Seven Sleepers (Feeder EP)
Encyclopedia
Seven Sleepers is a Japan
-only released EP by the British rock
band Feeder
. It was the first ever release by the band after their label Echo
, was downstreamed into a copyrights exploitation company and as a result announced that they would not be releasing any new records, or signing any new artists. This meant Feeder were without a UK record label, and could not for the duration of being unsigned in the UK release any material in their home country.
Before the band's 2008 winter tour, there were plans to release a tour-only EP which would be available at merchandise stalls at the venues the band would be playing. In 2007 the band entered the The Crypt studios to record their sixth studio album
Silent Cry
, at the same time Echo were up for sale and were in financial trouble, and would not release the album until a buyer was found. With EMI
offering a price that was too low for the label, and many delays in the album already been caused, Echo however decided to release the album with all hopes that it would bring the label back afloat, after the commercial success achieved with Feeder's previous release The Singles. With BBC Radio 1
not playing its first single "We Are the People
" and a relatively low chart placing for the single at #25, alongside the album having very little promotional costs due to Echo's financial worries, the album quickly dropped out of the top 75 weekly album listing, despite an unexpected chart entry at #8 due to a lack of commercial pre-release awareness.
Amongst the recordings for the album were a series of tracks that did not make the final cut, and were used as b-sides
for "We Are the People" and other singles that were due to be released. However, due to the albums underwhelming sales, no more singles containing those tracks were released, meaning that the planned b-sides were locked in the vaults. Later on in the year the band planned to release a self-released tour EP, and included a few new songs for it with those being "Seven Sleepers" and "Snowblind", meaning that they would be exclusive to the release. However, due to contract laws meaning that they were still under Echo this never materialised. The following year, the band were still signed to their Japanese label Victor
meaning that they could still release the tracks over there anyhow. Echo also decided not to claim ownership of the new tracks with only Victor doing so. As a result, this became Feeder's first ever release not to have any release involvement from the label, with no Echo imprint appearing on the inlay and the obi strip
. The EP was then completed with a series of already released tracks making the total up to six. Many fans aware of the EP claim this to be the sort of direction the band should go towards for their next album, after giving Silent Cry a positive reception.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
-only released EP by the British rock
British rock
British rock describes a wide variety of forms of music made in the United Kingdom. Since around 1964, with the "British Invasion" of the United States spearheaded by The Beatles, British rock music has had a considerable impact on the development of American music and rock music across the...
band Feeder
Feeder
-Technology:* Feeder , any of several devices used in apiculture to supplement or replace natural food sources* Feeder , another name for a riser, a reservoir built into a metal casting mold to prevent cavities due to shrinkage...
. It was the first ever release by the band after their label Echo
Echo Records
The Echo Label was a record label started by Chrysalis Group in 1994, and linked with Pony Canyon in Japan. The Chrysalis Group were the original owners of Chrysalis Records, which they sold to EMI....
, was downstreamed into a copyrights exploitation company and as a result announced that they would not be releasing any new records, or signing any new artists. This meant Feeder were without a UK record label, and could not for the duration of being unsigned in the UK release any material in their home country.
Before the band's 2008 winter tour, there were plans to release a tour-only EP which would be available at merchandise stalls at the venues the band would be playing. In 2007 the band entered the The Crypt studios to record their sixth studio album
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...
Silent Cry
Silent Cry
Silent Cry is the sixth full studio album by rock band Feeder. It was released by Echo, on 16 June 2008, on CD, deluxe CD, vinyl, and digital download. It was the follow-up to 2005's Pushing the Senses and in terms of all albums, the highly successful singles album in 2006...
, at the same time Echo were up for sale and were in financial trouble, and would not release the album until a buyer was found. With EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
offering a price that was too low for the label, and many delays in the album already been caused, Echo however decided to release the album with all hopes that it would bring the label back afloat, after the commercial success achieved with Feeder's previous release The Singles. With 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...
not playing its first single "We Are the People
We Are the People
"We Are the People" was the first and only top 40 single from Feeder's sixth studio album, Silent Cry. The single was released on 9 June 2008, receiving its first radio play on Kerrang! Radio, two months before on 14 April...
" and a relatively low chart placing for the single at #25, alongside the album having very little promotional costs due to Echo's financial worries, the album quickly dropped out of the top 75 weekly album listing, despite an unexpected chart entry at #8 due to a lack of commercial pre-release awareness.
Amongst the recordings for the album were a series of tracks that did not make the final cut, and were used as b-sides
B-Sides
B-Sides is an iTunes-exclusive album from the Coventry Trio The Enemy, consisting of ten songs that were B-sides to the single releases from their debut album We'll Live and Die in These Towns.-Track list:#Fear Killed the Youth of Our Nation...
for "We Are the People" and other singles that were due to be released. However, due to the albums underwhelming sales, no more singles containing those tracks were released, meaning that the planned b-sides were locked in the vaults. Later on in the year the band planned to release a self-released tour EP, and included a few new songs for it with those being "Seven Sleepers" and "Snowblind", meaning that they would be exclusive to the release. However, due to contract laws meaning that they were still under Echo this never materialised. The following year, the band were still signed to their Japanese label Victor
Victor Entertainment
is a subsidiary of Japan Victor Company that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It was formerly known as...
meaning that they could still release the tracks over there anyhow. Echo also decided not to claim ownership of the new tracks with only Victor doing so. As a result, this became Feeder's first ever release not to have any release involvement from the label, with no Echo imprint appearing on the inlay and the obi strip
Obi strip
An is a strip of paper looped around a book or other product. This extends the term obi used for Japanese clothing; it is written with the same kanji. It is also referred to as a , or more narrowly as .-For books:...
. The EP was then completed with a series of already released tracks making the total up to six. Many fans aware of the EP claim this to be the sort of direction the band should go towards for their next album, after giving Silent Cry a positive reception.
Track listing
- "Seven Sleepers" – 3:44
- "Snowblind" – 3:22
- "Public Image" – 3:05
- "Tracing Lines (single edit)" – 3:34
- "We Are the People (acoustic version)" – 3:55
- "Somewhere to Call Your Own" – 2:32