Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Having won the first series of Sky 1's Must Be the Music, an antidote to the X-Factor, which allowed entrants to use instruments and perform their own self-penned material, 27-year-old Emma Gillespie, who records under the guise of Emma's Imagination, has received more goodwill than your usual Simon Cowell-backed talent show contestants. But while sales of her debut album, Stand Still, might not be expected to match the colossal sales of Leona Lewis and JLS, there is still a certain pressure on her D.I.Y. approach to reap more satisfying musical rewards. Just one of three acts signed to Gary Barlow's Future Records label, Gillespie is perhaps afforded the luxury of more creative control than her contemporaries. However, with producer Martin Terefe (Jason Mraz, James Morrison) on board, it's clear that there have been at least a few compromises. The two tracks she performed on Must Be the Music, both of which became Top Ten singles during the series' run, appear here but are each given treatments at opposite ends of the spectrum. The haunting fragility of the original "Focus" is left untouched, with the tendency to smother its achingly beautiful melodies in layers of glossy production thankfully avoided. Unfortunately, "This Day" doesn't fare as well, with its unnecessary beats and swirling violins detracting from the original's refreshing simplicity. Luckily, its over-polished MOR sheen is largely absent from the remaining eight tracks. The chiming guitars, dubby basslines, and languid beats of "Puddy Muddle" recalls the '90s trip-hop of Morcheeba; "Brighter Greener" is a lightly strummed folk-pop number which showcases Gillespie's light Kate Walsh-esque vocals; while the twanging country-blues of "Soul of Oceans" echoes the more brooding moments of KT Tunstall's debut. Considering her success was built on her ability to write her own songs, it's disappointing that Stand Still also contains two rather pointless cover versions. They might not be the unimaginative "Unchained Melody"-style karaoke standards dumped on most X-Factor winners, but renditions of Bic Runga's "Drive" and Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova's Oscar-winning duet "Falling Slowly," as respectful and competently performed as they are, offer nothing new on the originals. While Stand Still doesn't really live up to the anticipation, (it's undoubtedly more Dido than say, Laura Marling), it's still a welcome departure from the usual over-processed talent show winner debuts. On the whole, Stand Still manages to translate Gillespie's charming acoustic TV performances into a cohesive and consistently enjoyable studio album.
© Jon O'Brien /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From £10.83/month
Kristin Wilkinson, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Brauer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Claes Björklund, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Terefe, Producer, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - DAVID DAVIDSON, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - David Angell, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Catchings, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Shin, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kristoffer Sonne, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas Juth, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ryan Gilligan, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nikolaj Juel, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Emma's Imagination, MainArtist - Emma Gillespie, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Sam Keyte, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Claes Björklund, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Terefe, Producer, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kristoffer Sonne, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas Juth, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nikolaj Juel, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Emma's Imagination, MainArtist - Emma Gillespie, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Sam Keyte, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Michael Brauer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Claes Björklund, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Terefe, Producer, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kristoffer Sonne, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas Juth, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ryan Gilligan, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nikolaj Torp, Hammond Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Nikolaj Juel, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Emma's Imagination, MainArtist - Emma Gillespie, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Sam Keyte, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Bic Runga, ComposerLyricist - Michael Brauer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Claes Björklund, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Terefe, Producer, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kristoffer Sonne, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Dyre Gormsen, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Thomas Juth, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nikolaj Juel, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Emma's Imagination, MainArtist - Emma Gillespie, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Keyte, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Kristin Wilkinson, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Terefe, Producer - John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - DAVID DAVIDSON, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - David Angell, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Catchings, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Shin, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Thomas Juth, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Emma's Imagination, MainArtist - Emma Gillespie, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2010 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Claes Björklund, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Terefe, Producer, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Angell, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Monisa Angell, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - John Catchings, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Kris Wilkinson, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Kristoffer Sonne, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas Juth, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Baeho "Bobby" Shin, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nikolaj Juel, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Emma's Imagination, MainArtist - Emma Gillespie, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Sam Keyte, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Neylor, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Davidon, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2010 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Claes Björklund, Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Terefe, Producer, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kristoffer Sonne, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas Juth, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Bryan, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Nikolaj Juel, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Emma's Imagination, MainArtist - Emma Gillespie, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Sam Keyte, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Claes Björklund, Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Terefe, Producer, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kristoffer Sonne, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas Juth, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Emma's Imagination, MainArtist - Emma Gillespie, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Sam Keyte, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lorenzo Cosi, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Kristin Wilkinson, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Irwin Sparkes, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Marketa Irglova, ComposerLyricist - Glen Hansard, ComposerLyricist - Claes Björklund, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Terefe, Producer, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - DAVID DAVIDSON, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - David Angell, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Catchings, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Shin, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kristoffer Sonne, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas Juth, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nikolaj Torp, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Nikolaj Juel, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Emma's Imagination, MainArtist - Emma Gillespie, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Colm MacConiomaire, ComposerLyricist - Joseph Doyle, ComposerLyricist - Robert Bochnik, ComposerLyricist - Sam Keyte, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lorenzo Cosi, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kevin Le Geyt, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Claes Björklund, Piano, Mellotron, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Terefe, Producer - John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Thomas Juth, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nikolaj Juel, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Emma's Imagination, MainArtist - Emma Gillespie, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Sam Keyte, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Album review
Having won the first series of Sky 1's Must Be the Music, an antidote to the X-Factor, which allowed entrants to use instruments and perform their own self-penned material, 27-year-old Emma Gillespie, who records under the guise of Emma's Imagination, has received more goodwill than your usual Simon Cowell-backed talent show contestants. But while sales of her debut album, Stand Still, might not be expected to match the colossal sales of Leona Lewis and JLS, there is still a certain pressure on her D.I.Y. approach to reap more satisfying musical rewards. Just one of three acts signed to Gary Barlow's Future Records label, Gillespie is perhaps afforded the luxury of more creative control than her contemporaries. However, with producer Martin Terefe (Jason Mraz, James Morrison) on board, it's clear that there have been at least a few compromises. The two tracks she performed on Must Be the Music, both of which became Top Ten singles during the series' run, appear here but are each given treatments at opposite ends of the spectrum. The haunting fragility of the original "Focus" is left untouched, with the tendency to smother its achingly beautiful melodies in layers of glossy production thankfully avoided. Unfortunately, "This Day" doesn't fare as well, with its unnecessary beats and swirling violins detracting from the original's refreshing simplicity. Luckily, its over-polished MOR sheen is largely absent from the remaining eight tracks. The chiming guitars, dubby basslines, and languid beats of "Puddy Muddle" recalls the '90s trip-hop of Morcheeba; "Brighter Greener" is a lightly strummed folk-pop number which showcases Gillespie's light Kate Walsh-esque vocals; while the twanging country-blues of "Soul of Oceans" echoes the more brooding moments of KT Tunstall's debut. Considering her success was built on her ability to write her own songs, it's disappointing that Stand Still also contains two rather pointless cover versions. They might not be the unimaginative "Unchained Melody"-style karaoke standards dumped on most X-Factor winners, but renditions of Bic Runga's "Drive" and Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova's Oscar-winning duet "Falling Slowly," as respectful and competently performed as they are, offer nothing new on the originals. While Stand Still doesn't really live up to the anticipation, (it's undoubtedly more Dido than say, Laura Marling), it's still a welcome departure from the usual over-processed talent show winner debuts. On the whole, Stand Still manages to translate Gillespie's charming acoustic TV performances into a cohesive and consistently enjoyable studio album.
© Jon O'Brien /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:33:14
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Emma's Imagination
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Polydor Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2010 Polydor Ltd. (UK) ℗ 2010 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.