Transmutant

Last updated

Transmutant
Transmuting by Katie Noonan.jpg
Studio album by
Released24 July 2015
Label Kin Music Australia / Universal Music Australia
Katie Noonan chronology
Songs That Made Me
(2014)
Transmutant
(2015)
With Love and Fury
(2015)

Transmutant is a studio album by Australian singer songwriter Katie Noonan and the Vanguard. It is her sixth solo album and seventeenth album she's been involved with in total. The album peaked at number 33 in Australia.

Contents

Transmutant is Katie's first contemporary release since 2010's Katie Noonan and the Captains and features a cast of musicians including Stu Hunter, Declan Kelly, Bree Van Reyk, Cameron Deyell, Miro Lauritz, Manu Delago and more. [1]

The album was funded through an online Pledge campaign, in which her fans demonstrated their faith oversubscribing it in two days. No doubt aided by a post from Sia Furler directing her fans to Noonan's soundcloud page and saying "My friend Katie sure can sing!". [2]

Noonan toured the album nationally throughout October and November 2015. [3]

Background and release

Noonan explained the title "it’s about transformation and change and it feels like a lot of people have been feeling the same things that I’ve been feeling. A lot of growth, necessary growth and not particularly easy growth, but good growth; I’ve observed it in my life and my friends life and lots of people. It seems to be a common thing which seems to connect with people, which is awesome." [4]

Noonan said the songs on the album are the most personal in her long career and said age and experience has made her less inclined to hide behind her lyrics. "It has been a pretty tough few years for me and my girlfriends, a very tumultuous, emotional time. Fortunately, everyone has come through the other side now," she says. [5] Many of the songs on Transmutant were inspired by the pain of others — her husband Zac after his mentor died ("Gratitude"), her best friend Nina ("Broken") and a man crying as he farewelled his daughters at the airport ("Goodbyes"). But "The last song on the album, "Cloud Of Home" is one of the happiest songs I’ve ever written. That song is for my boys," Noonan says. [6]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Rolling Stone Australia Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg
Sydney Morning Herald Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg
The Music AUStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg

Michael Wilton of Rolling Stone AUS gave the album 4 out of 5 saying; "Noonan's voice is an exquisite instrument – especially on "An Unwinnable Race" – and while her hymnal ballads can become a little too even-tempered, she confidently experiments with off-kilter rhythms and whimsical pop. And on "In the Name Of the Father", a duet with Jordan White, she produces one of the most haunting moments of her career." [7]

Bernard Zuel from Sydney Morning Herald gave the album 3 out of 5 saying; Despite the inclusion of a band "...most of the tracks here fail to have a band feeling about them. It is as if they are afraid to compete in any way with Noonan's undeniably ethereal voice – which displays both vulnerability and power as it hovers and soars – their gentle electronic sounds merely politely jostle around behind it." He added, "With the feel of a soundtrack with its intricate yet random textures this is not the best recording to show off Noonan's real talent." [8]

Mac McNaughton of The Music Au gave the album 1 1/2 out of 5 saying; "Transmutant is so minimalist in sonic structure, you'd be buggered to know where [the band] actually are. If this album were a drink, it would be offensively overpriced with no discernable flavour whatsover. It's like Kate Miller-Heidke without the quirk, charm or lyrical playfulness, taking itself so painfully seriously. " [9]

Track listing

  1. "Falling Into A Lie"
  2. "Silence Speaks To The Lucky One"
  3. "Quicksand"
  4. "Gratitude"
  5. "An Unwinnable Race"
  6. "Running"
  7. "Goodbyes"
  8. "Broken"
  9. "Island"
  10. "In The Name Of The Father" (feat Jordan White)
  11. "Peace is My Drug"
  12. "Cloud Of Home"

Weekly charts

Chart (2015)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [10] 33
Australian Artist Albums Chart [11] 10

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabelCatalogue
Australia24 July 2015Kin Music Australia / Universal Music Australia4747192

Related Research Articles

George (band)

George were an Australian rock band from Brisbane, Queensland. The band's first album, Polyserena, reached No. 1 on the Australian charts on 17 March 2002.

Katie Noonan Australian singer-songwriter (born 1977)

Katie Anne Noonan is an Australian singer-songwriter. In addition to a successful solo career encompassing opera, jazz, pop, rock and dance, she was the singer in the band George and remains the singer in the band Elixir; performs with her mother Maggie Noonan; and plays with her band The Captains. Noonan was the musical director of and performed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games' opening and closing ceremonies.

<i>Skin</i> (Katie Noonan album) 2007 studio album by Katie Noonan

Skin is a studio album by Australian musician Katie Noonan. It was released in August 2007 and peaked at number 6 on the Australian ARIA Charts. Skin was the first album released by Noonan as a solo artist and recorded between the time of 3 and 8 months pregnant. Noonan says: "I love the themes I explored on this album – I was a madly in love newlywed, experiencing the miracle of pregnancy – it was quite a trip to document! Inspired by Donny Hathaway, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Vince Jones, this album was all about exploring groove for me. I learn’t a huge amount making this album and I am really grateful for the arduous journey I took with this process, as since then, it has confirmed my instinct to listen to and trust my inner voice."

Montaigne (musician) Australian musician

Jessica Alyssa Cerro, who performs as Montaigne, is an Australian art pop singer-songwriter-musician and Twitch streamer. Her debut album, Glorious Heights, was released on 5 August 2016, which peaked at No. 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2016 she won Breakthrough Artist – Release for the album and was nominated for three other categories. In April 2016 she was a featured vocalist on Hilltop Hoods' track, "1955", which reached No. 2 on the ARIA Singles Chart. She was supposed to represent Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with her song "Don't Break Me", until the contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, she represented Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "Technicolour", but did not qualify from the semi-final, becoming the first Australian entrant not to qualify to the final since the debut of Australia in 2015.

<i>Eleven</i> (Tina Arena album) 2015 studio album by Tina Arena

Eleven is the eleventh studio album (9 in English, 2 in French) released by Australian singer and songwriter Tina Arena. The album was released in Australia on 30 October 2015. The first single and only single, "I Want to Love You" was released on 4 September 2015. Arena described Eleven as a "personal album" that was "joyous to make". Arena hinted at a tour, saying "I'm looking forward to playing the songs for you live soon". This was further confirmed in a radio interview on 3AW on 1 September when Arena stated she would be on the road February–March 2016. The album was certified gold in Australia in 2016.}}

<i>The Live Tapes Vol. 1</i> 2013 live album by Cold Chisel

"The Live Tapes Vol. 1" is a 2 disc live album by Australian rock band Cold Chisel. A deluxe edition also came with a bonus DVD. The album was recorded in Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on 18 April 2012 and released on 22 November 2013. The album was the first new live Cold Chisel release in over 10 years. The album peaked at number 27 in Australia.

<i>The Live Tapes Vol. 2</i> 2014 live album by Cold Chisel

The Live Tapes Vol. 2 is a live album by Australian rock band Cold Chisel. The album was recorded in Melbourne’s Bombay Rock on 27 April 1979 and released on 14 November 2014. The album peaked at number 19 in Australia.

<i>Let It Fly</i> (Diesel album) 2013 studio album by Diesel

"Let it Fly" is the twelfth studio album by Australian musician, Diesel and his first studio set of originals since 2008 and features his 18-year-old daughter Lila Gold on "If You Let Me Give". On the album, Diesel said "It's all of my life's work so far brought to fruition, in many ways. It’s pretty encompassing. There's a lot of stuff I've never tried before either – like, there are folk elements that are quite different for me ... I guess when you start using mandolin and fiddle, it’s gonna happen!"

<i>Second Skin</i> (John Course and mrTimothy album) 2008 remix album by John Course & mrTimothy present Katie Noonan

Second Skin is a remix album by Australian musicians John Course & mrTimothy, best known for their Ministry Of Sound compilations. The album, featuring Katie Noonan's vocals, is a remix project from her 2007 album Skin.

<i>With Love and Fury</i> 2016 studio album by Brodsky Quartet and Katie Noonan

With Love and Fury is a collaborative studio album by British string quartet the Brodsky Quartet and Australian singer songwriter Katie Noonan.The album is described as a fusion of their styles into an incredibly composed and creative collaboration.

<i>Songs That Made Me</i> 2014 studio album by Katie Noonan

Songs That Made Me is a collaborative studio album by Australian singer songwriter Katie Noonan and various female artists.

<i>First Seed Ripening</i> 2011 studio album by Elixir featuring Katie Noonan

First Seed Ripening is the second studio album by Australian jazz band Elixir. The album is credited as featuring Katie Noonan. The album was released in August 2011 and peaked at number 64 on the ARIA Charts and number 1 on the Jazz and Blues chart, where it remained for 9 weeks.

<i>Two of a Kind</i> (Katie and Maggie Noonan album) 2004 studio album by Katie Noonan and Maggie Noonan

Two of a Kind is the debut studio album by Australian jazz singer Katie Noonan, alongside her mother Maggie Noonan as well as The Red Fish Blue jazz trio and The Queensland Orchestra conducted by Guy Noble. The album was released in April 2004 and peaked at number 61 on the ARIA Charts and number 2 on the ARIA Classical chart on 10 May 2004.

<i>Fierce Hearts</i> 2014 soundtrack album by Katie Noonan

Fierce Hearts, or Fierce Hearts: the Music of Love-Song-Circus, is a soundtrack/studio album by Australian singer songwriter Katie Noonan, produced as the soundtrack to contemporary circus Circa's show Love-Song-Circus.

<i>Before Time Could Change Us</i> 2005 studio album by Paul Grabowsky and Katie Noonan

Before Time Could Change Us is the collaborative studio album by Australian jazz writer/singer and composer Paul Grabowsky and singer-songwriter Katie Noonan. The album was released in August 2005. and peaked at number 65 on the ARIA Charts for the week commencing 22 August 2005.

<i>Songs of the Southern Skies</i> 2012 studio album by Katie Noonan and Karin Schaupp

Songs of the Southern Skies is a collobrative studio album by Australian singer songwriter Katie Noonan and Australian classical guitarist Karin Schaupp. The album was released in August 2012 and peaked at number 97 on the ARIA physical albums chart and number 3 on the classical chart.

<i>Songs from the British Isles</i> 2011 EP by Katie Noonan and Karin Schaupp

Songs from the British Isles is a collobrative extended play by Australian singer songwriter Katie Noonan and Australian classical guitarist Karin Schaupp, available only from Katie Noonan webshop. It was released to support the tour 'Songs from the British Isles'.

<i>Songbook</i> (Katie Noonan album) 2013 studio album by Katie Noonan

Songbook is a studio album by Australian musician, Katie Noonan, released in January 2013. Songbook sees Katie exploring material from throughout her career including songs from george, Elixir and her solo albums as well as five new tracks.

<i>Emperors Box</i> 2010 studio album by Katie Noonan and the Captains

Emperor's Box is a studio album credited to Australian musician, Katie Noonan and the Captains. It was released in April 2010 and peaked at number 21 on the Australian ARIA Charts.

<i>Songs of the Latin Skies</i> 2017 studio album by Katie Noonan and Karin Schaupp

Songs of the Latin Skies is a collobrative studio album by Australian singer and songwriter Katie Noonan and classical guitarist Karin Schaupp. The album was released in February 2017 and is the third time the duo have collaborated, following Songs from the British Isles in 2011 and the ARIA nominated album Songs of the Southern Skies in 2012.

References

  1. "Katie Noonan' Vanguard - Transmutant". www.jbhifi.com.au. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  2. "Sia recommendation and fan-funding album success shows the love for Katie Noonan". www.news.com.au. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  3. "KATIE NOONAN'S VANGUARD "TRANSMUTANT" ALBUM TOUR". theatreroyalcastlemaine.com.au. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  4. "Katie Noonan talks Transmutant, the Sydney Dance Company & more!". music.theaureview.com. 15 October 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  5. "Sia recommendation and fan-funding album success shows the love for Katie Noonan". www.news.com.au. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  6. "Katie Noonan makes beautiful music from the pain of her husband and friends on Transmutant". www.news.com.au. 29 July 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  7. "Katie Noonan "Transmutant". rollingstoneaus.com. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  8. "Album reviews: Katie Noonan, Ella Thompson, Banditos, Ratatat, Casey Golden Trio". Sydney Morning Herald. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  9. "Katie Noonan's Vanguard - Transmutant". themusic.com.au. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  10. "Australiancharts.com – Katie Noonan & Her Vanguard – Tranmutant". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  11. "ARIA Report Week Commencing ~ 3 August 2015 ~ Issue #1327" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. 3 August 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 August 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  12. "Katie Noonan' Vanguard - Transmutant". www.jbhifi.com.au. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  13. "Transmutant - Katie Noonan's Vanguard". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 1 May 2016.