain after all 30,000 copies of the album were destroyed in an arson fire at the warehouse and distribution center for PIAS Entertainment Group
PIAS Entertainment Group
PIAS is an international licensing, distribution, sales and marketing company for premium music, film and comedy.Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, the group also has significant operations in the UK, France, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and Ireland....
during the 2011 London Riots on 8 August 2011. However, it was confirmed the following day that despite the damages, the album would still be released as planned on 15 August. The release proved a success for Simpson and the independent label, entering the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
at number six.
Singles
- "Down Down DownDown Down Down"Down Down Down" is the debut single by English singer-songwriter Charlie Simpson, from his upcoming debut studio album Young Pilgrim . It was released on 11 April 2011 as a digital download in the United Kingdom...
" was the first single released from the album. It was released on 11 April 2011. The song peaked at number 65 on the UK Singles ChartUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. It was selected as "Record Of The Week" by BBC Radio 1.
- "ParachutesParachutes (song)"Parachutes" is a single by English singer-songwriter Charlie Simpson, from his debut studio album Young Pilgrim . It was released on 5 August 2011 as a digital download in the United Kingdom...
" is the second single released from the album. It was released on 7 August 2011. Simpson worked with the same directors for this video as he did with "Down Down Down".
- "Cemetery" is the third single from Young Pilgrim. It was a free download of the week on iTunes and later that week Charlie announced that it would be the follow up to Parachutes. He announced via social networking site Twitter. "Very much looking forward to a few days off, before coming back to shoot the video for Cemetery..! :)". It was revealed on September 28, 2011 that it would be released on October 31, 2011 and would include 4 b-sides.
- "Farmer & His Gun" is to be the 4th and final single from Young Pilgrim. The news was broke when Charlie tweeted a fan confirming that the track would be a single. The song also featured on Charlie's EP 'When We Were Lions' before being promoted from a bonus track from Young Pilgrim to a album track. The video is not known when to be brough out.
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Charlie Simpson.Commercial performance
According to the MidweeksMidweeks
Midweeks are lists of sales figures for music albums and singles in the United Kingdom during the period between the weekly chart publication on Sundays...
issued by The Official Charts Company and published by 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...
on 17 August, Young Pilgrim was projected to debut on the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
at number five. It was reported by Music Week
Music Week
Music Week is a trade paper for the UK record industry.Founded in 1959 as Record Retailer, it was relaunched on 18 March 1972 as Music Week . On 17 January 1981 the title was again changed, owing to the increasing importance of sell-through videos, to Music & Video Week...
that at the time of the midweek data, the album had sold some 4,663 copies with 55% of the sales being physical copies. The album eventually debuted at number six on the UK Albums Chart, whilst also entering the UK Independent Albums
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
chart at number three, and the Scottish Albums Chart at number seven. The albums commercial success marked the first chart hit for the Pledge Music programme. Craig Jennings, CEO of Simpson's management group, stated, "We are delighted to achieve a top ten album with ‘Young Pilgrim’, and it would not have been possible without PledgeMusic putting together such a great direct-to-fan plan to launch the project. This is an example of the PledgeMusic model working perfectly."
Critical response
Young Pilgrim has received generally favorable reviews, albeit some mixed from music critics. Broden Terry of AbsolutePunk awarded the album a score of 95% and noted, "Young Pilgrim is undoubtedly the finest accomplished of Charlie Simpson's music career to date. This twelve-track effort sees Simpson once again overhaul his sound into a beautiful blend of folk, acoustic and pop, while also implementing rich harmonies, absorbing melodies, thoughtfully constructed lyrics, and the clarity of luscious instrumentation to wonderful effect." BBC MusicBBC Music
BBC Music is a team working in the department of Audio and Music Interactive at the BBC. Responsible for the BBC Music website - the portal site to music content across the BBC website....
critic Fraser McAlpine gave a favorable review and reported that Simpson is "clearly a gifted singer and songwriter. There’s a lot of walking streets alone, blisters cracking over skin, melancholy trips to childhood haunts, and a lot of soul-searching: classic singer-songwriter fare. Thankfully, our hero has two important things on his side: a robust way with a tune and a swag-bag rammed with glorious multi-tracked harmonies." James Lachno of British broadsheet The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
gave a more mixed review. While awarding the album three stars out of five, he opined, "Simpson’s husky voice and warm melodies show promise, but his bitterwsweet, pastoral romanticism – all “old oak trees” and “morning snow” – is clichéd." Similarly, Dave Simpson of The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
also awarded three stars out of five, writing, "His first offering in this guise is solid rather than spectacular, his Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder is an American musician and singer-songwriter who is best known for being the lead singer and one of three guitarists of the alternative rock band Pearl Jam. He is widely considered a cultural icon of alternative rock.He is also involved in soundtrack work and contributes to albums...
croon occasionally let down by a lyrical clunker. He sounds much more convincing on "Parachutes" and "All At Once", melancholy Lemonheads
Lemonheads
Lemonheads may refer to:*Lemonhead, a brand of candy produced by the Ferrara Pan Candy Company*The Lemonheads, an alternative rock band from the United States...
-y pop full of regret for broken relationships." In contrast, Lewis Corner of Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
awarded Young Pilgrim four stars out of five and explained, "Simpson showcases his singer-songwriter sensibilities best on tracks "Riverbanks" and "All At Once" - the former a breezy anthem that climaxes with a crescendo of guitars and strings that wouldn't sound out of place at a Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
gig, while the latter is a barnyard knees-up of pacey folk beats and brash guitar strums." Tom Spinelli of Melodic.net
Melodic.net
Melodic.net is a Swedish daily Internet publication devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on rock music. However, the range of musical genres covered extends to pop, classical, folk, electronic, jazz, metal, and experimental music...
also gave highly favorable feedback. Awarding four-and-a-half stars out of five, he noted that, "Simpson takes the folk rock route drifting away from his previous bands and most recent rock outfit Fightstar. Whether it’s his band or his solo material, this man is a force in the music industry. I have stood by this statement and will stand by this as time goes on. Everyone needs to check out this album and support this talented artist." Sunday Mercury
Sunday Mercury
Sunday Mercury is a Sunday tabloid published in Birmingham, UK, and owned by Trinity Mirror.The first editor was John Turner Fearon , who left the Dublin-based Freeman's Journal to take up the position...
critic Paul Cole was impressed with the album, writing that, "Simpson has delivered a subtle set of songs. Musically, there’s more than a little Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
in here; a dash of David Gray
David Gray
David Gray may refer to:*David Gray , Scottish poet*David Gray , English singer-songwriter*David Gray , Scottish footballer*David Gray , Scottish footballer...
; a new baritone vocal that nods to The National
The National (band)
The National is an indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1999 and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The band's lyrics are written and sung by Matt Berninger, a baritone...
’s Matt Berninger
Matt Berninger
Matt Berninger is a Cincinnati native, Brooklyn based singer/songwriter, primarily known as the frontman of indie rock band The National.-Vocals:...
. Highlights include "Hold On" – an Imogen Heap
Imogen Heap
Imogen Jennifer Jane Heap is a Grammy Award-winning English singer, composer and songwriter from Havering, Essex. She is known for her work as part of the musical duo Frou Frou and her solo albums, which she writes, produces, and mixes...
-style experiment with multi-tracked vocals – and finalé "Riverbanks", a crescendo of guitar, piano and strings. Paid for by the fans through the Pledge programme, this is worth making a pilgrimage for."
Roy Gardener of the Yorkshire Post
Yorkshire Post
The Yorkshire Post is a daily broadsheet newspaper, published in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England by Yorkshire Post Newspapers, a company owned by Johnston Press...
reported that, "His first solo-record sees the 26-year-old acting his age with a pleasant dose of acoustic-pop. Eschewing his small-town Suffolk roots for an affected, Americanised bellow, moments of petty angst are balanced with a playful country bounce. Producer Danton Supple offers emotive, indie-flick arrangements and aching arpeggios into the mix." Rock Sound
Rock Sound
Rock Sound is a British magazine which champions rock music. The magazine aims at being more "underground" and less commercial, whilst also giving coverage to more well known acts.-History:...
writer Andy Ritchie was also impressed with Young Pilgrim. Awarding the album eight out of ten, he noted that "Young Pilgrim is a hauntingly beautiful affair, that paints Simpson as a jack of all trades; a songwriter capable of tugging your heartstrings and not just a frontman. The highlights come where Charlie’s voice is at it’s softest, as in "Parachutes" and "Thorns", but overall, this a solid, refreshing and somewhat unexpected output from Simpson." Writing for webzine This Is Fake DIY
This Is Fake DIY
This Is Fake DIY is a United Kingdom-based music webzine dedicated to alternative music. It is named after a song by the Scottish alternative rock group Bis....
, Heather McDaid awarded the album seven out of ten and opined, "What he, in turn, created is a 12 track album that flaunts his versatility as an artist, exploring a new style that he hadn’t dabbled in before through his official releases. As acoustic albums go, he has captured that easy listening quality alongside his raw vocals and certified himself a successful solo artist." Less receptive reviews came from MusicOMH
MusicOMH
musicOMH is a United Kingdom-based website which publishes independent reviews, featues and interviews from across all musical genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B.-History:...
writer William Grant, who awarded the album 2 ½ stars out of five and critiqued "Leaving Simpson alone to his songwriting devices, a box of inherited vinyl and a comedown does not a nu-folk star make." While Scottish publication The Fly
The Fly (magazine)
The Fly is a free music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom. The magazine is published by the HMV owned MAMA Group.The magazine started as a listings leaflet in Camden, north London, for the Barfly music venue on Chalk Farm Road...
awarded the album two stars out of five with Harriet Gibsone stating, "Young Pilgrim will be a hit with anyone who’s ever brought an acoustic along to a festival, but, sadly, it’s not for us."
Personnel
The following personnel contributed to Young Pilgrim:Musicians
- Charlie SimpsonCharlie SimpsonCharles Robert Simpson , is an English musician, singer and songwriter. He was the youngest member of multi BRIT Award-winning band Busted, and is the lead vocalist, guitarist and co-lyricist in alternative rock band Fightstar...
— lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, programmingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
, lyricsLyricsLyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of... - Reuben Humphries — drums, percussion
- Audrey RileyAudrey RileyAudrey Riley is a cellist and string arranger based in the UK. Riley trained at the Guildhall School of Music with Leonard Stehn and was a cellist for Virginia Astley from 1983 to 1986 and a one-time auxiliary member of The Family Cat. She has been a member of the post-minimalist band Icebreaker...
— string arrangement, celloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is... - Leo Payne — violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
- Greg WarrenGreg WarrenGreg Warren may refer to:* Greg Warren , NFL player* Greg Warren , American stand-up comic...
— violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello.... - Sue Dench — violaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
- Jonny Bridgewood — double bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
- Nick Etwell — trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
- Nick Foot — harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
- Adam Chetwood — pedal steal guitarPedal steel guitarThe pedal steel guitar is a type of electric guitar that uses a metal bar to "fret" or shorten the length of the strings, rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar. Unlike other types of steel guitar, it also uses pedals and knee levers to affect the pitch, hence the name "pedal"...
Production
- Danton Supple — producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
(tracks 1-8, 11-12) - Guy Massey — producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
(tracks 9-10) - Manon Granjean — engineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
- Ian Dowling — engineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
- Jon Davis — masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
- Horsie in the Hedge — art direction, designDesignDesign as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
- Jon Bergman — photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
Chart performance
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums Chart (The Official Charts Company) | 7 |
| U.K Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... (The Official Charts Company) |
6 |
| U.K Download Chart (The Official Charts Company) | 5 |
| U.K Independent Albums UK Indie Chart The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered... (The Official Charts Company) |
3 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalogue # | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
August 15, 2011 | PIAS Recordings PIAS Recordings [PIAS] Recordings is the recorded music division of the [PIAS] Entertainment Group, a European independent artist and label services company.The record labels that operate under the [PIAS] Recordings umbrella are: Play It Again Sam, Wall of Sound and Different Recordings.Aside from the three London... |
CD, digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... , |
SICCD002 | |
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
August 23, 2011 |