The Velvet Trail | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 9 March 2015 | |||
Recorded | Magical Thinking Studio (Los Angeles), Dean Street Studios | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 54:31 | |||
Label | Strike Force Entertainment / Cherry Red Records | |||
Producer | Christopher Braide | |||
Marc Almond chronology | ||||
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Special UK CD Edition cover | ||||
The Velvet Trail is the twentieth solo studio album by the British singer/songwriter Marc Almond. It was released by Strike Force Entertainment / Cherry Red Records on 9 March 2015.
The Velvet Trail is Almond's first album of original material since Varieté in 2010. It was produced by Christopher Braide and features a duet with Beth Ditto of indie rock band Gossip on the track "When the Comet Comes".
Almond had previously stated that he would no longer record albums of original material following Varieté. [1] He subsequently recorded a number of albums outside of the pop genre which mostly featured songs written by others. During this time he was approached by Braide, known for his work with pop artists such as Lana Del Rey, David Guetta and Britney Spears, who urged Almond to make "the ultimate Marc Almond album" [2] Braide was a longtime fan of Almond and had in fact worked with Almond before, unbeknownst at that point to the singer. Almond explained the situation to Simon Price of The Quietus , stating "it was only afterwards that I realised where I knew Chris Braide from: he'd sung backing vocals on the Soft Cell reunion album Cruelty Without Beauty , and I'd passed him in the corridor". [3] Braide lured Almond back into songwriting by sending him three instrumental tracks, "hoping to change his mind about retirement", a plan that worked when "all three were met with resounding enthusiasm". [4] They continued to work in this manner until the album was completed.
The 'Velvet Trail' of the album title refers to a beach walk in Southport, Almond's home town. [5] The walk is a local tourist spot and is part of the Wetlands Regional Park maintained by Lancashire County Council. [6]
The album was released in a standard one disc jewel case CD, a limited edition two disc digipak UK only version and a limited edition double vinyl version. The limited CD edition includes a DVD containing videos to four of the tracks on the album. The double vinyl version comes with a poster and has alternative takes of two of the songs as bonus tracks, including a solo version of "When the Comet Comes". The artwork for each version is slightly different; the standard CD features blue colouring, the limited double CD has red, different, colouring and the vinyl version is a negative image.
The Velvet Trail was supported by a UK tour from 16 April to 1 May 2015.
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 79/100 [7] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Record Collector | [8] |
The Guardian | [2] |
The Observer | [9] |
PopMatters | [4] |
MusicOMH | [10] |
On the Metacritic website, which aggregates reviews from critics and assigns a normalised rating out of 100, the album received a score of 79. This is based on 11 reviews in total, 10 of which were positive and one which was mixed. [7] Record Collector gave the album full marks in their review, stating ""Marc's distinctive vocals have rarely sounded richer and warmer" and that The Velvet Trail is "a release up there with Almond's best". [8] The Guardian calls the album "straight-ahead pop, with big choruses and melodies" and comments that "Almond's voice....is still enthralling" [2] The review in The Observer states that Almond's "first set of original material in five years is an impressive affair" and adds that "Almond is at his best on the compelling torch songs that have long been his stock in trade" [9] The PopMatters review site states that "The Velvet Trail is a complete and coherent artistic statement" and that it is "only more special for its rarity" [4] On MusicOMH they find it a "strong and often stirring album, and the voice sounds fantastic". [10]
All tracks written by Chris Braide and Marc Almond
Chart (2015) | Peak position |
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UK Albums (OCC) [11] | 62 |
Peter Mark Sinclair "Marc" Almond, is an English singer. Almond first began performing and recording in the synthpop/new wave duo Soft Cell where he became known for his distinctive soulful voice and androgynous image. He has also had a diverse career as a solo artist. His collaborations include a duet with Gene Pitney on the 1989 UK number one single "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart". Almond's career spanning over four decades has enjoyed critical and commercial acclaim, and he has sold over 30 million records worldwide. He spent a month in a coma after a near-fatal motorcycle accident in 2004 and later became a patron of the brain trauma charity Headway.
Marc and the Mambas were a new wave group, formed by Marc Almond in 1982 as an offshoot project from Soft Cell. The band's line-up changed frequently, and included Matt Johnson from The The and Annie Hogan, with whom Almond worked later in his solo career.
Power Metal is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Pantera, released June 24, 1988, through Metal Magic Records. It is the first Pantera album to feature Phil Anselmo on lead vocals, as part of a line-up which would last until the band's official split in 2003, and their last album before shifting to a heavier sound with Cowboys from Hell.
"I'm Gonna Be Strong" is a song written by the songwriting duo Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. It was first recorded by Frankie Laine in 1963 and released as a single on Columbia Records. However, the song did not become a major hit until 1964, when Gene Pitney released his version as a single. It was also a single released by the 1980 band Blue Angel, with lead vocals provided by future star Cyndi Lauper. This release was prior to Lauper's solo career; however, Lauper re-recorded the track and released it as a single in 1994. The song was also featured on 1982's Quiet Lies album by Grammy winner Juice Newton. Though Newton never released the song as a single, her remake was later added as a bonus track to her first Greatest Hits collection.
Spoiled Girl is the 12th studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Epic Records, in June 1985.
Comet Gain are a British indie pop band, formed by singer-songwriter and guitarist David Christian in 1992, with musical influences including post-punk and northern soul. Pitchfork called them "one of the most underrated contemporary indie bands in the UK".
Christopher Braide is an English songwriter, record producer and singer, formerly based in Malibu, Los Angeles, California, United States. Braide is known for being a pianist.
The Art of Falling Apart is the second full-length album by the English synth-pop duo Soft Cell, released in 1983.
Cruelty Without Beauty is the fourth studio album by Soft Cell. The album was released on 8 October 2002. It is Soft Cell's first album since 1984's This Last Night in Sodom. An expanded and remastered re-issue of the album was released on September the 25th 2020. It included new remixes by Dave Ball, 4 of which were released as a limited white vinyl 12 inch single. The album was also released on vinyl for the first time.
"Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" is a song from the album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret by English synth-pop duo Soft Cell that was released as a single in January 1982 and reached number three on the UK Singles Chart.
Hold on Now, Youngster... is the debut studio album by Welsh indie pop band Los Campesinos!, released through Wichita on 22 February 2008. It debuted at number 72 on the UK Album Charts. The album was preceded by three singles – "Death to Los Campesinos!" (February), "My Year in Lists" (May), and most notably, "You! Me! Dancing!" released in June 2007.
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Everything Changes is the sixth studio album by English singer-songwriter Julian Lennon. It was released on 2 October 2011.
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Open All Night is the tenth solo studio album by the British singer/songwriter Marc Almond. It was released by Blue Star Music in March 1999.
Stranger Things is the eleventh solo studio album by the British singer/songwriter Marc Almond. It was released by Blue Star Music, in conjunction with XIII BIS Records, on 18 June 2001.
Stardom Road is the thirteenth solo studio album by the British singer/songwriter Marc Almond. It was released by Sanctuary Records on 4 June 2007.
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.
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