Axes (album)

Last updated
Axes
ElectrelaneAxes.jpg
Studio album by
Released9 May 2005 (2005-05-09)
RecordedDecember 2004-January 2005 in Chicago, Illinois
Genre Post-rock
Length59:16
Label Too Pure
Electrelane chronology
The Power Out
(2004)
Axes
(2005)
No Shouts, No Calls
(2007)
Singles from Axes
  1. "Bells"
    Released: 18 April 2005
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Austin Chronicle Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Blender Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Calgary Sun Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
New York Times favorable [5]
PopMatters (7/10) [6]
Pitchfork Media (7.3/10) [7]
Stylus Magazine B [8]
Tiny Mix Tapes Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]

Axes is the third album by English rock group Electrelane.

Contents

For the mostly instrumental album, Electrelane once again returned to Steve Albini's studio in Chicago. In the first recording session for Axes, the band played through the entire album in one take. [10] This reflected the band's desire to have listeners experience the band's live show. Emma Gaze explained the album was recorded "the way we rehearse and practise: we all stand in a circle and it is very relaxed. Our previous recording experiences have been with the bass in one room, the drums in a different room, the two guitarists in a different room and then the vocals are done afterwards. Obviously it works like that because that is how most bands do it. But we just wanted it to sound more live; there is a different kind of energy that comes from playing in the same room." [11] Verity Susman said that "We see the record as a continuous piece of music, not a collection of songs. It also reflects the way we improvise, moving from one idea to the next without a clear break. It’s also how we play live." [10] The album was released on 9 May 2005 to mixed, but generally positive reviews.

Track listing

All songs written by Electrelane and Verity Susman, except where noted.

  1. "One, Two, Three, Lots" – 1:44
  2. "Bells" – 4:38
  3. "Two for Joy" – 5:58
  4. "If Not Now, When?" – 5:47
  5. "Eight Steps" – 5:01
  6. "Gone Darker" – 7:05
  7. "Atom's Tomb" – 2:08
  8. "Business or Otherwise" – 5:47
  9. "Those Pockets Are People" – 5:02
  10. "The Partisan" (Anna Marly, Hy Zaret) – 2:32
  11. "I Keep Losing Heart" – 3:41
  12. "Come Back" – 0:07
  13. "Suitcase" (Electrelane, Ros Murray) – 9:46

Personnel

Release history

RegionDateLabelFormatCatalog
United Kingdom 9 May 2005 Too Pure CD PURE 162CD
Double LP PURE 162LP
United States 9 May 2005 Too Pure, Beggars Banquet CDPURE 162

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References

  1. Allmusic review
  2. Austin Chronicle review
  3. Blender review
  4. Calgary Sun review [ permanent dead link ]
  5. New York Times review
  6. PopMatters review
  7. Pitchfork Media review Archived August 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  8. Stylus Magazine review Archived July 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  9. Tiny Mix Tapes review Archived January 3, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  10. 1 2 "Electrelane - Biography". Too Pure. 2005. Archived from the original on July 11, 2007. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  11. "Electrelane". Broken Spring Review. Archived from the original on 2007-03-03. Retrieved 2006-04-06.