Waves Are Universal

Last updated

Waves Are Universal
Waves Are Universal (Rachel Goswell album) cover art.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 14, 2004
Recorded2004
Genre Folk rock, singer-songwriter, dream pop
Length44:19
Label 4AD (CAD 2414)
Producer David Naughton
Rachel Goswell chronology
The Sleep Shelter EP
(2004)
Waves Are Universal
(2004)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Pitchfork Media 6.8/10 [3]
Rolling Stone Positive [4]
Stylus Magazine C [5]
Tiny Mix Tapes Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]

Waves Are Universal is the debut solo album from former Slowdive and Mojave 3 singer/bassist Rachel Goswell. It was produced by David Naughton, and released by 4AD on June 14, 2004, in the UK and June 22, 2004, in the US. The album was recorded after production and touring for Mojave 3's album Spoon and Rafter resumed. The songs "Plucked" and "Sleepless & Tooting" appeared on Rachel's EP The Sleep Shelter, released prior to the album in May 2004, and both "Coastline" and "Plucked" were remixed and featured on a special single released in February 2005. [7] Waves Are Universal was released to generally positive reviews, receiving an overall 66% positive rating on Metacritic. [8] In December 2004, American webzine Somewhere Cold ranked Waves Are Universal No. 7 on their 2004 Somewhere Cold Awards Hall of Fame list. [9]

Contents

Track listing

  1. "Warm Summer Sun" – 3:45
  2. "Gather Me Up" – 2:24
  3. "No Substitute" – 4:36
  4. "Deelay" – 4:13
  5. "Plucked" – 3:08
  6. "Hope" – 3:52
  7. "Coastline" – 5:43
  8. "Shoulder the Blame" – 3:06
  9. "Save Yourself" – 3:59
  10. "Thru the Dawn" – 3:09
  11. "Beautiful Feeling" – 3:27
  12. "Sleepless & Tooting" – 3:01

Credits

  1. "Warm Summer Sun"
    • Rachel Goswell – vocals, accordion, squeeze box
    • Joe Light – acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar
    • David Naughton – dumb bass, fuzz bass, 12-string guitar, shaker
    • Bill Drake – piano
    • Jerome Farrell – uilleann pipes
    • Ashley Bates – drums
    • Ambiences: Lostwithiel church bells and Chislehurst Caves
  2. "Gather Me Up"
    • Rachel Goswell – vocals, acoustic guitar
    • Bill Drake – harmonium
    • Jerome Farrell – low D whistle
    • Ashley Bates – ding
    • Mother Nature: Lostwithiel birds and ambience
  3. "No Substitute"
    • Rachel Goswell – vocals, claps
    • Joe Light – acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, electric guitar
    • David Naughton – bass, shaker, tambourine, claps
    • Ashley Bates – drums
    • Bill Drake – piano
    • Ambience: St Merryn airfield
  4. "Deelay"
    • Rachel Goswell – vocals
    • Joe Light – acoustic guitar, swell guitar, rhythm guitar, ebo guitar
    • David Naughton – bass, accordion, shaker, tambourine, guitar knock, heartbeat
  5. "Plucked"
    • Rachel Goswell – vocals
    • Joe Light – acoustic guitars
    • David Naughton – caved Wurlitzer, string arrangement
    • Jeremy Perl – cello
    • Bronwyn Stride – violin
    • Ambiences: Chislehurst Caves and Thai insects
  6. "Hope"
    • Rachel Goswell – vocals
    • Joe Light – acoustic guitars
    • David Naughton – bass, percussion
    • Bill Drake – harmonium
    • Lynne Jackaman – bangles
    • Ambiences: Camden Road and Chislehurst Caves
  7. "Coastline"
    • Rachel Goswell – vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar
    • Joe Light – slide guitar, guitar effects
    • David Naughton – bass, 12-string guitar, bongos
    • Ashley Bates – drums, tambourine, lion's roar
  8. "Shoulder the Blame"
    • Rachel Goswell – vocals
    • Joe Light – bass, acoustic guitar, arch top slide guitar, lead guitar
    • David Naughton – pot, letterbox bells
    • Mother Nature: Thai waves
  9. "Save Yourself"
    • Rachel Goswell – vocals, acoustic strum guitar
    • Joe Light – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
    • David Naughton – harmonium
    • Bill Drake – piano
    • Ashley Bates – drums
  10. "Thru the Dawn"
    • Rachel Goswell – vocals, acoustic guitar
    • David Naughton – shaker, vibraphone
    • Melanie Shallenberg – flute
    • Mother Nature: rain
  11. "Beautiful Feeling"
    • Rachel Goswell – vocals, acoustic guitar, accordion
    • Jeremy Perl – cello
    • Richard Lane – violin
    • Michael Perl – violin
    • Reiad Chiba – viola
  12. "Sleepless & Tooting"
    • Rachel Goswell – vocals, snare drum
    • Joe Light – bass, main guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bongos, shaker, low hit
    • David Naughton – mini Spanish guitar, rain stick, ethnic tambourine, ride cymbal
    • Bill Drake – Hammond organ

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References

  1. Kellman, Andy. "Review: Waves Are Universal". Allmusic . Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  2. June 26, 2004 issue, pg.55
  3. Deusner, Stephen M. "Album Reviews: Rachel Goswell: Waves Are Universal". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  4. Waterman, Douglas. "Waves Are Universal : Review". Rolling Stone . Retrieved December 1, 2009.[ dead link ]
  5. Mathers, Ian. "Waves Are Universal – Review". Stylus Magazine . Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  6. Stevie. "Waves Are Universal MUSIC REVIEW". Tiny Mix Tapes . Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  7. Rachel Goswell – Coastline / Plucked (12", Ltd, Tra) at Discogs
  8. Waves Are Universal reviews at Metacritic.com
  9. Lamoreaux, Jason T. (December 1, 2004). "Somewhere Cold Awards 2004". Somewhere Cold . Archived from the original on September 30, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.