Sundark and Riverlight

Sundark and Riverlight stylised "Sun☽ark and Riverlight" is a double album released by English-Irish singer-songwriter Patrick Wolf on 15 October 2012.[3] It was released through his own label, Bloody Chamber Music, and Essential Music.[4]

Sun☽ark and Riverlight
Studio album by
Released15 October 2012
RecordedReal World Studios
GenreAcoustic
Length63:17
LabelBloody Chamber Music/Essential Music
ProducerPatrick Wolf
Patrick Wolf chronology
Brumalia EP
(2011)
Sun☽ark and Riverlight
(2012)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Drowned in Sound8/10[1]
Sputnikmusic4.0/5[2]

Background

The double album marks ten years since Wolf's debut studio album, Lycanthropy and contains re-recorded, acoustic versions of chosen songs from the previous ten years.[5] The first disc, Sundark, features "more solitary darker material" and "songs that were written in loneliness and not really thinking about other people", while the second disc, Riverlight, includes "songs of hope and relationship" and "isolation and solitude on one and togetherness".[6][7] Buffy Sainte-Marie co-wrote the new version of "Hard Times" after they met in Barcelona during the recording session.[5]

Wolf wrote a letter to talk about the album. In the letter, he says, "I thought It was time after a decade to take a moment to document what these songs have grown up to be while I've been travelling them around the world."[5] "There was a conscious rebellion on this album against the digital age of auto-tune and mass produced electronic landfill music. I want to present at my 10-year anniversary a musical biography."[5] He cites Stephan Micus, Shirley and Dolly Collins's Love, Death and the Lady as influences to the album.[5] The album is also dedicated to Wolf's Russian fans.[8][9]

The album was recorded at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios. Gabriel also lent his Bösendorfer grand piano, Bodhrán and Hammered dulcimer to Wolf.[5]

The title of the album is taken from the song "London", from Lycanthropy, which begins "Sun dark on darker streets, it's violent times for weary feet..." and ends with "Forget me, I wash myself in your grey river light".

Album artwork

The album artwork was shot at Hilles House in Gloucester, a country mansion looking over the River Severn, the former home of baroque composer John Blow and fashion designer Isabella Blow with the art directed by David Motta. The cover shows the singer in front of a tapestry of Primavera by Italian renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli.

Singles

The version of "Overture", originally from the album The Magic Position, was released on YouTube in late August. It then became available on iTunes as a single on 7 September.

Track listing

Disc 1: Sundark
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Wind in the Wires"Wind in the Wires3:54
2."Oblivion"The Bachelor2:52
3."The Libertine"Wind in the Wires4:20
4."Vulture"The Bachelor4:48
5."Hard Times"The Bachelor3:17
6."Bitten"Brumalia EP3:20
7."Overture"The Magic Position4:08
8."Paris"Lycanthropy4:31
Disc 2: Riverlight
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Together"Lupercalia4:59
2."The Magic Position"The Magic Position3:52
3."Bermondsey Street"Lupercalia5:01
4."Bluebells"The Magic Position3:44
5."Teignmouth"Wind in the Wires4:09
6."London"Lycanthropy3:52
7."House"Lupercalia3:18
8."Wolf Song"Lycanthropy3:01

References

  1. Burrows, Marc (10 October 2012). "Patrick Wolf – Sundark Riverlight". Drowned in Sound.
  2. Kleman, Eli (5 October 2012). "Album Review – Patrick Wolf: Sundark and Riverlight". Sputnikmusic.
  3. "Patrick Wolf – SUNDARK AND RIVERLIGHT CD PRE-ORDER". patrickwolf.sandbag.uk.com. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  4. "Patrick Wolf Announces Double Album: Sundark and Riverlight". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  5. "News – Patrick Wolf". www.patrickwolf.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  6. "Patrick Wolf announces new double album tracklisting". NME. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  7. "Patrick Wolf's 'Sundark and Riverlight' an Acoustic Self-Portrait". Out Magazine. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  8. "INTERVIEW: Patrick Wolf". The Quietus. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  9. "Twitter / _PATRICK_WOLF: Talking of inspirations.. Here's ..." 23 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013 via Twitter.



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