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What do you get when you cross a torch song with Nietzsche? Chaos and a Dancing Star. The title of Marc Almond’s 24th album is in fact inspired from this phrase from Thus Spoke Zarathustra: “One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star”. Chaos can birth creativity and can lead to a positive and brilliant feeling. It’s this double-edged feeling that runs through the 13 tracks written composed with the former Soft Cell member, in tandem with Chris Braide (Sia, Lana Del Rey, Halsey…). One of the most emblematic songs of the dichotomic philosophy of the album is without a doubt Hollywood Forever, the name of the famous cemetery to the stars in Los Angeles. Under the shining and utopian surface of Hollywood hides a certain decadence represented by that place. But ghosts seem to continue inspiring artists, and Marc Almond is certainly one of them.
The star mentioned by Nietzsche is often expressed through music, notably on the tracks Slow Burn Love, Cherry Tree and Fighting a War. With their playful pop-rock beats and melodies in the major key, they form brilliant counterpoints to the dark romanticism of the lyrics. The musical positivity is very often accentuated by generous arrangements which blend piano with sparkling layers of Mellotron, the result accompanied with a generous dose of camp as is often the way with Almond. The opening song of the album, Black Sunrise is one of the highlights of the singer’s entire career. The fluttering flute in Lord of Misrule is another highlight, as well as the vibrant choirs which interject at various moments over the course of the whole album. Finally, Marc Almond is not only a fan of the golden age of Hollywood, but is also clearly influenced by aesthetic and horrific images from the Italian giallo genre of cinema. There is a certain level of homage to this style of film, including a celesta solo in the finale, the melody of which is a heartfelt nod to the soundtrack of Dario Argento’s film Suspiria. © Nicolas Magenham/Qobuz
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Chris Braide, Composer, Producer, Arranger, Engineer, Piano, Programmer, Backing Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer, Mellotron - Kelly Barnes, Arranger, Backing Vocals - Ash Soan, Drums - Louise Marshall, Arranger, Backing Vocals - Bryan Chambers, Arranger, Backing Vocals - Marc Almond, Composer, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Dave Colquhoun, Electric Guitar - Martin McCarrick, String Arranger, Cello - Jonny Solway, Engineer - Kimberlee McCarrick, String Arranger, Violin - Mike Pietrini, Engineer - Andy Hodge, Bass Guitar
© 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Chris Braide, Composer, Producer, Arranger, Engineer, Bass Guitar, Piano, Programmer, Backing Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer - Neal X, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Marc Almond, Composer, Arranger, Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Martin McCarrick, String Arranger, Cello - James Beaumont, Backing Vocals - Jonny Solway, Engineer - Kimberlee McCarrick, String Arranger, Violin - Mike Pietrini, Engineer
© 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2019 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Chris Braide, Composer, Producer, Engineer, Piano, Writer - Kelly Barnes, Arranger, Backing Vocals - Louise Marshall, Arranger, Backing Vocals - Bryan Chambers, Arranger, Backing Vocals - Marc Almond, Composer, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Jonny Solway, Engineer - Mike Pietrini, Engineer
© 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Chris Braide, Composer, Producer, Engineer, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Programmer, Writer - Kelly Barnes, Arranger, Backing Vocals - Louise Marshall, Arranger, Backing Vocals - Neal X, Electric Guitar - Bryan Chambers, Arranger, Backing Vocals - Marc Almond, Composer, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Jonny Solway, Engineer - Mike Pietrini, Engineer - Andy Hodge, Bass Guitar
© 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Chris Braide, Composer, Producer, Arranger, Engineer, Piano, Programmer, Backing Vocals, Writer, Rhythm Guitar, Synthesizer, Celeste Piano - Ash Soan, Drums - Neal X, Electric Guitar - Marc Almond, Composer, Arranger, Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - James Beaumont, Backing Vocals - Jonny Solway, Engineer - Mike Pietrini, Engineer - Andy Hodge, Bass Guitar
© 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Chris Braide, Composer, Producer, Arranger, Engineer, Flute, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Piano, Programmer, Backing Vocals, Writer - Neal X, Electric Guitar - Marc Almond, Composer, Arranger, Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - James Beaumont, Backing Vocals - Jonny Solway, Engineer - Mike Pietrini, Engineer
© 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Chris Braide, Composer, Producer, Engineer, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Piano, Programmer, Writer - Kelly Barnes, Arranger, Backing Vocals - Ash Soan, Drums - Louise Marshall, Arranger, Backing Vocals - Bryan Chambers, Arranger, Backing Vocals - Marc Almond, Composer, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Martin McCarrick, String Arranger, Cello - Jonny Solway, Engineer - Kimberlee McCarrick, String Arranger, Violin - Mike Pietrini, Engineer
© 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Chris Braide, Composer, Producer, Engineer, Piano, Programmer, Writer - Neal X, Electric Guitar - Marc Almond, Composer, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Jonny Solway, Engineer - Mike Pietrini, Engineer - Andy Hodge, Fretless Bass
© 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Chris Braide, Composer, Producer, Arranger, String Arranger, Engineer, Piano, Programmer, Backing Vocals, Writer - Kelly Barnes, Arranger, Backing Vocals - Louise Marshall, Arranger, Backing Vocals - Bryan Chambers, Arranger, Backing Vocals - Marc Almond, Composer, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Jonny Solway, Engineer - Mike Pietrini, Engineer - Andy Hodge, Fretless Bass
© 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Chris Braide, Composer, Producer, Arranger, String Arranger, Engineer, Bass Guitar, Organ, Piano, Programmer, Backing Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer, Mellotron - Neal X, Guitar - Marc Almond, Composer, Arranger, Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - ARMEN RA, Theremin - Jonny Solway, Engineer - Mike Pietrini, Engineer
© 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Chris Braide, Composer, Producer, String Arranger, Engineer, Electric Guitar, Piano, Programmer, Writer, Mellotron, Celeste Piano - Marc Almond, Composer, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Jonny Solway, Engineer - Mike Pietrini, Engineer
© 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Chris Braide, Composer, Producer, Engineer, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Programmer, Writer, Synthesizer - Kelly Barnes, Arranger, Backing Vocals - Louise Marshall, Arranger, Backing Vocals - Ian Anderson, Flute - Neal X, Electric Guitar - Bryan Chambers, Arranger, Backing Vocals - Marc Almond, Composer, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Jonny Solway, Engineer - Mike Pietrini, Engineer
© 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2019 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Chris Braide, Composer, Producer, Engineer, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Piano, Programmer, Writer, Arrangement Horn - Ash Soan, Drums - Neal X, Guitar - Marc Almond, Composer, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Martin McCarrick, String Arranger, Cello - Jonny Solway, Engineer - Kimberlee McCarrick, String Arranger, Violin - Mike Pietrini, Engineer
© 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Album review
What do you get when you cross a torch song with Nietzsche? Chaos and a Dancing Star. The title of Marc Almond’s 24th album is in fact inspired from this phrase from Thus Spoke Zarathustra: “One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star”. Chaos can birth creativity and can lead to a positive and brilliant feeling. It’s this double-edged feeling that runs through the 13 tracks written composed with the former Soft Cell member, in tandem with Chris Braide (Sia, Lana Del Rey, Halsey…). One of the most emblematic songs of the dichotomic philosophy of the album is without a doubt Hollywood Forever, the name of the famous cemetery to the stars in Los Angeles. Under the shining and utopian surface of Hollywood hides a certain decadence represented by that place. But ghosts seem to continue inspiring artists, and Marc Almond is certainly one of them.
The star mentioned by Nietzsche is often expressed through music, notably on the tracks Slow Burn Love, Cherry Tree and Fighting a War. With their playful pop-rock beats and melodies in the major key, they form brilliant counterpoints to the dark romanticism of the lyrics. The musical positivity is very often accentuated by generous arrangements which blend piano with sparkling layers of Mellotron, the result accompanied with a generous dose of camp as is often the way with Almond. The opening song of the album, Black Sunrise is one of the highlights of the singer’s entire career. The fluttering flute in Lord of Misrule is another highlight, as well as the vibrant choirs which interject at various moments over the course of the whole album. Finally, Marc Almond is not only a fan of the golden age of Hollywood, but is also clearly influenced by aesthetic and horrific images from the Italian giallo genre of cinema. There is a certain level of homage to this style of film, including a celesta solo in the finale, the melody of which is a heartfelt nod to the soundtrack of Dario Argento’s film Suspiria. © Nicolas Magenham/Qobuz
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 01:00:18
- Main artists: Marc Almond
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2020 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
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