Cradle (Acacia album)
Encyclopedia
Cradle is the first and only album by the English pop group Acacia
, which featured future record producer Guy Sigsworth
(Madonna, Alanis Morrisette, others) and singer Alexander "Blackmoth" Nilere. It is notable for being the first full album released by Sigsworth as both full group member and producer (following his work as keyboard player with Bjork and Seal) and for being the first record to heavily feature future solo artist Imogen Heap
(who performs on all but one track).
The album also features appearances from Colette Meury (Choc Electrique), Loretta Haywood (L.a.z.y.), Ragnhildur "Ragga" Gísladóttir (Tricky, Ragga & The Jack Magic Orchestra), Steve Mack (That Petrol Emotion
) and Andrew Tumi (later known as "One" and as part of Supafly
).
Cradle was released in 1997 but almost immediately withdrawn due to legal disputes between Warner Music UK and the band's former label Radar Records (although some copies of the album did arrive in the shops and were sold). It remains a rare release and has not been reissued.
"The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get
" is a cover version of a Morrissey
song from the 1994 album Vauxhall and I
(the original version was also a number 8 hit single in the UK Singles Chart
during 1994)
"Maddening Shroud" was later covered by Frou Frou, the pop duo set up by Sigsworth and Imogen Heap (the song appears on the lone Frou Frou album Details).
and
Guest musicians:
Acacia (band)
Acacia was a multi-cultural British experimental pop band active during the mid-1990s. The band is most notable for helping to launch the subsequent musical careers of several of its members, most notably keyboard player/producer Guy Sigsworth, singer Alexander "Blackmoth" Nilere and associate...
, which featured future record producer Guy Sigsworth
Guy Sigsworth
Guy Sigsworth is a U.K. based composer, producer and songwriter. In his career to date he has worked with many famous artists, including Seal, Björk, Goldie, Madonna, Britney Spears, Kate Havnevik, Bebel Gilberto, Mozez, David Sylvian and Alanis Morissette...
(Madonna, Alanis Morrisette, others) and singer Alexander "Blackmoth" Nilere. It is notable for being the first full album released by Sigsworth as both full group member and producer (following his work as keyboard player with Bjork and Seal) and for being the first record to heavily feature future solo artist 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...
(who performs on all but one track).
Details and history
The majority of the album was recorded by Sigsworth and Nilere (with Heap as backing singer and constant musical foil, although not a full band member). Two Acacia live musicians (Luca Ramelli and Eshan K) were also credited as part of the band. Two former Acacia live members (Maurizio Anzalone and Ansuman Biswas) actually performed on more of the album tracks than their successors did, but had left the band by the time of the album releases and were therefore credited only as guest musicians. Much of the album's guitar playing was in fact generated by Sigworth's sampler.The album also features appearances from Colette Meury (Choc Electrique), Loretta Haywood (L.a.z.y.), Ragnhildur "Ragga" Gísladóttir (Tricky, Ragga & The Jack Magic Orchestra), Steve Mack (That Petrol Emotion
That Petrol Emotion
That Petrol Emotion are a Northern Irish, London-based band with an American vocalist, Steve Mack.-Career:The band originally formed in 1984 from the ashes of the Derry Hitmakers, Bam Bam and the Calling and The Undertones. It was formed by guitarist John O'Neill and second guitarist Raymond Gorman...
) and Andrew Tumi (later known as "One" and as part of Supafly
Supafly
Supafly is a UK dance act composed of Panos Liassi and Andrew Tumi . The act is led by DJ and producer, Mister P....
).
Cradle was released in 1997 but almost immediately withdrawn due to legal disputes between Warner Music UK and the band's former label Radar Records (although some copies of the album did arrive in the shops and were sold). It remains a rare release and has not been reissued.
Track listing
Cover versions
"I'm in Love with Love" is a cover version of a song by the British hard rock/funk band The Holiday Patrons (originally released as the B-side to their 1984 debut single "Hottest Time of the Year")."The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get
The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get
"The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" is a song by Morrissey, released as a single in February 1994. It was taken from the then-unreleased Vauxhall and I album and was the first Morrissey single to be produced by Steve Lillywhite....
" is a cover version of a Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
song from the 1994 album Vauxhall and I
Vauxhall and I
Vauxhall and I is a 1994 Parlophone album by British musician Morrissey. Q listed it as one of the top ten albums of 1994. The release cemented Morrissey's success in the US, giving him a top 20 album and his first hit single there with the song "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get"...
(the original version was also a number 8 hit single in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The 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 ...
during 1994)
"Maddening Shroud" was later covered by Frou Frou, the pop duo set up by Sigsworth and Imogen Heap (the song appears on the lone Frou Frou album Details).
Personnel
Acacia:- Alexander Nilere - voice
- Guy SigsworthGuy SigsworthGuy Sigsworth is a U.K. based composer, producer and songwriter. In his career to date he has worked with many famous artists, including Seal, Björk, Goldie, Madonna, Britney Spears, Kate Havnevik, Bebel Gilberto, Mozez, David Sylvian and Alanis Morissette...
- synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
; samplerSamplingSampling may refer to:*Sampling , converting a continuous signal into a discrete signal*Sampling , converting continuous colors into discrete color components*Sampling , re-using portions of sound recordings in a piece...
; guitar facsimile (synthesized guitar) on all tracks except "Maddening Shroud", "Hate", "You Nothing" & "Wire"; piano on "You Nothing" & "Wire" - Luca Ramelli - guitar on "I'm in Love with Love" & "Maddening Shroud"
- Eshan K (Eshan KhadarooEshan KhadarooEshan Khadaroo is a British drummer and percussionist who plays a wide variety of styles including pop, rock, funk. hip-hop, worldbeat and experimental...
) - drums on "I'm in Love with Love"
and
- Ansuman Biswas - berimbauBerimbauThe berimbau is a single-string percussion instrument, a musical bow, from Brazil. The berimbau's origins are not entirely clear, but there is not much doubt about its African origin, as no Indigenous Brazilian or European people use musical bows, and very similar instruments are played in the...
& ektaraEktaraEktara is a one-string instrument used in Bangladesh, India, Egypt, and Pakistan.thumb||EktaraIn origin the ektara was a regular string instrument of wandering bards and minstrels from India and is plucked with one finger...
& toys on "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get", santoorSantoorThe santoor is an ancient stringed musical instrument, native to Kashmir and Iran. It is a trapezoid-shaped hammered dulcimer often made of walnut, with seventy two strings. The special-shaped mallets are lightweight and are held between the index and middle fingers...
on "Unfulfilled Desire", cymbalCymbalCymbals are a common percussion instrument. Cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys; see cymbal making for a discussion of their manufacture. The greater majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs sound a...
s & bells & hi-hatHi-hatA hi-hat, or hihat, is a type of cymbal and stand used as a typical part of a drum kit by percussionists in R&B, hip-hop, disco, jazz, rock and roll, house, reggae and other forms of contemporary popular music.- Operation :...
on "Yellow is the Colour of My Cowardice" - Maurizio Anzalone - guitar on "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I GetThe More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get"The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" is a song by Morrissey, released as a single in February 1994. It was taken from the then-unreleased Vauxhall and I album and was the first Morrissey single to be produced by Steve Lillywhite....
", "Sway", "Unfulfilled Desire", "Sympathy", "Hate", "Boils Down to Money" & "Woe Woe Song"
Guest musicians:
- Imogen HeapImogen HeapImogen 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...
- backing vocals on all tracks except "Wire" - Colette Meury - backing vocals on "Wired" & "Yellow is the Colour of My Cowardice"
- Ragga (Ragnhildur Gísladóttir) - backing vocals on "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get"
- Loretta Heywood - backing vocals on "Maddening Shroud"
- Andrew TumiSupaflySupafly is a UK dance act composed of Panos Liassi and Andrew Tumi . The act is led by DJ and producer, Mister P....
- backing vocals on "You Nothing" - Lisa Ferguson - violin on "Unfulfilled Desire"
- Steve Mack - guitar on "Yellow is the Colour of My Cowardice"