| Spooky Action | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 11 August 2017 [1] | |||
| Recorded | 2004–2017 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, progressive rock | |||
| Length | 54:00 | |||
| Label | Kscope | |||
| Producer | Paul Draper, Catherine Anne Davies | |||
| Paul Draper studio album chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Spooky Action | ||||
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Spooky Action is the debut solo album by English singer songwriter and ex-Mansun frontman Paul Draper, released on 11 August 2017. [1] It entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 19 and peaked at No. 3 on the UK Independent Albums Chart. [2]
The album was conceived over a period of over ten years. Whilst Draper had been working with Skunk Anansie's Skin on her second album, he had recorded some demos. Many of those recordings were later archived by Draper and had been forgotten about. Draper returned to the recordings, having co-produced The Anchoress's debut solo album to press attention and critical acclaim and re-worked those recordings in addition to new material. [3]
“I had a lot to write about. It was just another form of therapy. It's been a cathartic process. I don't work in a professional manner, I do it to heal something – whatever that is. I got a lot of anger out and I'm on the other side of it now. It's taken a lot to get there." [4]
The album holds a rating of 79 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating positive reviews. [1] Uncut described the album as possessing "impressive heft", whilst Mojo's positive review highlighted "strong synth tunes and beats, bristling with vocal angst". [1] In its five-star review, Louder Sound commented that the album "benefits from a strength of songwriting most often found on artists' debut albums, when they've had a lifetime of tunes to draw on, rather than a few weeks holed up in a studio with a record company breathing down their necks." [5]
Spooky Action was nominated for Album of the Year at the annual Progressive Music Awards. [6]
The album entered and peaked at No. 19 on the UK Albums Chart. [7] On the independent albums chart, it peaked at No. 3.
All songs written by Paul Draper, unless otherwise stated.
From EP One
From EP Two
From EP One
The album was released on the following physical formats:
Draper went on a UK tour with a full band to support the album. [8] The 21 September 2017 concert at The Scala in London was recorded and released as a live album on 16 February 2018. The live album was released on vinyl and CD as well as a special edition double-CD package with Spooky Action. [9]
Spooky Action 2017 Tour dates:
Thu 14th Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
Fri 15th Manchester, Gorilla
Sat 16th Glasgow, King Tuts
Thu 21st London, Scala
Fri 22nd Bristol, Thekla
Sat 23rd Birmingham, Institute 2
| Chart (2017) [7] | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart | 19 |
| UK Independent Albums Chart | 3 |
| UK Physical Albums Chart | 8 |
| UK Vinyl Albums Chart | 4 |
Mansun were an English alternative rock band, formed in Chester in 1995. The band comprised vocalist/rhythm guitarist Paul Draper, bassist Stove King, lead guitarist/backing vocalist Dominic Chad, and drummer Andie Rathbone.
Little Kix is the third album by English alternative rock band Mansun, released on 14 August 2000 and was the band's last studio album to completed and released before their dissolution in 2003.
Six is the second album by English alternative rock band Mansun, released in September 1998 via Parlophone. It was released in the UK and Europe on 7 September 1998, and in the US on 20 April 1999, with an alternative running order, different artwork, and the re-recorded single version of the title track. In an interview prior to the release of Six, Paul Draper stated that the "interlude" "Witness to a Murder " was included to separate the album into two parts as a tribute to old-style vinyl albums.
Attack of the Grey Lantern is the debut album by English alternative rock band Mansun released in February 1997 via Parlophone. The album spent a total of 19 weeks on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number one.
Paul Edward Draper is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer, formerly the frontman of the rock band Mansun.
Legacy: The Best Of Mansun is the first official 'best of' collection from Mansun. It collects all the bands Parlophone lead-EP tracks and selected album tracks which were compiled by Paul Draper and Dominic Chad. It was released as a standard CD, special edition CD and DVD set featuring all the bands promo videos and digital download. In Japan the compilation included two bonus tracks.
"Wide Open Space" is a song by Chester rock band Mansun, released as a single on 25 November 1996. The song was the lead track of Four EP. The single's success led to alternative versions appearing on four of the next five Mansun singles. These versions were one live, one acoustic, and two remixes, the first and most popular by Perfecto, and a NRG version by The Trouser Enthusiasts. A completely different version credited to longtime engineer Mike Hunter was included as a hidden bonus track on their compilation Kleptomania. The song also appears on The Sound of Gran Turismo, a soundtrack album based on Gran Turismo.
"Legacy" is a song by Chester rock band Mansun. It was released as a single in 1998 from the group's album, Six, and was the lead track on Eight EP. It follows a similar template to many of the group's other hits and was also their highest-charting single, peaking at No. 7 in the UK Singles Chart.
"She Makes My Nose Bleed" is a song by the English alternative rock band Mansun. The song was written by band-leader Paul Draper. It was recorded and produced by Draper with additional production by Mark 'Spike' Stent during sessions for the group's début studio album. The song was one of four demoed by the group in 1995 that helped the group secure a publishing contract with Polygram Music Publishing. The song was released as the fourth single in early 1997 from the group's debut album, Attack of the Grey Lantern. The single was a big commercial success for the group breaking them into the UK Top Ten for the first time with a peak of #9.
"Closed for Business" is a song by English rock band Mansun. It was released as the lead song on Seven EP in 1997 and became their second top ten hit on the UK Singles Chart.
"I Can Only Disappoint U" is a song by the English alternative rock band Mansun. The song was written by band-leader Paul Draper with lead guitarist Dominic Chad. It was recorded and produced by Hugh Padgham and co-producer Michael Hunter during sessions for the group's third studio album. The song was released as the first single in 2000 from the group's third album, Little Kix. The song went on to become their fourth and final top ten hit in the UK peaking at #8. A Progressive house/trance remix by Paul Oakenfold preceded the release of the single during the summer of 2000.
The following is a comprehensive discography of the English alternative rock band Mansun.
"Egg Shaped Fred" is a song by the English alternative rock band Mansun. The song was written by band-leader Paul Draper. It was produced by Draper, mixing and engineering by Ronnie Stone with assistance from the group's long-term collaborator Mike Hunter. Released in 1996 the song was the group's major label début for Parlophone and their third release overall. It was released as One EP, using the band's own numbering system. The EP was their first to enter the UK Top 40 peaking at #37."Egg Shaped Fred" was remixed and extended for inclusion on Mansun's debut album Attack of the Grey Lantern in 1997.
"Take It Easy Chicken" is a song by Chester rock band Mansun first released in 1995. It was the first song that the group ever recorded, and was later re-recorded and released as the lead track of the Two EP, the group's fourth release overall. An instrumental version appears in the PAL version of Gran Turismo 2.
"Stripper Vicar" is a song by Chester rock band Mansun released in 1996. It was the lead track of Three EP and was the band's fifth release overall. The single was the group's first with the group's new drummer, Andie Rathbone. The EP became Mansun's first top twenty hit peaking at #19 on the UK Singles Chart. Three EP was released on Two CDs, and 7" Vinyl. "Stripper Vicar" and "An Open Letter To The Lyrical Trainspotter" were included on the group's début album, though the single was left off US editions.
"Taxloss" is a song by the English alternative rock band Mansun. The song was written by band-leader Paul Draper. It was produced by Draper and mixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent during sessions for the group's debut studio album. The song was edited down from over seven minutes to four and a half minutes released as a single in April 1997, the fifth single from the group's debut album, Attack of the Grey Lantern, and their sixth on a major-label. The single charted in the top twenty at #15 on the UK Singles Chart and continuing the group's run of four consecutive top twenty singles.
"Electric Man" is a song by the English alternative rock band Mansun. The song was written by band-leader Paul Draper. It was recorded and produced by Hugh Padgham with co-producer Michael Hunter during sessions for the group's third studio album. The song was released as the second single in 2000 from the group's third album, Little Kix. The single disappointed commercially reaching the modest peak of #23 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Slipping Away" is a song by the English alternative rock band Mansun. The song was written by band-leader Paul Draper. It was recorded and produced by Richard Rainey and Paul Draper during sessions for the group's aborted-fourth studio album. The song was released as the group's final single in autumn 2004 to promote the group's compilation album Kleptomania. The single was released on 7" vinyl and Digital download only charting at #55 for one week on the UK Singles Chart.
"Skin Up Pin Up" and "Flourella" are two songs by the English alternative rock band Mansun. The songs were written and produced by band-leader Paul Draper. "Skin Up Pin Up" was recorded in London during the group's first recording session and "Flourella" during the group's second recording session in Ewloe, North Wales. The single was released as a double a-side on white 7" vinyl and CD and charted at #91 on the UK Singles Chart.
The Anchoress is the stage name of Welsh-born multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and author Catherine Anne Davies.