Bugs in Amber
Bugs in Amber is the second album by the Bristol based jazz rock quartet Get the Blessing, released in 2009 (see 2008 in music).
Bugs in Amber | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 22 April 2009 | |||
Recorded | 2008 | |||
Genre | jazz rock | |||
Label | Cake/Candid | |||
Get the Blessing chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
The Guardian | [1] |
The Sunday Times | [2] |
The Independent | (not rated)[3] |
The tracks are all instrumental, although other versions of "The Unnameable" and "Bugs in Amber" (re-titled "Moot") have been performed with vocals live,[4] and recorded in session for the BBC 6Music Freakzone programme.[5]
The album was favourably received by the British broadsheets. The Sunday Times stated that "Get the Blessing care little for the rule book: “wonky rock-jazz” is how the Bristol quartet sum up the sax and trumpet interplay. There’s a cool intelligence at work... Deamer lays down the firmest of beats without drowning his colleagues in the backwash. One of the quirkiest British releases of the year".[2] The Guardian noted that "this follow-up... cuts the excellent Judge and McMurchie a lot more solo slack, while sustaining the strength of the composing, the deafening dancefloor drive and the ensemble inventiveness", and summed up with "This is a really varied and inventive genre-crossing set".[1] The Independent felt the band "sound even more live and dangerous on this follow-up" and "like Big Air, the horns now take their thrashy/delicate influences from the Balkans as much as free jazz".[3]
Track listing
- "Music Style Product" – 3:56
- "The Word For Moonlight Is Moonlight" – 4:22
- "The Unnameable" – 6:33
- "Bugs in Amber" – 4:41
- "Tarp" – 7:00
- "Einstein Action Figure" – 4:09
- "The Speed Of Dark" – 5:23
- "So It Goes" – 3:08
- "Yes I Said Yes I Will Yes" – 2:09
- "Trapdoor" – 1:21
Personnel
- Jake McMurchie – saxophone, treated piano, vibraphone, effects, bells
- Pete Judge – trumpet, flugelhorn, celeste, effects, bells
- Jim Barr – bass guitar, baritone guitar, effects, bells
- Clive Deamer – drums, maracas, bells
Guests
- Adrian Utley – electric guitar
- Tammy Payne – backing vocals ("Music Style Product")
- Beth Porter – cello ("The Unnameable")
- Jeff Spencer – viola ("Music Style Product")
Technical
- Produced by Jim Barr and Get the Blessing
- Engineered by Jim Barr and Rik Dowding
- Mixed by Jim Barr and Get the Blessing
- Mastered by Shawn Joseph, Optimum Studios
Release history
- 22 April 2009: Cake Music (Candid Records, CACD78558)[6]
References
- John Fordham (5 June 2009). "the Blessing, Bugs in Amber(Cake/Candid)". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- Clive Davis (26 April 2009). "Get The Blessing: Bugs in Amber". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- Phil Johnson (3 May 2009). "Album: Get the Blessing, Bugs in Amber, (Cake)". The Independent. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- "Jazz on 3 – Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2009". BBC Radio 3. 4 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- "Freakzone tracklisting". BBC 6Music. 17 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- "Get The Blessing – Bugs in Amber". Retrieved 2009-11-17.