The Holy Pictures

The Holy Pictures
Studio album by David Holmes
Released	8 September 2008
Genre	Electronic rock, electronica, krautrock, big beat
Label	Go! Beat
David Holmes chronology
David Holmes presents The Free Association (2002) The Holy Pictures (2008)

The Holy Pictures is a 2008 studio album by David Holmes. The album departs from the eclectic soundtrack-to-an-imaginary-film style of his previous studio albums, in favour of a more personal approach. ^[1] It was nominated for the 2008 Choice Music Prize, ^{[2] [3] [4]} awarded to the best Irish album of the year. The tracks "I Heard Wonders" and "Holy Pictures" were released as singles.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[5]
Drowned in Sound	(8/10) [6]
The Observer	[7]
Pitchfork Media	(7.8/10) [1]

The album has garnered generally favourable reviews, and is seen as a successful departure from its predecessors. ^[6] Thom Jurek, writing for AllMusic, called it "engaging, at times stunning", praising the pop aesthetic of the upbeat songs, while remarking that "there is that sadness at this album's heart that draws one in; it doesn't feel like mope or exorcism, just personal". ^[5] Pitchfork Media added that the closing three songs "seek to recapture a certain back-to-the-womb comfort... and prove an affecting come-down to the preceding songs' sunglasses-at-night swagger". ^[1] Both critics praised the final song, "The Ballad of Sarah and Jack", referring to it as "gorgeous" and "unspeakably somber". ^{[1] [5]} Jurek also favoured the opener, "I Heard Wonders", calling it a "killer track". ^[5]

The album was seen as reflecting many influences, most notably The Jesus and Mary Chain (particularly Jim Reid's vocal style ^[5] ), Primal Scream and Neu! in its upbeat songs and Brian Eno in its "warm production" and "limpid, wistful instrumentals". ^{[1] [5] [6] [7]}

Appearances in other media

The track "Love Reign Over Me" is featured on the episode "Freddie" (series 3, episode 5) of the UK version of Skins . ^[8] The track "Holy Pictures" is featured in football video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 . "Theme / I.M.C." previously appeared on the compilation The Oh Yeah Sessions '08 as "McCready Rides Again". ^[9] The song "I Heard Wonders" was featured in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics ^[10] and, later in 2012, as the theme for the first series of Dara Ó Briain's Science Club .

Track listing

All music and lyrics written David Holmes, except where noted.

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"I Heard Wonders"	David Holmes, Martin Rev	Holmes, Leo Abrahams	5:35
2.	"The Story of the Ink"			5:22
3.	"Love Reign Over Me"		Holmes, Gary Irwin	3:47
4.	"Theme / I.M.C."		Holmes, Abrahams	3:55
5.	"Holy Pictures"			5:19
6.	"Kill Her with Kindness"			4:03
7.	"Melanie"			3:59
8.	"Hey Maggy"			4:58
9.	"Birth"			1:07
10.	"The Ballad of Sarah and Jack"		Holmes, Jon Hopkins	4:27
Total length:				42:32

iTunes bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
11.	"Return of the Nightfarmers"	4:28
12.	"The Dogs They Are Parading"	3:12

Personnel

Musicians ^[11]

• David Holmes – vocals (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7), electronics (1, 2), CS80 synthesizer (3), glockenspiel (6), programming (1–4, 8, 9), sound effects (3, 4, 6), arrangement (2, 4–8), production (all tracks)
• Leo Abrahams – guitar (1–4, 6), bass (1, 7, 10), six string bass (10), keyboards (1), RMI electric piano (2, 4), guitaret (3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10), mellotron (4), big string (5), marxophone and hurdy gurdy (7)
• Danny Todd – acoustic guitar and backing vocals (5), vocals (7), additional bass (10)
• Woody Jackson – chamberlin and glockenspiel (2), ring mod (5), recording (2, 5, 6, 8, 9)
• Scott Kinsey – RMI electric piano (5), CS80 synthesizer and toy piano (6), piano and organ (8), chamberlin (9)
• Jon Hopkins – piano and CS1 synthesizer (10)
• Tim Harries – bass (2, 4, 6, 8)
• Jason Falkner – bass (2)
• Donald Skinner – bass (5)
• Jeremy Stacey – drums (1, 6, 7)
• Zack Danziger – drums (4, 5)
• Pati Hilton – backing vocals (3)
• Foy Vance – backing vocals (6), vocals (8)
• Tanya Mellote – additional bass (6), vocals (6, 7)
• Nina Holmes – vocals (8)

Production

• Dave Terry – assistant engineer (1, 2, 4, 6–8, 10)
• Hugo Nicolson – recording (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) mixing (1, 2, 4, 6–10), additional drum programming (2)
• Stephen Hilton – CS80 synthesizer (3), mixing (3, 5)
• Olga Fitzroy – assistant engineer (3, 5)

References

1. Pitchfork Media review
2. "Choice Music Prize Shortlist". Hot Press . 14 January 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2009.
3. "Choice Music Prize - Shortlist Announced". IMRO. 15 January 2009. Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2009.
4. "Choice Music nominees announced". RTÉ. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2009.
5. Allmusic review
6. "Drowned in Sound review". Archived from the original on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
7. "CD: David Holmes, The Holy Pictures". The Guardian . 5 September 2008. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016.
8. "Skins - Series 3 Episode 5 Music".
9. "The Oh Yeah Sessions '08". Archived from the original on 13 April 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
10. "Olympics Opening Ceremony - The Playlist". NME . 27 July 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
11. David Holmes - The Holy Pictures , retrieved 18 November 2022

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