Inside the Rose

Last updated

Inside the Rose
Studio album by
Released22 March 2019 [1]
Length40:09
Label Infectious
Producer Jack Barnett and George Barnett
These New Puritans chronology
Field of Reeds
(2013)
Inside the Rose
(2019)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic? 7.4/10 [1]
Metacritic 74/100 [2]
Review scores
SourceRating
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
The Line of Best Fit Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Clash 7/10 [5]
Pitchfork 7.8/10 [6]
The Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
MusicOMH Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [8]
Evening Standard Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [9]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Drowned in Sound 7/10 [11]
The Skinny Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Under the Radar Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Q Magazine Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [14]

Inside the Rose is the fourth studio album by art rock band These New Puritans.

Contents

It was described as "another creative reinvention" and "a visionary record". [15] [16] The Quietus named it the fifth best album of 2019. [17]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Infinity Vibraphones"6:32
2."Anti-Gravity"4:37
3."Beyond Black Suns"4:40
4."Inside the Rose"4:57
5."Where the Trees Are on Fire"4:39
6."Into the Fire"3:43
7."Lost Angel"1:14
8."A-R-P"6:28
9."Six"3:11
Total length:40:09 [18]

Background and recording

Following Field of Reeds, TNP moved to Berlin and set up in a dilapidated GDR broadcasting studio in the industrial suburbs. [19]

The album was recorded in Essex, London and Berlin, and mixed in Los Angeles. [15] It was their first to be entirely self-produced, and was described as "another creative reinvention". The rhythm tracks were recorded with frequent collaborator Graham Sutton, of Bark Psychosis. [19] Prior to the recording of the album, founder-member Thomas Hein left TNP to pursue work in computational neuroscience. [20]

Sonically Jack Barnett said that he "wanted all extremes of our sound... to exist simultaneously". [21] The results have been described as sounding like "dance innovator Jlin deconstructing a Depeche Mode anthem scored by Steve Reich". [22]

The album features vocal appearances by David Tibet of Current 93, Taiwanese singer Scintii and Elisa Rodrigues. Chino Moreno was reportedly asked to sing on the album, but due to touring commitments, this never happened. [23]

Much of the album was written in Westcliff-on-Sea. Jack said he found the strange characters he encountered in the town inspiring. TNP have said that while Field of Reeds was akin to a solo album for Jack, Inside The Rose has more of George's imprint on the sound; it is the first album for which he contributed lyrics. The song "Where The Trees Are On Fire" reportedly came to Jack in a dream; he dreamed the melody and most of the words, before adding the chords the next morning. [22] The song was performed live at the Barbican Centre in 2014. [24]

The band have said that during the making of the album, they took inspiration from their idols such as Captain Beefheart, Francis Bacon, Igor Stravinsky and Leos Carax. [25]

Release and reception

The album's release was marked with a "happening" event at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, involving a stage set constructed out of slashed silk and scaffolding, designed by George Barnett and artist Freya Don. The support act was performance artist Soojin Chang.

The album was released digitally and physically, with photography by Harley Weir and design by George Barnett. The physical formats were 12" record (with acidic multi-colour vinyl) and on CD with unorthodox artwork printed on a transparent plastic sleeve and a half-size booklet. Weir also collaborated with Barnett on a gender-blurring erotic video for lead-single "Inside The Rose". [16]

The album received a positive critical response. TNP's willingness to take risks and sense of musical adventure was praised, and the Guardian described it as part of a "painstaking musical quest that pays zero interest to commercial expectations". [26] Q Magazine described the band as one of the most daring and ambitious of the decade, and said they continue to turn modern rock inside out. [27]

On the other hand, DIY magazine criticised the album as impenetrable and "too clever for its own good". [28]

Themes

The album was described as "a visionary record, rich with fire, energy, elements, the sky, and invocations". Other themes running through the album include dreams, environmental destruction, oblivion and ecstasy. [29] [30] [31]

Personnel

[32]

These New Puritans

Additional musicians

Instrumentalists

  • Thomas Hein: percussion, backing singing
  • Maria Chiara Argiró: piano
  • Yazz Ahmed: flugelhorn, trumpet
  • Noel Langley: flugelhorn
  • Azazello Satariel: pocket tuba

Voices

Stargaze ensemble

  • Andre de Ridder: conductor
  • Mayah Kadish: violin I
  • Jeffrey Bruinsma: violin I
  • Daniella Strasfogel: violin I
  • Biliana Voutchkova: violin II
  • Emmanuelle Bernard: violin II
  • Mari Sawada: violin II
  • Thora Sveinsdóttir: viola
  • Ildiko Ludwig: viola
  • Yodfat Miron: viola
  • Anna Carew: cello
  • Andreas Voss: cello
  • Zoé Cartier: cello
  • Lisa de Boos: double bass
  • Caleb Salgado: double bass
  • Clara Gervais: double bass
  • Romain Bly: french horn
  • Samuel Stoll: french horn
  • Florian Menzel: trumpet
  • Damir Bacikin: trumpet
  • Florian Juncker: trombone
  • Till Krause: trombone

Related Research Articles

<i>The Stone Roses</i> (album) 1989 studio album by The Stone Roses

The Stone Roses is the debut studio album by English rock band the Stone Roses. It was recorded mostly at Battery Studios in London with producer John Leckie from June 1988 to February 1989 and released in May of that year by Silvertone Records.

<i>Randy Newman</i> (album) 1968 studio album by Randy Newman

Randy Newman is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Randy Newman, released in 1968 by Reprise Records. The album is sometimes referred to as Randy Newman Creates Something New Under the Sun, written on the reverse of the album sleeve. Newman had been a noted songwriter for some years prior to the release of his debut, which was advertised as sounding "like a greatest hits". In contrast to his later albums which usually feature Newman and his piano with a rock backing, Randy Newman is highly orchestral.

<i>Unforgettable... with Love</i> 1991 studio album by Natalie Cole

Unforgettable... with Love, also known as simply Unforgettable, is a 1991 album by American singer Natalie Cole. Released on June 11, 1991, the album includes covers of standards previously performed by her father, Nat King Cole. It was also her debut for Elektra Records, after being given her release from EMI Records.

Lillian Fuchs was an American violist, teacher and composer. She is considered to be among the finest instrumentalists of her time. She came from a musical family, and her brothers, Joseph Fuchs, a violinist, and Harry Fuchs, a cellist, performed with her on various recordings.

<i>Loves Secret Domain</i> 1991 studio album by Coil

Love's Secret Domain is the third studio album by the British experimental band Coil, released in 1991. The album marked a departure from the brooding synthesizers and melodies of their first two albums, focusing more on sampling inspired by acid house. The singles released from the album were "Windowpane" and "The Snow". Guest vocalists include Marc Almond on the song "Titan Arch" and Annie Anxiety on the song "Things Happen".

These New Puritans English band

These New Puritans are an English music group/band from Southend-on-Sea, England. It consists mainly of Jack Barnett and his twin brother George Barnett. Multi-instrumentalist Thomas Hein was an active member of TNP between 2006 and 2016; keyboardist Sophie Sleigh-Johnson was active between 2006 and 2010. They have recorded four studio albums: Beat Pyramid (2008), Hidden (2010), Field of Reeds (2013) and Inside the Rose (2019).

Ossian Brown is an English musician and artist, most notable for being a member of the groups Coil and Cyclobe.

<i>Beat Pyramid</i> 2008 studio album by These New Puritans

Beat Pyramid is the debut studio album by British art rock band These New Puritans. It was released on 28 January 2008 in the United Kingdom through Angular and Domino and on 18 March 2008 in the United States through Domino. The album was recorded in London and Paris during 2007 and was produced by Gareth Jones in London. The double A-side "Numbers/Colours", "Elvis" and "Swords of Truth" were released as singles.

Jane Weaver Musical artist

Jane Louise Weaver is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist. She runs the label Bird Records, an offshoot of Twisted Nerve Records. Weaver has performed as part of the Britpop group Kill Laura, the folktronica project Misty Dixon, and as a solo artist. She was brought up in the town of Widnes, Cheshire.

<i>Thats What Friends Are For</i> (Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams album) 1978 studio album by Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams

That's What Friends Are For is an album by American singers Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams that was released in July 1978 by Columbia Records. The project was a continuation of the pairing of the artists that began on his previous LP, You Light Up My Life, which included "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late", the duet that was on its way to number one on three different charts in Billboard magazine as the recording sessions for this album got underway.

<i>Hidden</i> (These New Puritans album) 2010 studio album by These New Puritans

Hidden is the second studio album by British art rock band These New Puritans. Featuring a wider sonic palette than previous work and sections played by a Czech orchestra, it was produced by frontman Jack Barnett and former Bark Psychosis leader Graham Sutton during 2009. Before their second album Hidden was released, Barnett revealed that he had been writing music for bassoon and stated that the aim was for a final product where "dancehall meets Steve Reich". Barnett learned music notation in order to write the classical parts of the album, especially the brass and woodwind audio tracks. The mixing process was undertaken by Dave Cooley, who had previously focused on alternative hip hop and shoegazing artists, in Los Angeles using Barnett's input. Angular Recording Corporation and Domino Records released Hidden in most territories on 18 January 2010; the North American release date was 2 March. Angular's press release describes the album as including:

Six-foot Japanese Taiko drums, a thirteen piece brass and woodwind ensemble, sub-heavy beats, prepared piano, a children’s choir, Foley recording techniques, and the ethereal voice of Heather Marlatt from dream-pop group Salem.

The Irrepressibles is the creative guise of British musician Jamie Irrepressible.

Quartet San Francisco is a non-traditional and eclectic string quartet led by violinist and String Masters co-founder Jeremy Cohen. The group played their first concert in 2001 and has recorded five albums. Playing a wide range of music genres including jazz, blues, tango, swing, funk, and pop, the group challenges the traditional classical music foundation of the string quartet.

Heritage Orchestra

TheHeritage Orchestra is a British orchestra founded by Chris Wheeler and Jules Buckley. They perform mainstream, cult, experimental and popular music. The orchestra, which ranges between 25 and 65 members, has performed internationally in venues such as the Sydney Opera House, Emirates Palace, and Hollywood Bowl, and tours throughout the UK to major concert halls and large-scale arenas, including The O2 Arena in London.

<i>One on One</i> (Bob James and Earl Klugh album) 1979 studio album by Bob James and Earl Klugh

One on One is a 1979 collaboration album by jazz keyboardist Bob James and guitarist Earl Klugh that won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1981. In 1982 the album was certified gold in the United States.

<i>Field of Reeds</i> 2013 studio album by These New Puritans

Field of Reeds is the third studio album by British art rock band These New Puritans, released on 10 June 2013 on Infectious Music. Produced by Jack Barnett and Graham Sutton, the album features prominent contributions from over thirty-eight session musicians, including jazz singer Elisa Rodrigues, and finds the band "reinventing themselves as a neoclassical ensemble." The album is the band's first without keyboardist Sophie Sleigh-Johnson, who departed from the band in 2012.

<i>I Am the Last of All the Field That Fell: A Channel</i> 2014 studio album by Current 93

I Am the Last of All the Field That Fell: A Channel is an album by British experimental music group, Current 93. It was released on 4 March 2014 through The Spheres record label. The album, which was premiered live on 12 February 2014 at Union Chapel in Islington, features contributions from various artists, including James Blackshaw, Andrew Liles, Ossian Brown, Antony Hegarty, Nick Cave, John Zorn and These New Puritans member Jack Barnett.

<i>The Dancing Marquis</i> 2014 studio album by Marc Almond

The Dancing Marquis is the eighteenth solo studio album by the British singer/songwriter Marc Almond. It was released by Strike Force Entertainment / Cherry Red Records on 16 June 2014.

<i>Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was</i> 2020 studio album by Bright Eyes

Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was is the tenth studio album by American band Bright Eyes. The album marked the band's first release in nearly a decade, following The People's Key in 2011. It was released by Dead Oceans on August 21, 2020, and it was their first album not released by Saddle Creek Records. The album was recorded at Electro-Vox and Capitol Studios in Los Angeles and ARC Studios in Omaha, Nebraska.

<i>Omega</i> (Epica album) 2021 studio album by Epica

Omega is the eighth studio album by the Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. It was released on 26 February 2021 via Nuclear Blast.

References

  1. 1 2 "These New Puritans - Inside The Rose". Any Decent Music?. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  2. "Inside the Rose by These New Puritans". Metacritic . Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  3. Alexis Petridis (21 March 2019). "These New Puritans: Inside the Rose review – swimming in ideas". The Guardian . Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  4. Saam Idelji-Tehrani (13 March 2019). "These New Puritans dream forwards on the astonishing Inside The Rose". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  5. Wilf Skinner (21 March 2019). "These New Puritans - Inside The Rose". Clash Music . Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  6. Brian Howe (22 March 2019). "These New Puritans - Inside the Rose". Pitchfork . Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  7. Will Hodgkinson (22 March 2019). "These New Puritans: Inside The Rose review". The Times . Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  8. Tim Lee (19 March 2019). "These New Puritans – Inside The Rose". musicOMH . Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  9. "Albums of the week: Jenny Lewis, Lucy Rose and These New Puritans". Evening Standard. 22 March 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  10. Tom Connick (22 March 2019). "These New Puritans – 'Inside The Rose' review". NME . Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  11. Max Pilley (25 March 2019). "These New Puritans: Inside the Rose". Drowned in Sound . Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  12. Dafydd Jenkins (25 March 2019). "These New Puritans – Inside the Rose". The Skinny . Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  13. Haydon Spenceley (28 March 2019). "These New Puritans - Inside the Rose". Under the Radar . Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  14. Niall Doherty (12 March 2019), These New Puritans: Twin Peaks, Q Magazine
  15. 1 2 Monroe, Jazz (March 2019). "Q Mavericks". Q Magazine: 96–101.
  16. 1 2 "The Quietus | Features | The Lead Review | Bloomin' Marvellous! These New Puritans' Inside The Rose Reviewed". The Quietus. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  17. "The Quietus | Features | Quietus Charts | Quietus Albums Of The Year 2019 (In Association With Norman Records)". The Quietus. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  18. "Inside the Rose - These New Puritans" . Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  19. 1 2 Kinney, Fergal (20 March 2019). "The constant unpredictability of Jack and George Barnett". Loud and Quiet: 24–26.
  20. Hemmings, Jeff (2 April 2019). "These New Puritans – Interview". Brighton's Finest.
  21. Draper, Jason (March 2019). "Budding Artists". Record Collector: 108–9.
  22. 1 2 Monroe, Jazz (March 2019). "Q Mavericks". Q Magazine: 96.
  23. Diver, Mike. "The Brothers Grin". Clash Music.
  24. Wright, Danny. "Vibrant, warm and bursting with life". The Guardian.
  25. Draper, Jason (March 2019). "Budding Artists". Record Collector.
  26. Petridis, Alex (21 March 2019). "Swimming In Ideas". The Guardian.
  27. Monroe, Jazz (March 2019). "Q Mavericks". Q Magazine: 126–30.
  28. Wright, Lisa. "Inside The Rose - Sometimes, maybe you can just be a bit too clever for your own good". DIY Magazine.
  29. "These New Puritans announce new album Inside The Rose". The FADER. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  30. "Getintothis' Top 100 Albums of 2019 – A Year In Review". Getintothis. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  31. "These New Puritans dream forwards on the astonishing Inside The Rose". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  32. CD liner notes