Recording and production
Following their breakthrough 1997 album King of Fools , Delirious? started recording Mezzamorphis in February 1998, and continued to record throughout that year, interspersed with summer tours throughout the US and UK. The band began recording with roughly half the songs already written, and continued writing as they recorded. [8] Most of the recording took place in an old school in West Sussex. In the words of lead vocalist Martin Smith, "We turned a classroom into a control room, and there were some wooden rooms where students used to dine, in which we set up a drum kit with different mike positions. We did the bulk of it there for the first six months in between touring. In the end, we went to a smaller studio in Ford just to finish it off." [9] The band used movable drapes to experiment with different drum sounds and reverbs; most of the drums on the album are thus natural and unprocessed. [8]
Formerly known for a sound similar to that of U2, [10] [11] [12] Delirious? aimed for a more dense and electronic sound, taking inspiration from Radiohead. [11] [12] [13] Producer Tedd T was brought in to add aspects of electronica to the production. [11] Recording was finished at a small studio near Littlehampton, putting the final touches on vocals. [8]
The album was mixed by Jack Joseph Puig [14] in Los Angeles early in 1999. In the words of guitarist Stu G, "Martin and I went out to LA in January for three weeks and sat down with him and explained to him what we were doing and where we were coming from, what we were trying to accomplish with the music. He was very perceptive. He definitely took our tracks and made them into something we couldn't have done ourselves." [8] Puig's mixing of the album deepened the bass sound and brought it more of a "club" feel. [11]
Content
As with the previous album, King of Fools , Mezzamorphis is mostly midtempo; notable exceptions include "Bliss" [15] and "Gravity". [16] The new electronic direction taken by the band incorporated a theremin, played by bassist Jon Thatcher; additionally, Stu G used Revox tape delays to create keyboard-like guitar effects. [8] Classical instruments were also included, including a Salvation Army brass band on "It's OK", [16] an upright bass (also played by Thatcher) on "Kiss Your Feet", and a string quartet throughout the album.
While Mezzamorphis is not strictly a concept album, more than one professional reviewer has pointed out that there is a general theme of getting to heaven running through the whole work. [16] [17] The band have confirmed this, [8] and have also pointed out a theme of change. [11] "Heaven", inspired by the troubles in Northern Ireland, ties the two themes of heaven and change together; according to Smith, "we have to come to realize that we come from the dust, yet we believe one day we'll meet Jesus. In the meantime, we're caught between two worlds. Heaven is my home." [15]
The first track, "Mezzanine Floor", is the change-oriented centrepiece of the album, written about the musical growth of the band. [15] According to Stu G, "we feel that we're at a point where we've left where we were, but we're not yet where we believe we're going to end up. So, we're on the way, in the middle, on the mezzanine floor." [15] "Metamorphis", written solely by Stu G, further explores this theme of change. The name of the album is a mixture of the names of these two tracks (see metamorphosis and mezzanine). [11] [12]
Another strong theme from the album is peer pressure, particularly due to the band's part-Christian-part-mainstream status. The song "Gravity" refers to the opposing influences of Heaven and the secular world pulling the band in opposite directions, whilst "Metamorphis" further explores "the fact that out in the world, although everybody wants to be their own selves, we're pulled this way and that. Everyone you meet wants you to be something or another. The song asks God to help us to be our own true selves, as God sees us, not the way folk pressure us to be what they want us to be." "Bliss" deals with accusations of selling out; in the words of Stu G, "we know exactly where we want to go, we want to take our music to the world and have it recognized as being as good as anything that's out there. But we're not going to compromise or back away from our integrity as Christians." [15]
The promotional UK tour featured American rock band Switchfoot as support. [18] Delirious? also performed several songs live at Glastonbury Festival. [19] [20]
The first single, "See the Star", was released in the UK in 1999, selling over 5,000 copies in the first day and 12,000 copies in the first week. This was enough to push it to No. 16 in the UK Singles Charts and No. 2 in the indies [21] — the highest chart position ever held by a Delirious? single. A year later, the band released "It's OK", which entered the singles charts at No. 18 and the indie charts at No. 3. [22] The song was featured an episode of the US television series Get Real . [23] "Gravity" was planned to be released as a single in the UK, [24] but was only released as a radio single in the US, due to Radio One's refusal to playlist the band. [25]
Mezzamorphis was released on 12 April 1999 in the United Kingdom. Despite the extensive publicity campaign, the album debuted at No. 25 in the UK Album Charts and No. 2 in the indies, [26] lower than the band's first album, King of Fools ; however, it was the second consecutive Top 30 release for the band. The album also reached No. 2 in the contemporary Christian music charts in America and No. 137 in the Billboard 200 (No. 5 in the Heatseekers) following its 8 June release. [27]
Critical response was generally positive in both the secular and UK Christian music media. Rock Sound magazine praised "the band's talent for writing instant rock/pop songs" [28] and stated, "it shouldn't be long before Delirious? claim their rightful place as one of Britain's brightest new bands", [29] whilst Q magazine named them "the hottest thing in Christian rock" [30] and predicted, "Mezzamorphis will be the album that makes them". [31] The UK Christian music magazine Cross Rhythms awarded the album a full ten-square rating, calling the album an "absolute classic", [16] whilst Jesus Freak Hideout stated, "the musical growth is evident... and appreciated". [32] The album also drew comparisons to U2's anthemic qualities [28] [33] and was praised for its modern production. [28] [34]
In the United States, the Virgin marketed version omitted two songs ("Kiss Your Feet" and "Jesus' Blood") that were included on the Sparrow version. Each of these contained explicit faith references. [12] Additionally, the album caused some controversy in the US Christian music scene [11] due to the lyric "she's as pretty as hell" in the song "It's OK". [12] The band had left the song off promotional copies of the album, and Sparrow Records had considered leaving the song off the album; [35] several Christian retailers dropped the album amongst the complaints. [36] Smith wrote a response to the controversy on the band's website; [36] however, many fans continued to believe that the band had left Christian rock for the secular industry. The band also received criticism for the lack of the word "Jesus" on the album. [12] [37] "We recognise the ultimate validity of the criticisms leveled against us," responded lead singer Martin Smith, "and we feel as a band that this just speaks to the spiritual and intellectual maturity of our listening audience and Christians in general, for that matter." [38]
Delirious? were an English contemporary Christian band. For the majority of their career, the lineup featured Martin Smith on vocals and guitar, Stu G on guitar and backing vocals, Jon Thatcher on bass guitar, Tim Jupp on keys and piano, and Stew Smith on drums and percussion. During their final two years, drumming duties were assumed by Paul Evans.
Audio Lessonover? is the fourth studio album by the Christian rock band Delirious?, released in August 2001. It gathered considerably less critical acclaim than previous Delirious? albums, both musically and in its lack of overtly Christian lyrics. The sole single released from the album, Waiting for the Summer, reached number 26 in the UK Singles Charts; "Take Me Away", originally planned to be the second single, was released to MP3.com as a free download.
World Service is the fifth studio album by English Christian rock band Delirious?. It was released in 2003. Although it is more of a worship-oriented album as was Glo, Delirious? released two singles to the German market: "Inside Outside" and "Every Little Thing". The former sold over twelve thousand copies, was number one in German radio station SWR3's chart, and spent seven weeks in the German singles charts peaking at number seventy-two. Delirious? also released two free MP3 downloads on mp3.com, both topping the Guitar Rock charts. The first MP3, "Majesty ", hit number fifteen on the worldwide charts; the second, "Rain Down", reached number twenty-eight. The two together had amassed over 500,000 listens/downloads after fifty days. The band's American single "Rain Down" has become its biggest multi-format hit since "Deeper."
Touch is an album released by Delirious? in 2002. It is essentially a clone of album Audio Lessonover? released in North America. In fact, only the first song, "Touch", is new. "Love is the Compass" and "Waiting for the Summer" are different versions from the UK release, and four songs present on Audio Lessonover were removed from Touch.
King of Fools is a studio album by British Christian rock band Delirious?, initially released in June 1997. The full-length project showcased a new mainstream sound, whilst retaining many of the core themes found in their Cutting Edge EPs. Stylistically, the album epitomises the band's similarity to U2, an influence which was highlighted by several critics on release. King of Fools reached No. 13 in the UK album chart, a career high for the band, and produced four singles. The second, "Deeper", peaked at No. 20 on the UK singles chart on 11 May 1997. It also includes what is possibly the best known Delirious? song, "History Maker", which the band regularly played live throughout their whole career. The album was listed at No. 85 in the 2001 book, CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. The album was nominated for a Grammy.
UP: Unified Praise is a live praise and worship album of Praise & worship by the Australian Hillsong Church and English band Delirious?. The album reached No. 24 on the Top Christian Albums Chart.
Martin W "Marty" Sampson is an Australian singer-songwriter, musician and former worship leader at the Hillsong Church in Sydney. From the late 1990s until 2019 he featured on the United Live albums and was one of the original Hillsong United band's worship leaders. Sampson's main instrument is the guitar although he also plays the piano, flute and drums. Aside from work for Youth Alive and Hillsong United, Sampson has issued solo albums.
Martin James Smith is an English vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and producer. Smith was the front man of the Christian rock and worship band Delirious?. When Delirious? disbanded in 2009, Smith became a solo artist.
The Mission Bell is the sixth studio album by Delirious?. It was released in the UK on 7 November 2005 and in the US on 27 December 2005.
Glo is the third full studio album by the band Delirious?. It was released in 2000, just over a year after their previous album Mezzamorphis.
Access:d is a live album by the band Delirious?.
d:tour 1997 Live at Southampton, or simply d:tour, is a live album by the English band Delirious?.
Stuart David Garrard better known by the stage name Stu G, is an English vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. He is one third of US-based Christian contemporary music band One Sonic Society, and is writing and recording as a solo artist.
"It's OK" is the second UK single from and the fifth track on Delirious?'s second album, Mezzamorphis. It was released on 21 February 2000, reaching No. 18 in the UK Singles Charts and No. 3 in the indie section. In its second week, it stayed inside the top 75, dropping to No. 63 in the main charts and No. 11 in the indies.
Cutting Edge is a series of recordings made by the British rock band Delirious?. The songs were originally written for a regular youth event, Cutting Edge, in the band's home town of Littlehampton. Through this, the band gained its first name, The Cutting Edge Band, which was later changed to Delirious? when the band went full-time in 1996.
Now Is the Time is the fourth full live album by the band Delirious?. In June 2006, Delirious? attended Willow Creek Community Church to record a live concert DVD. The DVD is accompanied with a CD, and it was released in the UK on 9 October and in the USA on 17 October.
Kingdom of Comfort is the ninth and final studio album by the British Christian rock band Delirious?, released in the United States on 1 April 2008 and in the United Kingdom on 14 April 2008.
My Soul Sings is a live album by the band Delirious?. The album was released on 16 March 2009. It was the band's last new recording before their farewell tour at the end of 2009. It takes its name from the song, My Soul Sings, which was included on Kingdom of Comfort. Generación 12, a Colombian worship band sang part of some songs in Spanish. A special Colombian Edition has been released in South America, to cater for the Colombian market, where Delirious? has a large following.
History Makers is a compilation album by the band Delirious?. It was announced by lead singer Martin Smith during an interview promoting their live album My Soul Sings. It was released on 2 November 2009 in conjunction with the band's final "History Makers" tour of the UK and mainland Europe. Delirious? previously released two other compilation albums: Deeper, which contained their best-known worship songs, and Libertad, which also contained worship songs, re-recorded in Spanish.
One Sonic Society is a contemporary worship music collective from around the globe. That collective is composed of songwriter Jason Ingram on vocals, guitar and piano, Delirious? lead guitarist Stuart Garrard on guitar and vocals, Hillsong UNITED drummer Paul Mabury on drums and programming, Jonathan Thatcher bass guitarist from Delirious? on bass and synths. The Christian music collective released their debut studio album under the Essential Records label on 28 February 2012 called Forever Reign. Their single "Forever Reign" was put in rotation during 2011 by many US radio stations.
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