Saint Dymphna (album)
Encyclopedia
Saint Dymphna is the self-produced fourth studio album
by American experimental music
band Gang Gang Dance
, released in 2008 by The Social Registry
. It received positive reviews from critics.
reported a normalised
rating of 78% in October 2008 based on 27 critical reviews. Drowned in Sound
's John Semple praised Gang Gang Dance's expansion of their sonic palette and noted that the album offers "genuine moments of hope and salvation amongst the unrest". Marc Masters of Pitchfork Media
claimed that "the newfound clarity produces neither thinness nor tedium, but simply a direct, unadulterated power". Allmusic's Thom Jurek explained that the record is unique and the band's most fully realised project to date. These positive comments were encapsulated by Jody White of No Ripcord
, who gave the album a maximum rating of ten out of ten by praising the band for a memorable album full of challenging and genre-defining sounds.
Slant
's M. Clark gave Saint Dymphna a rating of three-and-a-half stars out of five, one of the lowest that it received from notable publications, and commented that Gang Gang Dance's energy "often falls flat and their eclecticism is more distracting than compelling". Maddy Costa of The Guardian
also suggested that the album is eclectic, but gave it a favourable rating by concluding that it is "arranged with exquisite precision". Reed Fischer of Paste
claimed that the record is "a dangerously sane blueprint for producers trying to capture what "futuristic" sounds like right now". Saint Dymphna figured highly in several end-of-year best album lists for 2008, notably, at number three by Cokemachineglow, at number five by The Wire
, at number nine by Tiny Mix Tapes
, and at number 13 by Drowned in Sound. It was named Best Album Of 2008 by FACT.
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 American experimental music
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
band Gang Gang Dance
Gang Gang Dance
Gang Gang Dance is an American experimental music band based in Manhattan, New York City. The band is known for its distinctive sound which features synthesized electronics and percussion, plus the varied vocal styles of singer Lizzi Bougatsos...
, released in 2008 by The Social Registry
The Social Registry
The Social Registry is a record label based in Brooklyn, New York that was started in 2003. It was voted "Best New Record label" in The Village Voice's Best of New York issue in 2004.-Artists:Artanker Convoy,Blood Lines,Blood on the Wall,Christy & Emily,...
. It received positive reviews from critics.
Critical reception
Media response to Saint Dymphna was generally positive; aggregating website MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
reported a normalised
Standard score
In statistics, a standard score indicates how many standard deviations an observation or datum is above or below the mean. It is a dimensionless quantity derived by subtracting the population mean from an individual raw score and then dividing the difference by the population standard deviation...
rating of 78% in October 2008 based on 27 critical reviews. Drowned in Sound
Drowned in Sound
DrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...
's John Semple praised Gang Gang Dance's expansion of their sonic palette and noted that the album offers "genuine moments of hope and salvation amongst the unrest". Marc Masters of Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
claimed that "the newfound clarity produces neither thinness nor tedium, but simply a direct, unadulterated power". Allmusic's Thom Jurek explained that the record is unique and the band's most fully realised project to date. These positive comments were encapsulated by Jody White of No Ripcord
No Ripcord
No Ripcord is an online music and film magazine based in Sheffield, England.-History:The website was originally created in April 1999 by editor-in-chief David Coleman and A.M. Booth...
, who gave the album a maximum rating of ten out of ten by praising the band for a memorable album full of challenging and genre-defining sounds.
Slant
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
's M. Clark gave Saint Dymphna a rating of three-and-a-half stars out of five, one of the lowest that it received from notable publications, and commented that Gang Gang Dance's energy "often falls flat and their eclecticism is more distracting than compelling". Maddy Costa of The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
also suggested that the album is eclectic, but gave it a favourable rating by concluding that it is "arranged with exquisite precision". Reed Fischer of Paste
Paste (magazine)
Paste is a monthly music and entertainment digital magazine published in the United States by Wolfgang's Vault. Its tagline is "Signs of Life in Music, Film and Culture."-History:...
claimed that the record is "a dangerously sane blueprint for producers trying to capture what "futuristic" sounds like right now". Saint Dymphna figured highly in several end-of-year best album lists for 2008, notably, at number three by Cokemachineglow, at number five by The Wire
The Wire (magazine)
The Wire is a British avant garde music magazine, founded in 1982 by jazz promoter Anthony Wood and journalist Chrissie Murray. The magazine initially concentrated on contemporary jazz and improvised music, but branched out in the early 1990s to various types of experimental music...
, at number nine by Tiny Mix Tapes
Tiny Mix Tapes
Tiny Mix Tapes is an online music and film webzine that focuses primarily on new music and related news. In addition to its reviews, it is noted for its subversive, political, and sometimes surreal news, as well as its mix tapes generator.-History:Originally called Tiny Mixtapes Gone to Heaven and...
, and at number 13 by Drowned in Sound. It was named Best Album Of 2008 by FACT.
Track listing
Bonus tracks
- "House Jam (XXXChange RemixRemixA remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
)" – 4:59 – track 12 on the Japanese edition - "House Jam (Hot ChipHot ChipHot Chip are an English electronic indie band. They have released four studio albums—Coming on Strong, The Warning, Made in the Dark and One Life Stand.-Formation:...
Remix)" – 7:01 – track 13 on the Japanese edition
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format(s) | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 5 September 2008 | P-Vine Records P-Vine Records P-Vine Records is a record label started by Blues Interactions, Inc., a firm in Tokyo, Japan established in 1975 by Yasufumi Higurashi and Akira Kochi... |
CD | PCD-22316 |
| United Kingdom | 20 October 2008 | Warp Warp Records Warp, commonly referred to as Warp Records, is a pioneering independent British record label, founded in Sheffield in 1989, notable for discovering some of the more enduring artists in electronic music.... |
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... , LP |
WARP171 |
| United States | 21 October 2008 | The Social Registry | TSR050 | |
External links
- Saint Dymphna critical reviews at MetacriticMetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
- End-of-year critics' lists for 2008 at Metacritic