Somersault (Chicane album)
Encyclopedia
Somersault is Chicane
's third official studio album, released on 23 July 2007. It is Chicane's first album self-released on producer and songwriter Nick Bracegirdle's independent record label, Modena Records.
", the first officially released song from Somersault, was first heard as a single in April 2006, at which time little was known about the then-untitled album. Several other songs that were to appear on the album were first played live by Chicane in concerts during the same month; one of these songs, "Come Tomorrow", was announced as the follow-up single at this time. It was released on July 16, 2007.
In February 2007, Chicane's official website announced his departure from Universal Records, the label that released "Stoned in Love", and the subsequent scheduled release of "Come Tomorrow" and the forthcoming album on Modena; the title Somersault was subsequently announced in March.
Two of the tracks on the album, "Arizona" and "Spirit", are taken from the Easy to Assemble album, which was never officially released after it was widely pirated. Fifty review copies were sent out before the record label WEA
changed hands leading to the departure of the A&R manager and music director who had signed him, and its release was put on hold while Bracegirdle negotiated an exit from his contract. The album was subsequently uploaded to a peer-to-peer
site and pirated by Russian criminals to such an extent that it was felt that it was not worth releasing it officially. He self-financed Somersault, raising almost £400,000 by selling his Ferrari
and remortgaging his house, and when it was released he employed the company Web Sheriff
to monitor and close down sites that were distributing the album illegally.
lyrics. The singer on these songs (3, 4, 7, 8, 9) is (pseudonym) Jack Starks (whereas no previous album has included multiple songs with the same singer).
"U R Always" is credited to Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona and American lyricist James "Kim" Gannon
due to its incorporation of a vocal performance of the song "Always in My Heart" by Nana Mouskouri
. (Previously, the English band Bent
made similar use of the song in their 2000 single, "Always".)
Q
magazine gave Somersault one star out of five in its August 2007 issue, criticizing it for being "old-fashioned" in both "house
" tracks such as "Always" and "Time of Your Life" and "indie-dance
" tracks such as "Come Tomorrow"—which was nevertheless recommended as a download. Virgin Media
's album review gave the same rating, also citing a lack of innovation, though it is suggested that those of the "Ibiza
crowd" could appreciate it. UK fanzine
High Voltage offered a rating of three out of five, with similar critique: "Bracegirdle's stubborn, yet kind of heroic refusal to divert from his initial blueprint has seen him become a dinosaur." It also goes on to suggest that the album's "purity" will continue to gain favour with "its demographic"—in reference to nightclub
goers. Entertainment guide IndieLondon, however, expressed skepticism that the album would stand out to clubbers, cautioning that it "could just as easily alienate [Bracegirdle's] fans", using "Come Tomorrow", "Nothing", and "Arizona" as examples of songs that attempt to vary from the Ibiza sound but do not fully transcend to new genres. Other reviews were generally unenthusiastic about the album, although the Daily Record
was more favourable, describing it as a "summertastic album, perfect for iPod listening during days of recovery on the beach". The Daily Express
noted the shift in style towards more song-based tracks, comparing the structures of the songs to Coldplay
and Keane, while adding "This album might veer towards the middle of the road, but it's technically flawless." The Evening Standard while giving it a favourable review, nevertheless stated "It's all good stuff, really just don't expect much by way of originality".
Chicane (recording artist)
Chicane is a British electronic dance music act, and the guise of British musician, composer, songwriter and record producer, Nicholas Bracegirdle....
's third official studio album, released on 23 July 2007. It is Chicane's first album self-released on producer and songwriter Nick Bracegirdle's independent record label, Modena Records.
History
"Stoned in LoveStoned in Love
"Stoned in Love" is a dance track by Chicane , with vocals performed by famed pop singer Tom Jones. It was released as a single on 24 April 2006....
", the first officially released song from Somersault, was first heard as a single in April 2006, at which time little was known about the then-untitled album. Several other songs that were to appear on the album were first played live by Chicane in concerts during the same month; one of these songs, "Come Tomorrow", was announced as the follow-up single at this time. It was released on July 16, 2007.
In February 2007, Chicane's official website announced his departure from Universal Records, the label that released "Stoned in Love", and the subsequent scheduled release of "Come Tomorrow" and the forthcoming album on Modena; the title Somersault was subsequently announced in March.
Two of the tracks on the album, "Arizona" and "Spirit", are taken from the Easy to Assemble album, which was never officially released after it was widely pirated. Fifty review copies were sent out before the record label WEA
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
changed hands leading to the departure of the A&R manager and music director who had signed him, and its release was put on hold while Bracegirdle negotiated an exit from his contract. The album was subsequently uploaded to a peer-to-peer
Peer-to-peer
Peer-to-peer computing or networking is a distributed application architecture that partitions tasks or workloads among peers. Peers are equally privileged, equipotent participants in the application...
site and pirated by Russian criminals to such an extent that it was felt that it was not worth releasing it officially. He self-financed Somersault, raising almost £400,000 by selling his Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
and remortgaging his house, and when it was released he employed the company Web Sheriff
Web Sheriff
Web Sheriff is an anti-piracy company based in the United Kingdom that provides intellectual property, copyright and privacy rights protection services for a range of clients that include record labels, musical artists, media organizations, and celebrities. The company monitors various websites...
to monitor and close down sites that were distributing the album illegally.
Personnel
In addition to "Stoned in Love", five other songs feature leading male vocals and verse-chorus formVerse-chorus form
Verse-chorus form is a musical form common in popular music and predominant in rock since the 1960s. In contrast to AABA form, which is focused on the verse , in verse-chorus form the chorus is highlighted...
lyrics. The singer on these songs (3, 4, 7, 8, 9) is (pseudonym) Jack Starks (whereas no previous album has included multiple songs with the same singer).
Track listing
All songs written by Nick Bracegirdle except those noted otherwise.- "Stoned in LoveStoned in Love"Stoned in Love" is a dance track by Chicane , with vocals performed by famed pop singer Tom Jones. It was released as a single on 24 April 2006....
" (featuring Tom JonesTom Jones (singer)Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
) (John Pickering, Nick Bracegirdle, Nigel Butler, Ray Hedges, Tom Jones) – 5:02 - "U R Always" (Ernesto LecuonaErnesto LecuonaErnesto Lecuona y Casado was a Cuban composer and pianist of Canarian father and Cuban mother, and worldwide fame. He composed over six hundred pieces, mostly in the Cuban vein, and was a pianist of exceptional quality....
, Kim GannonKim GannonJames Kimball "Kim" Gannon was an American songwriter, more commonly a lyricist than a composer. He was born in Brooklyn, New York but grew up in New Jersey where he attended Montclair High School and was a member of The Omega Gamma Delta Fraternity. He graduated from St...
, Bracegirdle, Butler, Hedges) – 5:25 - "Come Tomorrow" – 4:47
- "Nothing" – 4:09
- "Arizona" – 3:01
- "Spirit" (featuring JewelJewel (singer)Jewel Kilcher , professionally known as Jewel, is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actress and poet...
) (Bracegirdle, Tracy AckermanAbsolute (production team)Absolute are a music production team responsible for a number of hits in the 1990s and first decade of the 21st century.-History:Absolute was formed in 1988, by Paul Wilson and Andy Watkins after they met at university and decided to pursue a career in music...
) – 4:38 - "Turning Corners" – 3:58
- "Far Away from You" (Humphrey Miles, Bracegirdle) – 3:48
- "Way I'm Feelin'" (Bracegirdle, Butler, Hedges) – 4:52
- "Time of Your Life" – 2:33
"U R Always" is credited to Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona and American lyricist James "Kim" Gannon
Kim Gannon
James Kimball "Kim" Gannon was an American songwriter, more commonly a lyricist than a composer. He was born in Brooklyn, New York but grew up in New Jersey where he attended Montclair High School and was a member of The Omega Gamma Delta Fraternity. He graduated from St...
due to its incorporation of a vocal performance of the song "Always in My Heart" by Nana Mouskouri
Nana Mouskouri
Nana Mouskouri , born Ioánna Moúschouri on October 13, 1934, in Chania, Crete, Greece, is a Greek singer who has sold about 300 million records worldwide in a career spanning over five decades, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She was known as Nána to her friends and...
. (Previously, the English band Bent
Bent (band)
Bent are an electronica act from Nottingham in England, consisting of Neil "Nail" Tolliday and Simon Mills. They gained critical acclaim from their debut album Programmed to Love in 2000....
made similar use of the song in their 2000 single, "Always".)
Reception
Somersault received mixed reviews from most music critics.Q
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
magazine gave Somersault one star out of five in its August 2007 issue, criticizing it for being "old-fashioned" in both "house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
" tracks such as "Always" and "Time of Your Life" and "indie-dance
Alternative dance
Alternative dance or indie dance is a musical genre that mixes rock subgenres with electronic dance music...
" tracks such as "Come Tomorrow"—which was nevertheless recommended as a download. Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
's album review gave the same rating, also citing a lack of innovation, though it is suggested that those of the "Ibiza
Ibiza
Ibiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza...
crowd" could appreciate it. UK fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
High Voltage offered a rating of three out of five, with similar critique: "Bracegirdle's stubborn, yet kind of heroic refusal to divert from his initial blueprint has seen him become a dinosaur." It also goes on to suggest that the album's "purity" will continue to gain favour with "its demographic"—in reference to nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
goers. Entertainment guide IndieLondon, however, expressed skepticism that the album would stand out to clubbers, cautioning that it "could just as easily alienate [Bracegirdle's] fans", using "Come Tomorrow", "Nothing", and "Arizona" as examples of songs that attempt to vary from the Ibiza sound but do not fully transcend to new genres. Other reviews were generally unenthusiastic about the album, although the Daily Record
Daily Record (Scotland)
The Daily Record is a Scottish tabloid newspaper based in Glasgow. It had been the best-selling daily paper in Scotland for many years with a paid circulation in August 2011 of 307,794 . It is now outsold by its arch-rival the Scottish Sun which in September 2010 had a circulation of 339,586 in...
was more favourable, describing it as a "summertastic album, perfect for iPod listening during days of recovery on the beach". The Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
noted the shift in style towards more song-based tracks, comparing the structures of the songs to 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 Keane, while adding "This album might veer towards the middle of the road, but it's technically flawless." The Evening Standard while giving it a favourable review, nevertheless stated "It's all good stuff, really just don't expect much by way of originality".