Two of Diamonds (album)
Encyclopedia
Two of Diamonds is the fourth solo studio album by Australia
n singer-songwriter
and multi-instrumentalist
Mick Harvey
, released on 23 April 2007 on Mute Records
. The album contains both original compositions and covers and was recorded by Harvey over the course of three months in Grace Lane Studio, and later in Atlantis Sound Recording Studios, both in his native Melbourne
and The Instrument Studio in London, United Kingdom.
The album received positive reviews upon its release, with Pitchfork Media
describing its material as "cutting like saws through the songs' solid underlying texture," however despite critical acclaim, Two of Diamonds failed to chart internationally. The album has sold under 100,000 copies worldwide.
, received very positive critical acclaim and was followed by a successful tour in its promotion. Accompanied by his solo band, featuring Rosie Westbrook on double bass
and fellow Bad Seeds
' James Johnston
on organ
and guitar
and Thomas Wydler
on drums, Harvey began plans for his follow-up album. Harvey reflected on the plans, saying that "with [One Man's Treasure], I thought I'd see how comfortable it felt and if I liked what was going on [...] I enjoyed it and the live shows have become really strong over time. I didn't want One Man's Treasure to be a one off. I thought that if I did one record, I'd do a few. To make it something I was going to be doing for a while, for five years or so, to be something I'd follow through with and make substantial. The thing with any undertaking like this is that you grow into it. With the first album I was feeling my way somewhat and now I'm feeling more comfortable in this role. With the songs I'm just trying to find a point of view in there to convey ideas and feelings... elemental stuff."
; featured double bassist Rosie Westbrook and resulted in rough versions of three of the album's songs: "Little Star," "Blue Arrows" and "Slow-Motion-Movie-Star." This session was produced and engineered solely by Harvey. A second recording session was held at The Instrument Studio, stylised as Instrument [studio], on 18 October. "Photograph" and "Everything is Fixed" were recorded with Rob Ellis, who produced albums for PJ Harvey
with Harvey, Westbrook and former Bad Seed James Johnston
. This session was produced and engineered by Kevin Paul
. The final recording sessions for the album were held at Atlantis Sound Recording Studios over the course of two days in winter 2006. On 23 November, "Here I Am," "Sad Dark Eyes," "I Don't Want You on My Mind," A Walk on the Wild Side," and "Out of Time Man" were recorded and featured former Bad Seed Thomas Wydler
on drums, also adding overdubs to "Photograph" from the sessions in London. On 30 December, the final two songs to be recorded were "No Doubt" and "Home is Far From Here." These sessions resulted in the bulk of the material featured on the album and were produced and engineered by David McCluney.
Following the final recording sessions, McCluney mixed the final version of the album at Atlantis Sound on January 1, 3 January, and 5 January 2007. Wez Prichter was also assigned to master the album and receiving McCluney's final mixes, mastered the final version at The Finishing Post in Melbourne later that month.
. The song had previously been covered by Harvey when he was a member of The Birthday Party
. "Photograph" is a song by Chris Bailey
, of Brisbane
-based punk band The Saints
. The song was featured on their 1984 studio album, A Little Madness to Be Free. Bailey previously collaborated with Harvey whilst he was still in The Bad Seeds, Bailey was featured on backing vocals on the Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds single, "Bring It On", released in 2003 from Nocturama
. "Everything Is Fixed" is from unreleased demo recordings by David McComb, formerly of the 1980s Australian band The Triffids
. Harvey performs McComb's tale of a date "with pre destination in the jailhouse while sensitively backed every step of the way" James Cruickshank of The Cruel Sea
is also seen as one of Harvey's influences, with his song "No Doubt", a song featured on Cruickshank's Hymn For Her, being an "ode to new found love" "Home is Far From Here" references Crime And The City Solution
, a band he formed in the mid-1980s and with whom he recorded six albums until the group disbanded in 1991. This song was previously featured on the album Shine.
However, songs by non-Australian artists are also featured on Two of Diamonds. "Slow-Motion-Movie-Star" is a song written by Harvey's friend PJ Harvey
and an outtake from her 2001 album, Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
. "I Don't Want You On My Mind" was written by soul musician Bill Withers
and "Here I Am" by Emmylou Harris
. "Walk On The Wildside" was originally composed for the 1962 feature film adaptation of Nelson Algren
's novel by Elmer Bernstein
, with lyrics by Mack David, and performed by Brook Benton. "That's where the personal history comes in because it's always been an enormous frustration to me that the song is not on the soundtrack album," said Harvey. "I had to watch the film again to figure out the song. And then I added some lyrics. I think with every one of these songs on Two Of Diamonds, although there is probably an exception, I've added lyrics or changed lyrics. That's part of the process for me. I'm not really a 'cover versions man', where you do it all dutifully and perform an exact rendition. When I get to a part of a song that I don't think is right for me, I'll change it. You have to make it YOUR version. It also relates to the way old folk and blues songs used to evolve over time and would have different verses added or lost through the years. I’d like to think my approach is part of that tradition."
, various suits of kings
, queens
and jacks
and centred is the eponymous two of diamonds. There were three design personnel assigned to design the cover for the album; Katy Beale, Marina Lutz and
Harry Howard. Beale conceived the idea for, and designed, the front and back cover artwork while Lutz was head of image processing. Howard designed the final layout of the packaging. The back cover art arranges the album's track list in suits.
, Digipak
and vinyl
on Mute Records
. Later versions were pressed in Europe by EMI
and released in July 2007. Upon its initial release, Harvey toured throughout Europe to promote Two of Diamonds and included dates at All Tomorrow's Parties
(ATP) in Somerset
alongside Cat Power
, Yann Tiersen
and also performed with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
and on his tour with The Ritchie Success in Prague, Czech Republic on 10 May and 27 May at Bush Hall in London
, United Kingdom. Due to recording sessions for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' studio album Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
, Harvey's tour was limited to only a number of dates.
described the album's material as "cutting like saws through the songs solid underlying texture," and praised his original compositions as the stand-out songs of the album. ARTISTdirect
were critical of the abundance of cover songs but stated that "Harvey possesses considerable skill as an interpreter and collaborator." Thom Jurek of Allmusic praised the mix of covers and origins, which he believed were mixed "strategically." He also praised the original compositions describing them as "among the finest songs Harvey's ever written" and the overall album as "sadly beautiful [...] and imprinted in the heart." Stylus Magazine summarized the album as "rich, textured, melancholy, and full of space" but like all reviews, focused on the inclusion of covers and originals; "his own originals are well crafted, sliding seamlessly into the proceedings, but the real triumph for Harvey is the fact that it all sounds like Mick Harvey, regardless of origin." Other sundry reviews noted Harvey's vocal abilities as "resonates beautifully in the arrangements that unfold meticulously and cinematically."
unless otherwise noted.
Technical personnel
Design personnel
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
Mick Harvey
Mick Harvey
Michael John Harvey , is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his long-time collaboration with the singer and songwriter Nick Cave...
, released on 23 April 2007 on Mute Records
Mute Records
Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:...
. The album contains both original compositions and covers and was recorded by Harvey over the course of three months in Grace Lane Studio, and later in Atlantis Sound Recording Studios, both in his native Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and The Instrument Studio in London, United Kingdom.
The album received positive reviews upon its release, with 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...
describing its material as "cutting like saws through the songs' solid underlying texture," however despite critical acclaim, Two of Diamonds failed to chart internationally. The album has sold under 100,000 copies worldwide.
Background
In 2005, Mick Harvey's solo studio album, One Man's TreasureOne Man's Treasure
One Man's Treasure is Mick Harvey's third solo album and the first not to feature the songs of Serge Gainsbourg. It includes two songs by Harvey, and several songs written by musicians Harvey had produced and/or performed with: "Come Into My Sleep" - Nick Cave; "Louise" - Tex, Don & Charlie; "Come...
, received very positive critical acclaim and was followed by a successful tour in its promotion. Accompanied by his solo band, featuring Rosie Westbrook on double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
and fellow Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :...
' James Johnston
James Johnston
James Johnston may refer to:*James Johnston , Scottish Secretary of State*James William Johnston , Canadian politician and judge*James Finlay Weir Johnston , chemist...
on organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and Thomas Wydler
Thomas Wydler
Thomas Wydler , is a Swiss musician best known for being a core member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, of which he has been a drummer since 1985. Prior to joining them, he was a member of the experimental German band Die Haut. Wydler has been present on almost every Bad Seeds album, making his...
on drums, Harvey began plans for his follow-up album. Harvey reflected on the plans, saying that "with [One Man's Treasure], I thought I'd see how comfortable it felt and if I liked what was going on [...] I enjoyed it and the live shows have become really strong over time. I didn't want One Man's Treasure to be a one off. I thought that if I did one record, I'd do a few. To make it something I was going to be doing for a while, for five years or so, to be something I'd follow through with and make substantial. The thing with any undertaking like this is that you grow into it. With the first album I was feeling my way somewhat and now I'm feeling more comfortable in this role. With the songs I'm just trying to find a point of view in there to convey ideas and feelings... elemental stuff."
Recording
Two of Diamonds was recorded over the course of three months in late 2006 at three various locations throughout Australia and the United Kingdom. The initial recording sessions; recorded at Harvey's own recording facility, Grace Lane Studio, in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
; featured double bassist Rosie Westbrook and resulted in rough versions of three of the album's songs: "Little Star," "Blue Arrows" and "Slow-Motion-Movie-Star." This session was produced and engineered solely by Harvey. A second recording session was held at The Instrument Studio, stylised as Instrument [studio], on 18 October. "Photograph" and "Everything is Fixed" were recorded with Rob Ellis, who produced albums for PJ Harvey
PJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
with Harvey, Westbrook and former Bad Seed James Johnston
James Johnston
James Johnston may refer to:*James Johnston , Scottish Secretary of State*James William Johnston , Canadian politician and judge*James Finlay Weir Johnston , chemist...
. This session was produced and engineered by Kevin Paul
Kevin Paul
Kevin Paul is a South African swimmer who received a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Paralympics held in Beijing. He is currently studying a Bachelor of Laws Degree at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University...
. The final recording sessions for the album were held at Atlantis Sound Recording Studios over the course of two days in winter 2006. On 23 November, "Here I Am," "Sad Dark Eyes," "I Don't Want You on My Mind," A Walk on the Wild Side," and "Out of Time Man" were recorded and featured former Bad Seed Thomas Wydler
Thomas Wydler
Thomas Wydler , is a Swiss musician best known for being a core member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, of which he has been a drummer since 1985. Prior to joining them, he was a member of the experimental German band Die Haut. Wydler has been present on almost every Bad Seeds album, making his...
on drums, also adding overdubs to "Photograph" from the sessions in London. On 30 December, the final two songs to be recorded were "No Doubt" and "Home is Far From Here." These sessions resulted in the bulk of the material featured on the album and were produced and engineered by David McCluney.
Following the final recording sessions, McCluney mixed the final version of the album at Atlantis Sound on January 1, 3 January, and 5 January 2007. Wez Prichter was also assigned to master the album and receiving McCluney's final mixes, mastered the final version at The Finishing Post in Melbourne later that month.
Composition
The album consists of an eclectic collection of songs which Harvey had chosen "to interoperate in his own distinctive and emotive style." Of the album's twelve tracks, two are original Harvey compositions ("Blue Arrows", "Little Star"). Alike One Man's Treasure, Harvey's originals are combined with "more obscure classics, sometimes stemming from the pens of well known enigmatic songwriters." Harvey has stated this his reasons for choosing such numbers for inclusion on the album was due to a profound personal connection with the songs. Some of the songs' lyrics refer directly to Harvey's past and the Australian musicians that have inspired him. "If I'm digging around, looking for material to use, that's very often where I'll find things that I'm interested in doing something with," said Harvey. "There is a lot of stuff there that is usable, because it's so unknown outside of Australia." "Sad Dark Eyes" was originally recorded by an Australian group from the mid-1960s, The Loved OnesThe Loved Ones
The Loved Ones were an Australian rock band formed in 1965 in Melbourne following the British Invasion. The line-up of Gavin Anderson on drums, Ian Clyne on organ and piano, Gerry Humphrys on vocals and harmonica, Rob Lovett on guitar, and Kim Lynch on bass guitar recorded their early hits...
. The song had previously been covered by Harvey when he was a member of The Birthday Party
The Birthday Party (band)
The Birthday Party were an Australian rock band, active from 1973 to 1983.Despite being championed by John Peel, The Birthday Party found little commercial success during their career...
. "Photograph" is a song by Chris Bailey
Chris Bailey
Chris Bailey is the co-founder and singer of rock band The Saints. He was born in Nanyuki, Kenya in 1959 to Irish parents. Bailey grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland until the age of seven, when his family emigrated to Australia. The Saints were formed in Australia in 1974. Their first hit was in...
, of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
-based punk band The Saints
The Saints (band)
The Saints are an Australian rock band, which formed in Brisbane in 1974 as punk rockers. Founders were Chris Bailey , Ivor Hay , and Ed Kuepper . Alongside mainstay Bailey, the group has had numerous line-ups...
. The song was featured on their 1984 studio album, A Little Madness to Be Free. Bailey previously collaborated with Harvey whilst he was still in The Bad Seeds, Bailey was featured on backing vocals on the Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds single, "Bring It On", released in 2003 from Nocturama
Nocturama
Nocturama is the 12th studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in 2003. It received a fairly mixed reaction, though it had some moderate critical success. To date, it is the last Bad Seeds album to feature founding member Blixa Bargeld...
. "Everything Is Fixed" is from unreleased demo recordings by David McComb, formerly of the 1980s Australian band The Triffids
The Triffids
The Triffids were a seminal Australian alternative rock and pop band formed in Perth, Western Australia, in May 1978 with charismatic, David McComb as singer-songwriter, guitarist, bass guitarist and keyboardist. They achieved negligible success in Australia, but greater success in the U.K...
. Harvey performs McComb's tale of a date "with pre destination in the jailhouse while sensitively backed every step of the way" James Cruickshank of The Cruel Sea
The Cruel Sea
The Cruel Sea or Cruel Sea may refer to:*The Cruel Sea , a 1951 novel by Nicholas Monsarrat*The Cruel Sea , a 1953 film made of the above book, starring Jack Hawkins...
is also seen as one of Harvey's influences, with his song "No Doubt", a song featured on Cruickshank's Hymn For Her, being an "ode to new found love" "Home is Far From Here" references Crime And The City Solution
Crime and the City Solution
Crime and the City Solution was a rock music band formed by Australian singer and songwriter Simon Bonney.They had four distinct line-ups: Sydney in 1977–78, Melbourne in 1979, and two groupings in Berlin from 1985–1990. The only common member in all four line-ups was Bonney.Other members included:...
, a band he formed in the mid-1980s and with whom he recorded six albums until the group disbanded in 1991. This song was previously featured on the album Shine.
However, songs by non-Australian artists are also featured on Two of Diamonds. "Slow-Motion-Movie-Star" is a song written by Harvey's friend PJ Harvey
PJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
and an outtake from her 2001 album, Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea is the fifth studio album by English singer-songwriter PJ Harvey, released 23 October 2000 on Island Records. Recorded during March to April 2000, the album contains themes of love that are tied into Harvey's affection for New York City...
. "I Don't Want You On My Mind" was written by soul musician Bill Withers
Bill Withers
William Harrison "Bill" Withers, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and musician who performed and recorded from 1970 until 1985. Some of his best-known songs are "Lean on Me", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Use Me", "Just the Two of Us", "Lovely Day", and "Grandma's Hands"...
and "Here I Am" by Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
. "Walk On The Wildside" was originally composed for the 1962 feature film adaptation of Nelson Algren
Nelson Algren
Nelson Algren was an American writer.-Early life:Algren was born Nelson Ahlgren Abraham in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Goldie and Gerson Abraham. At the age of three he moved with his parents to Chicago, Illinois where they lived in a working-class, immigrant neighborhood on the South Side...
's novel by Elmer Bernstein
Elmer Bernstein
Elmer Bernstein was an American composer and conductor best known for his many film scores. In a career which spanned fifty years, he composed music for hundreds of film and television productions...
, with lyrics by Mack David, and performed by Brook Benton. "That's where the personal history comes in because it's always been an enormous frustration to me that the song is not on the soundtrack album," said Harvey. "I had to watch the film again to figure out the song. And then I added some lyrics. I think with every one of these songs on Two Of Diamonds, although there is probably an exception, I've added lyrics or changed lyrics. That's part of the process for me. I'm not really a 'cover versions man', where you do it all dutifully and perform an exact rendition. When I get to a part of a song that I don't think is right for me, I'll change it. You have to make it YOUR version. It also relates to the way old folk and blues songs used to evolve over time and would have different verses added or lost through the years. I’d like to think my approach is part of that tradition."
Packaging
Unlike Harvey's previous albums, Two of Diamonds does not feature a portrait of Harvey. The album cover features a selection of playing cards, including a jokerJoker (playing card)
Joker is a special type of playing card found in most modern decks, or else a type of tile in some Mahjong game sets.-Name:It is believed that the term "Joker" comes from a mispronunciation of Jucker, the German/Alsatian name for the game Euchre. The card was originally introduced in about 1860 for...
, various suits of kings
King (playing card)
The king is a playing card with a picture of a king on it. The usual rank of a king is as if it were a 13; that is, above the queen. In some games, the king is the highest-ranked card; in others, the ace is higher...
, queens
Queen (playing card)
The Queen is a playing card with a picture of a queen on it. The usual rank of a queen is as if it were 12 ....
and jacks
Jack (playing card)
A Jack, also Knave, is a playing card with a picture of a man on it. The usual rank of a jack, within its suit, is as if it were an 11 ....
and centred is the eponymous two of diamonds. There were three design personnel assigned to design the cover for the album; Katy Beale, Marina Lutz and
Harry Howard. Beale conceived the idea for, and designed, the front and back cover artwork while Lutz was head of image processing. Howard designed the final layout of the packaging. The back cover art arranges the album's track list in suits.
Release
The album was released on 23 April 2007 and was issued on CDCompact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
, Digipak
Digipak
Digipak is a patented style of CD, DVD or BD packaging, and is a registered trademark of AGI World Ltd., an Atlas Holdings company.-Features:...
and vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
on Mute Records
Mute Records
Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:...
. Later versions were pressed in Europe by 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...
and released in July 2007. Upon its initial release, Harvey toured throughout Europe to promote Two of Diamonds and included dates at All Tomorrow's Parties
All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)
All Tomorrow's Parties is a music festival which takes place at Camber Sands holiday camp in East Sussex and Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset, England....
(ATP) in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
alongside Cat Power
Cat Power
Charlyn Marie Marshall , also known as Chan Marshall or by her stage name Cat Power, is an American singer/songwriter and occasional actress and model. Cat Power was originally the name of Marshall's first band, but has come to refer to her musical projects with various backing bands...
, Yann Tiersen
Yann Tiersen
Yann Tiersen is a musician from France. His musical career is split between studio albums, collaborations and film soundtracks with a distinctive sound that is always involved...
and also performed with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :...
and on his tour with The Ritchie Success in Prague, Czech Republic on 10 May and 27 May at Bush Hall in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom. Due to recording sessions for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' studio album Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! is the fourteenth studio album by Australian alternative rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The album was recorded in June and July 2007 at The State of the Ark Studios in Richmond, London and mixed by Nick Launay at British Grove Studios in Chiswick, and was released on...
, Harvey's tour was limited to only a number of dates.
Reception
Critical reception to Two of Diamonds was positive. Pitchfork MediaPitchfork 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...
described the album's material as "cutting like saws through the songs solid underlying texture," and praised his original compositions as the stand-out songs of the album. ARTISTdirect
ARTISTdirect
Founded in 1994, Artistdirect, Inc. is an online digital media entertainment company. It owns several websites including Artistdirect.com, UBL.com and the Artistdirect Network...
were critical of the abundance of cover songs but stated that "Harvey possesses considerable skill as an interpreter and collaborator." Thom Jurek of Allmusic praised the mix of covers and origins, which he believed were mixed "strategically." He also praised the original compositions describing them as "among the finest songs Harvey's ever written" and the overall album as "sadly beautiful [...] and imprinted in the heart." Stylus Magazine summarized the album as "rich, textured, melancholy, and full of space" but like all reviews, focused on the inclusion of covers and originals; "his own originals are well crafted, sliding seamlessly into the proceedings, but the real triumph for Harvey is the fact that it all sounds like Mick Harvey, regardless of origin." Other sundry reviews noted Harvey's vocal abilities as "resonates beautifully in the arrangements that unfold meticulously and cinematically."
Track listing
All songs written by Mick HarveyMick Harvey
Michael John Harvey , is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his long-time collaboration with the singer and songwriter Nick Cave...
unless otherwise noted.
Personnel
Musicians- Mick HarveyMick HarveyMichael John Harvey , is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his long-time collaboration with the singer and songwriter Nick Cave...
- vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, percussion - Rosie Westbrook - double bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
, backing vocals (on "Here I Am" and "Out of Time Man") - James JohnstonJames JohnstonJames Johnston may refer to:*James Johnston , Scottish Secretary of State*James William Johnston , Canadian politician and judge*James Finlay Weir Johnston , chemist...
- electric guitar, acoustic guitar, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with... - Thomas WydlerThomas WydlerThomas Wydler , is a Swiss musician best known for being a core member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, of which he has been a drummer since 1985. Prior to joining them, he was a member of the experimental German band Die Haut. Wydler has been present on almost every Bad Seeds album, making his...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Rob Ellis - additional drums
- Julitha Ryan - additional piano, backing vocals (on "Out of Time Man")
Technical personnel
- David McCluney - producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, engineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may... - Kevin PaulKevin PaulKevin Paul is a South African swimmer who received a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Paralympics held in Beijing. He is currently studying a Bachelor of Laws Degree at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University...
- producer, engineer (on "Photograph and "Everything is Fixed") - Mick HarveyMick HarveyMichael John Harvey , is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his long-time collaboration with the singer and songwriter Nick Cave...
- producer, engineer (on "Blue Arrows," "Little Star" and "Slow-Motion-Movie-Star") - Wez Prichter - masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
Design personnel
- Katy Beale - design, artworkWork of artA work of art, artwork, art piece, or art object is an aesthetic item or artistic creation.The term "a work of art" can apply to:*an example of fine art, such as a painting or sculpture*a fine work of architecture or landscape design...
- Marina Lutz - image processingImage processingIn electrical engineering and computer science, image processing is any form of signal processing for which the input is an image, such as a photograph or video frame; the output of image processing may be either an image or, a set of characteristics or parameters related to the image...
- Harry Howard - design, layout