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Guillemots (pronounced gilly-mots) 2006 debut Through the Windowpane carried with it a wispy tendril of melancholy that settled on even its most jubilant tracks, especially on the singles "Trains to Brazil" and "We're Here." That heady mix of gray English skies and worldbeat-infused indie pop didn't always work, but when it did the results could be goosebump inducing. The same cannot be said about the band's polarizing sophomore effort, Red, a slick, loud, over-produced volcano of late-'80s/early-'90s inspired dance pop (opener "Kriss Kross" veers dangerously close to C+C Music Factory territory) that continuously erupts a new idea every three or four seconds without ever establishing a solid base for the fireworks to illuminate. With this much going on, it's hard to know what was there to begin with, but peeling away the layers of songs like "Big Dog" and "Last Kiss" reveals that all of the window dressing may have been brought in to hide what were essentially mediocre songs, which is a shame, as there are moments where all that glitters is indeed gold. Bandleader Fyfe Dangerfield's vocals are impressive as ever, adapting to each left turn with chameleon-like swiftness, but the barrage of chord changes, keyboards, drum machines, horns, strings and samples obliterate any memorable motif or successful turn of phrase before they ever have a chance to connect, resulting in an aural assault comparable to listening to Kajagoogoo, New Order, Coldplay, and the Flaming Lips all at the same time. Red is at its best when it mines the new wave/Europop of Level 42 and Ultravox, especially on the infectious "Clarion," but those moments are few and far between. Still, Guillemots remains a fascinating band, and while its musical eclecticism remains as divisive as ever, there's no denying it has the potential to craft a modern classic, which makes Red all the more infuriating.
© James Christopher Monger /TiVo
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Steve Morris, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ruadhri Cushnan, Co-Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ben Castle, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Christopher Davis, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Everton Nelson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Nick Ingman, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Howard Mcgill, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Long, Tuba, AssociatedPerformer - Perry Montague-Mason, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Lale, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Williams, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Rees, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Spong, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Tombling, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Emlyn Singleton, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Patrick Kiernan, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Pigott-Smith, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - George Robertson, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Cathy Thompson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Rachel Bolt, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Bruce White, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Liz Edwards, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Warren Zielinski, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Adam Noble, Producer, Engineer, Co-Producer, Co-Mixer, StudioPersonnel - David Woodcock, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Boguslav Kostecki, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Derek Watkins, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Don McVay, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Katie Wilkinson, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Pete Hanson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Fulvio Sigurtà, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Philip Todd, Tuba, AssociatedPerformer - Fyfe Hutchins, String Arranger, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Aristazabal Hawkes, String Arranger, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ricardo Pimentel, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Greig Stewart, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Guillemots, Producer, Co-Producer, Co-Mixer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Graeme Perkins, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Dai Pritchard, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2008 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Ruadhri Cushnan, Co-Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Adam Noble, Producer, Engineer, Co-Producer, Programmer, Synthesizer, Co-Mixer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Knowler, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Fyfe Hutchins, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Aristazabal Hawkes, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ricardo Pimentel, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Greig Stewart, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Guillemots, Producer, Co-Producer, Co-Mixer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Christopher Cundy, Soprano Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Alex J. Ward, Saxophones, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2008 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Steve Morris, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ruadhri Cushnan, Co-Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Everton Nelson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Nick Ingman, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Perry Montague-Mason, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Lale, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Rees, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Tombling, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Emlyn Singleton, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Patrick Kiernan, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Pigott-Smith, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - George Robertson, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Cathy Thompson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Rachel Bolt, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Bruce White, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Liz Edwards, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Warren Zielinski, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Adam Noble, Producer, Engineer, Co-Producer, Programmer, Co-Mixer, StudioPersonnel - David Woodcock, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Boguslav Kostecki, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Don McVay, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Katie Wilkinson, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Pete Hanson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Fulvio Sigurtà, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Fyfe Hutchins, String Arranger, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Aristazabal Hawkes, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ricardo Pimentel, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Greig Stewart, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Guillemots, Producer, Co-Producer, Co-Mixer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Harry Brown Jnr, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2008 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Ruadhri Cushnan, Co-Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Adam Noble, Producer, Engineer, Co-Producer, Programmer, Co-Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Crispin Robinson, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Jeff Knowler, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fyfe Hutchins, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Aristazabal Hawkes, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ricardo Pimentel, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Greig Stewart, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Guillemots, Producer, Co-Producer, Co-Mixer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Tawiah Nunoo, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Christopher Cundy, Clarinet, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2008 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Ruadhri Cushnan, Co-Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Adam Noble, Producer, Engineer, Co-Producer, Programmer, Co-Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Knowler, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Fyfe Hutchins, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Aristazabal Hawkes, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Ricardo Pimentel, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Greig Stewart, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Guillemots, Producer, Co-Producer, Co-Mixer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Cheng Yu, Pipa, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2008 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Steve Morris, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ruadhri Cushnan, Co-Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Everton Nelson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Nick Ingman, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Perry Montague-Mason, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Lale, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Rees, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Tombling, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Emlyn Singleton, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Patrick Kiernan, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Pigott-Smith, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - George Robertson, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Cathy Thompson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Rachel Bolt, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Bruce White, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Liz Edwards, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Warren Zielinski, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Adam Noble, Producer, Engineer, Co-Producer, Programmer, Co-Mixer, StudioPersonnel - David Woodcock, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Boguslav Kostecki, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Don McVay, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Katie Wilkinson, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Jeff Knowler, Programmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Pete Hanson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Fyfe Hutchins, String Arranger, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Aristazabal Hawkes, String Arranger, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ricardo Pimentel, String Arranger, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Greig Stewart, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Guillemots, Producer, Co-Producer, Co-Mixer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Jonas Raabe, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2008 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Steve Morris, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ruadhri Cushnan, Co-Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Everton Nelson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Nick Ingman, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Perry Montague-Mason, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Lale, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Rees, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Tombling, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Emlyn Singleton, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Patrick Kiernan, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Pigott-Smith, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - George Robertson, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Cathy Thompson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Rachel Bolt, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Bruce White, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Liz Edwards, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Warren Zielinski, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Adam Noble, Producer, Drums, Engineer, Co-Producer, Programmer, Co-Mixer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - David Woodcock, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Boguslav Kostecki, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Don McVay, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Katie Wilkinson, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Pete Hanson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Fyfe Hutchins, String Arranger, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Aristazabal Hawkes, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Ricardo Pimentel, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Greig Stewart, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Guillemots, Producer, Co-Producer, Co-Mixer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2008 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Ben Castle, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Adam Noble, Producer, Engineer, Co-Producer, Co-Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Fulvio Sigurtà, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Ida Maria, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Fyfe Hutchins, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Aristazabal Hawkes, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ricardo Pimentel, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Greig Stewart, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Guillemots, Producer, Co-Producer, Co-Mixer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Harry Brown Jnr, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Rowland Sutherland, Flute, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Hanslip, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Christopher Cundy, Soprano Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Alex J. Ward, Saxophones, AssociatedPerformer - Aldevis Tibaldi, Bari Sax, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2008 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Ruadhri Cushnan, Co-Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Adam Noble, Producer, Engineer, Co-Producer, Co-Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Knowler, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Fyfe Hutchins, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Aristazabal Hawkes, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ricardo Pimentel, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Greig Stewart, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Guillemots, Producer, Co-Producer, Co-Mixer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2008 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Ruadhri Cushnan, Co-Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Adam Noble, Producer, Engineer, Co-Producer, Programmer, Co-Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Knowler, Drum Programmer, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Fyfe Hutchins, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Aristazabal Hawkes, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ricardo Pimentel, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Greig Stewart, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Guillemots, Producer, Co-Producer, Co-Mixer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Christopher Cundy, Clarinet, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Rob Payford, Programmer
℗ 2008 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Adam Noble, Producer, Engineer, Co-Producer, Co-Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Fyfe Hutchins, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Aristazabal Hawkes, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ricardo Pimentel, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Greig Stewart, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Guillemots, Producer, Co-Producer, Co-Mixer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2008 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Album review
Guillemots (pronounced gilly-mots) 2006 debut Through the Windowpane carried with it a wispy tendril of melancholy that settled on even its most jubilant tracks, especially on the singles "Trains to Brazil" and "We're Here." That heady mix of gray English skies and worldbeat-infused indie pop didn't always work, but when it did the results could be goosebump inducing. The same cannot be said about the band's polarizing sophomore effort, Red, a slick, loud, over-produced volcano of late-'80s/early-'90s inspired dance pop (opener "Kriss Kross" veers dangerously close to C+C Music Factory territory) that continuously erupts a new idea every three or four seconds without ever establishing a solid base for the fireworks to illuminate. With this much going on, it's hard to know what was there to begin with, but peeling away the layers of songs like "Big Dog" and "Last Kiss" reveals that all of the window dressing may have been brought in to hide what were essentially mediocre songs, which is a shame, as there are moments where all that glitters is indeed gold. Bandleader Fyfe Dangerfield's vocals are impressive as ever, adapting to each left turn with chameleon-like swiftness, but the barrage of chord changes, keyboards, drum machines, horns, strings and samples obliterate any memorable motif or successful turn of phrase before they ever have a chance to connect, resulting in an aural assault comparable to listening to Kajagoogoo, New Order, Coldplay, and the Flaming Lips all at the same time. Red is at its best when it mines the new wave/Europop of Level 42 and Ultravox, especially on the infectious "Clarion," but those moments are few and far between. Still, Guillemots remains a fascinating band, and while its musical eclecticism remains as divisive as ever, there's no denying it has the potential to craft a modern classic, which makes Red all the more infuriating.
© James Christopher Monger /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:50:40
- Main artists: Guillemots
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Polydor Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
© 2008 Polydor Ltd. (UK) ℗ 2008 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
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