Out of Nothing explained

Out of Nothing
Type:Studio album
Artist:Embrace
Cover:Embrace_Out_Of_Nothing_Cover.jpg
Border:yes
Alt:Five men huddled together in a circle against a red background with a white border around it
Released:13 September 2004
Recorded:2004
Studio:Olympic, London
Genre:Indie rock
Length:47:24
Label:Independiente
Producer:Youth
Prev Year:2002
Next Year:2005

Out of Nothing is the fourth studio album by English rock band Embrace. It was released on 13 September 2004 through the label Independiente. Following the release of their third studio album If You've Never Been (2001), the band were dropped by Hut Records; around this time, the general public had lost interest in them. After signing to Independiente, they took time working on new material, until early 2004, when they recorded their next album at Olympic Studios in London with producer Martin "Youth" Glover. Out of Nothing is an indie rock album that drew comparison to the works of Coldplay and Keane.

"Gravity" was released as the lead single from Out of Nothing in August 2004; shortly afterwards, Embrace went on a tour of the United Kingdom. "Ashes" appeared as the album's second single in November 2004 in the midst of another UK tour. In the early months of 2005, the band toured the UK a third time, "Looking as You Are" was released as the third single from the album in February 2005, and they played their first-ever shows in the United States. They held two shows at the Millennium Square in Leeds, dubbed A Glorious Day, in May 2005; coinciding with this, "A Glorious Day" was released as the album's fourth and final single.

Out of Nothing received generally favourable reviews from critics, many of whom praised the high-quality songwriting, while others felt it sounded uninspired. It topped the album charts in both Scotland and the UK, while also charting in Germany and Ireland. The album was certified gold a few days after its release, and has been certified double platinum as of 2021. All of the album's singles reached the top 30 in the UK, and the top 10 in the Scotland; "Gravity" peaked the highest in both territories, with number two in Scotland and number seven in the UK. Stylus Magazine included Out of Nothing on their list of the best albums from the year.

Background

Embrace released their third studio album, If You've Never Been, in September 2001 through Hut, Virgin Records and the band's own label Mobetta.[1] [2] It peaked at number nine in the UK Albums Chart; its two singles, "Wonder" and "Make It Last", both reached the top of the UK Singles Chart.[3] Despite this, the band were dropped from the roster by Hut and Virgin Records less than a month later.[4] The band promoted the album with a tour of the United Kingdom at the end of the year, with a shorter UK tour following in early 2002.[5] [6] While making If You've Never Been, frontman Danny McNamara said they had gathered enough material that they were considering releasing its follow-up in early 2002.[7] In between the two UK tours, the band spent some time recording new material.[8]

Hut Records released the band's first compilation album, , in March 2002; McNamara explained: "I see the next phase of Embrace as being quite separate and different from what the band has done up until now and this album is us signing-off on the past".[9] Cam Lindsay of Exclaim! wrote that the career of acts hyped up by the Britpop and post-Britpop scenes was "so short it left many bands and their second albums for dead". He acknowledged that while Embrace had made a third album, the general music-buying "public had lost interest in their melodramatic epic rock and moved on".[10] As a result, Fireworks: The Singles 1997–2002 ended up reaching number 36 in the UK.[3]

New label and recording

In March 2002, the band publicly revealed they had left Hut and Virgin to sign with the label Independiente. After leaving Hut, some of the members were forced to get day jobs.[11] McNamara said label chairman Andy MacDonald was a fan of theirs and had seen them a few times prior. McNamara mentioned that he had been spending sometime in London writing material while the other members were building a recording studio, and that they were aiming to release a new single later in the year.[12] [13] According to McNamara, MacDonald told the band he was impressed with their live performances and that they had high-quality songwriting but had "never made a classic album", which was something he wanted for the label. He was content with them taking as long as they wanted for as much money as they needed.[11]

Drummer Mike Heaton said they did not have the means of writing songs in peace previously, often feeling stressed while out touring.[14] In December 2003, the band played a few shows under the moniker the Good Good People; McNamara explained that he had spent the "last two years doing nothing but writing songs". At MacDonald's suggestion, they worked with producer Martin "Youth" Glover, with whom they previously worked with earlier in their career.[11] [14] Bassist Steve Firth said by this point, they had grown accustomed to outside opinions, something they used to block out, allowing for an easier process when working with Youth.[14] After New Years Day 2004, the band began recording at Olympic Studios in London.[11] [15]

Clive Goddard served as engineer, while Paul "P Dub" Walton recorded the strings; they were assisted by Phillipe Rose, Sam Miller and Bea Kenkel. McNamara said Youth "broke us into pieces, and then re-built us as a new band almost", expressing interest in wanting him for their next album.[11] While in the mixing process, the band were offered the song "Gravity" by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. As the process was almost done, they had disregarded the suggestion as guitarist Richard McNamara said they "had so much faith in what we’d already recorded, the potential backlash just didn’t seem necessary". After an evening of contemplation, they decided to use the song. Heaton had to do some post-production work on "Looking as You Are" as they had recorded the song at the wrong tempo, prompting them to slow the track's speed down without sacrificing the quality of the recording.[16] Goddard mixed the recordings, before the album was mastered by George Marino at Sterling sound in New York.

Composition and lyrics

Overview

Musically, the sound of Out of Nothing has been described as indie rock. The Guardian writer Dorian Lynskey said in a "revisionist twist [Embrace] are being spoken of not as post-Oasis stragglers but as big-hearted forbears of Keane and Coldplay", despite Embrace existing before the latter. Adam Knott of Sputnikmusic said the guitars aim for the "rafters of packed arenas, layered and interesting but never dense enough for their effect to become masked", while the piano parts "max out the heart, whether that be in search of a massive crescendo or a gentle introduction".[17] Gareth Jones contributed programming across the album's songs. Wil Malone served as orchestra leader and wrote the majority of the string arrangements, bar the ones for "Someday" and "Spell It Out", which were done by keyboardist Mickey Dale.

Malone was brought in by Youth, while the rest of the band wanted Dale to arrange the strings.[18] Will Jackson provided additional material for the string sections, which were performed by the London Session Orchestra. Over a period of three years, Embrace accumulated over 500 songs that were eventually paired down to 15. This was cut down again to 10, and then one song, "Everytime That I See Your Face", was dropped in favour of "Gravity". Close to the end of the recording sessions, they jammed material as a unit for an hour at the encouragement of Youth, resulting in two songs, namely "Near Life" and "Out of Nothing".[19] [20] [21] Discussing the album's title, Danny McNamara said it was a "little bit of lets get together, and not be fazed by it, because at one point, that's all we had - was ourselves, and our belief in ourselves and in each other".[11]

Tracks

Out of Nothing opens with the pop rock song "Ashes", which Pitchfork reviewer Sam Ubl said "captures the feel of post-personal disaster perspective-shift", and was compared to "Pounding" (2002) by Doves. Before it was recorded, the chorus section of "Ashes" was the only part Danny McNamara had for three years, until Richard McNamara wrote the verse sections.[11] Danny McNamara initially had an argument with Youth on how the song should be, having originally been intended as a gentle ballad akin to "Fireworks" from their debut studio album The Good Will Out (1998), which Youth changed into an anthemic song with a disco beat.[14] [22] [23] The band edited down the song's long outro section, despite Youth's insistence on retaining it.[24]

"Gravity" was written by the members of Coldplay; Martin became friends with McNamara a few years prior when Embrace help Coldplay before they became famous. When Coldplay wrote "Gravity", Martin thought the song "sounded far too much like them for us, [...] so I asked Danny if he wanted the song and that was that".[25] McNamara said he had heard Coldplay perform the song sometime prior and liked it, but thought nothing else of it until Martin offered it. musicOMH writer John Murphy said Embrace took the "melancholic piano sound of Mr Martin’s lot and push[ed] it through the Embrace emotional mincer", coming across in the style of "Imagine" (1970) by John Lennon and material from Coldplay's debut album Parachutes (2000).[26]

"Someday" is a gospel rock track; the song, which McNamara wrote, dated back to 1995, but lacked a chorus section.[27] Its chorus was taken from a demo of different song, "How Do You Like to Fly", that Richard McNamara wrote.[28] Danny McNamara wrote "Looking as You Are" about a woman that was "spending her last night with the guy before [dating] me".[29] Richard McNamara described the song as Mercury Rev-like vocals over a guitar riff styled after "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" (1985) by Tears for Fears.[30] "Wish 'Em All Away" is a power ballad that features an harmonica, evoking the sound of Oasis and Travis. When Dale heard it, he asked the band if they were attempting to recreate the sound of Harvest (1972) by Neil Young, which Youth thought was a good idea.[31]

"Keeping" is a love song about an ex-partner that PopMatters Michael Franco said starts off with a "recurring instrumental melody, then builds to a lofty chorus, spacious guitars, and really pretty crescendos", which he felt also described the following track, "Spell It Out".[32] The latter was originally named "Pocket to the Sun" and written by Richard McNamara on a piano, which Dale thought it was similar to the work of the Flaming Lips.[33] [34] "A Glorious Day" is a ballad that also recalls Oasis; Youth had unsuccessfully tried to get the band to perform it in the style of McFly.[35] Embrace wanted the piano in the song to sound similar to the damaged piano at McNamara's house, prompting them to visit piano shops across London, and renting an upright piano.[36] "Near Life" is a made of various jam sessions and vocal takes stitched together. The album concludes with the piano-centric "Out of Nothing", an experimental and atmospheric song with elements of Sigur Rós. Dale said the outro was inspired by post-rock acts, like Explosions in the Sky and Mogwai, that Youth had recommended.[37]

Release

On 14 June 2004, Embrace's next album was announced for release in three months' time.[25] On 22 July 2004, the album's title was revealed as Out of Nothing, and its track listing was posted online.[38] Shortly after this, the band played a one-off show in Brighouse, Yorkshire on 15 August 2004 to celebrate their 10th anniversary, which saw the debut of material from Out of Nothing.[39] They appeared a V Festival a few days later after Jet pulled out because of a death in the family.[40] Shortly after this, Embrace partially played a fan club gig in London that was ultimately shut down by the police.[41] They promoted the "Gravity" single with a one-off show at the Shepherd's Bush Empire venue in London, prior to the release of Out of Nothing on 13 September 2004. The artwork shows the members of the band embracing one another.

To promote the album, the band told fans via text messages about secret gigs they were holding, one of which including a performance in Mallorca.[42] [43] Later that month, they embarked on a UK tour that ran into October 2004.[44] Following this, they went on a longer UK tour throughout November 2004.[43] On 15 November 2004, a special edition of Out of Nothing was released, featuring a DVD with footage of their secret gigs from two months prior. This edition also included a special code that fans could use to enter into a competition for addition secret shows at the end of the year. The band promoted it two in-store signing sessions in Leeds, Birmingham and Liverpool.[45] They closed out the year appearing at a benefit gig for Shelter, alongside Kasabian and the Zutons, and a secret show at the Carnglaze Caverns in Cornwall.[46] [47]

Billboard reported in their 12 February 2005 issue that Embrace had signed to Lava Records for releases in the North American market.[48] Between February and April 2005, Embrace went on another tour of the UK, played their first ever shows in the United States and then two gigs in Ireland.[49] [50] [51] After this, Embrace went on a tour of the US with Snow Patrol in April and May 2005.[52] [53] Following a warm up gig at a fan's house, the band played two hometown shows in Leeds at the Millennium Square, which were dubbed A Glorious Day, at the end of May 2005.[54] [55] They were supported for the first show by the Ordinary Boys, the Subways, Hard-Fi and Anechoic, while other show feature Thirteen Senses, the Engineers and Infrasound.[56] After initially planned for release in the US on 3 May 2005, Out of Nothing was eventually released there on 14 June 2005.[48] [57] The following month, the band performed at one of the Live 8 benefit shows.[58]

The two A Glorious Day shows were released on DVD in 2005 through the company Eagle Vision, which also included all of the musics from Out of Nothing as well as a documentary and a fan film. It was packaged with a three-track CD that featured live versions of "Gravity", "A Glorious Day" and "Keeping".[59] [60] The Mallorca performance was also released on DVD in 2005, this time through Independiente.[61] That same year, Coldplay released their own version of "Gravity" as the B-side to their song "Talk".[62] Embrace held special shows in March 2020 where they played songs exclusively from their The Good Will Out and Out of Nothing albums.[63] In October 2020, the band held a livestream performance where they played Out of Nothing in its entirety.[64] To coincide with the latter, Out of Nothing and their fifth studio album This New Day (2006) were re-pressed on vinyl in 2020 through Craft Recordings; this version was done as a single-disc, in contrast to the double-disc version of the original 2004 Independiente edition.[64] [65] [66]

Singles

"Gravity" was released as the lead single from the album on 30 August 2004; the seven-inch vinyl edition included "Wasted" as the B-side.[25] [67] Two versions were released on CD: the first with "The Shot's Still Ringing" and "Waterfall" as the B-sides, alongside the video for "Gravity", and the second with "Too Many Times" as the B-side.[68] The music video for "Gravity", which features a cameo from Youth, was filmed at Abbey Road Studios the previous month and shows the band performing the track.[69] [70]

"Ashes" was released as the album's second single on 15 November 2004.[71] It was in the running for lead single status until "Gravity" was eventually chosen. Their label told them that the song would perform better in the charts if it was released after "Gravity".[11] The seven-inch vinyl edition included "Enough" as the B-side.[72] Two versions were released on CD: the first with "Maybe I Wish", and the second with "Flaming Red Hair" and a live cover of "How Come" by D12 as the B-sides, alongside the music video for "Ashes".[73] [74] The "Ashes" video sees the band performing in a dark, dusty, abandoned theatre that subsequently restores itself and gets brighter as the song plays out.[75] They included "How Comes" after demand from fans, after having recorded it for The Jo Whiley Show.[76] "Ashes" was released to American modern rock radio stations on 1 March 2005.[77]

"Looking as You Are" was released as the album's third single on 14 February 2005; the seven-inch vinyl edition included "The Final Say" as the B-side.[78] [79] Two versions were released on CD: the first with "Madelaine", while the included "I Ache" and "Soldiers Hours" as B-sides, alongside the music video for "Looking as You Are".[80] [81] The artwork consists of photos of the bands fans as their way of thanking them for their support.[82] The "Looking as You Are" video cuts between two perspectives, Danny McNamara and a woman as they near-mirror each other's actions. It starts with the woman climbing out of bed while McNamara wakes up on a sofa. McNamara walks up to the rest of the band as they begin performing, as the woman is getting ready in a bathroom. She leaves her place as the band continues playing and eventually visits a café. She is seen walking past a bus and then finds herself in the same room as the band, before running off.[83]

"A Glorious Day" was released as the album's fourth single on 30 May 2005; the seven-inch vinyl edition included "Hallelujah" as the B-side.[84] [85] Two versions of the single were released on CD: the first with "Milk and Honey" and the second with "Feels Like Glue" and "Red Eye Shot" as B-sides.[86] [87] The "A Glorious Day" music video is a compilation of various live performances, cut with backstage footage.[88]

Critical reception

Out of Nothing was met with generally favourable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 61, based on 16 reviews.

Murphy said Out of Nothing was a "wonderfully affecting album that is the band’s best to date", adding that it was the "record they’ve been threatening to make for years".[89] Jack Smith of 6 Music agreed with this, adding that it "could take the Huddersfield five-piece higher than they could ever have contemplated".[90] Ubl was surprised that the band had "turned in an effort as pretty or economical as Out of Nothing [...] "the result is less wish-wash, more dependable songwriting". The staff at AllMusic called it a "batch of well crafted songs tailor-made for the charts", praising the "euphorically expansive production". They went on to say it had zero "missteps or rough and rugged patches here: Out of Nothing is supremely confident, polished mainstream rock of the first order". Karim Adab of Stylus Magazine wrote that the album "sees them take off like an Exocet, obliterate all targets and then ricochet off under their own control". The staff at E! Online said aside from "Gravity", the band "stepped up to the challenge brilliantly with a set of stately tunes of their own".

Laut.de writer Vicky Butscher noted that it was "faster and louder" than their second studio album Drawn from Memory (2000), which she felt minimized the "emotional power of the balladesque pieces". Lynskey wrote that while the band's "first album had a stirring anthem or two, their songwriting here is both flimsy and overblown". Franco added to this, saying that "all the ingredients of the [Coldplay] recipe are here, right down to the lazy rhymes, cornball lyrics, 'uplifting' choruses, and all manner of inspirational platitudes". He went on to say it had a "decidedly contrived and boringly obvious feel" as the music was "so paint-by-numbers it probably arrived in a kit at the studio". The staff at Uncut said that after the opening three tracks, the album "sags—the old, pedestrian Embrace return, and Danny McNamara's mawkish lowing grates". Yahoo! Launch reviewer Adam Webb said the track names "reveals a band with little imagination beyond recycling 'meaningful' clichés" as it "really detracts from the heartfelt nature of the music". Stephen Ackroyd of This Is Fake DIY summarised his criticism of the album as: "there are well crafted songs here, good arrangements - the basic parts are all there. The problem? Your Mum would like it. Nobody wants that".

Commercial performance and legacy

Out of Nothing topped the charts in the UK and Scotland, selling almost double as many copies that The Good Will Out did in its first week of release.[91] It also reached number 58 in Ireland and number 86 in Germany. It peaked at number 49 and 106 on the year-end UK charts for 2004 and 2005, respectively. In the UK, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified Out of Nothing gold four days after its release, platinum by November 2004, and double platinum as of 2021.[92] "Gravity" charted at number two in Scotland and number seven in the UK.[3] [93] The BPI certified the song silver in 2019.[94] "Ashes" charted at number eight in Scotland and number 11 in the UK.[3] [95] The BPI certified the song silver in 2023.[96] "Looking as You Are" charted at number nine in Scotland and number 11 in the UK.[3] [97] "A Glorious Day" charted at number 28 in the UK.[3]

McNamara said that had they not had received success brought on by "Gravity", they would have been dropped by Independiente and likely broke up. NME reported that the song "prompted a complete resurgence in fortunes for Embrace after a number of years on the periphery", noting that Out of Nothing had sold close to 250,000 copies within a month of its release, and that the accompanying UK and European tour was completely sold out.[98] Stylus Magazine ranked the album at number 16 on their list of the year's 40 best releases.[99] In 2014, journalist Gareth James wrote that the album "restored the band to the top 10 and signalled a shift towards the middle of the road in pursuit of album sales".[100]

Track listing

All songs written by Danny and Richard McNamara, except where noted.

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.[101] Embrace

Additional musicians

Production and design

Charts and certifications

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for Out of Nothing
Chart (2004)Position
UK Albums (OCC)[102] 49
Chart (2005)Position
UK Albums (OCC)[103] 106

Certifications

References

Citations

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'Brace Yourselves!. NME. 4 July 2001. 14 July 2021. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712083608/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-49-1379973. live.
  2. If You've Never Been. Embrace. 2001. booklet. Hut/Mobetta/Virgin Records. CDHUT68/7243 8 10973 2 8.
  3. Web site: Embrace full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company. 12 July 2021. 30 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210630075755/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/15415/embrace/. live.
  4. Dale, Mickey. MrMickeyDale. 1300161533645815809. Before I get into my track by track, I'd like to say that after we were dropped by Virgin / Hut in October 2001, the band built a studio at Rik's and knuckled down to writing an album as strong as The Good Will Out. Not an easy task!. https://web.archive.org/web/20200830200058/https://twitter.com/MrMickeyDale/status/1300161533645815809. 30 August 2020. 30 August 2020. 2 September 2022.
  5. Web site: 'Been' Here Now!. NME. 13 August 2001. 14 July 2021. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712082015/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-59-1371519. live.
  6. Web site: 'If You've Never Been' to Yorkshire!. NME. 9 November 2001. 14 July 2021. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712083841/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-60-1372324. live.
  7. Web site: The 'Last' Time for Embrace!. NME. 2 April 2001. 31 August 2022. 14 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210714081309/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-89-1398899. live.
  8. Web site: Embrace Come to the Four. NME. 20 November 2001. 31 August 2022. 14 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210714084437/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-54-1370733. live.
  9. Web site: Embrace the Past!. NME. 28 January 2002. 31 August 2022. 15 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210715082620/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-68-1377961. live.
  10. Web site: Embrace Out of Nothing. Exclaim!. Lindsay, Cam. 1 August 2005. 1 September 2022. 23 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211123072322/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/embrace-out_of_nothing. live.
  11. Web site: Embrace Live @ Carling Bristol Academy. Repeat Fanzine. 5 October 2004. 2 September 2022. 14 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210614112503/https://www.repeatfanzine.co.uk/interviews/embrace.htm. live.
  12. Web site: Independiente Men!. NME. 11 March 2002. 31 August 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712084414/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-58-1371444. live.
  13. Web site: Independence for Embrace. https://web.archive.org/web/20021128180641/http://www.dotmusic.com/artists/Embrace/news/March2002/news24248.asp. Dotmusic. 11 March 2002. 28 November 2002. 1 September 2022.
  14. Web site: Neues Waschpulver, bewährte Formel. New washing powder, proven formula. Gaesteliste.de. 22 December 2003. 1 September 2022. DE. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712084327/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-37-1373493. live.
  15. Web site: Gone Back to What They Know!. NME. 22 December 2003. 31 August 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712084327/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-37-1373493. live.
  16. Dale, Mickey. MrMickeyDale. 1300165988680380416. LAYA: Once it was recorded, Rick spent days in post production because we'd recorded it at the wrong tempo in London. Magnificently, it was slowed down without killing the audio quality.. https://web.archive.org/web/20200830201909/https://twitter.com/MrMickeyDale/status/1300165988680380416. 30 August 2020. 30 August 2020. 2 September 2022.
  17. Web site: Embrace (UK) - Out Of Nothing (album review). Sputnikmusic. 10 December 2009. 1 September 2022. 2 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220902164741/https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/33894/Embrace-%28UK%29-Out-Of-Nothing/. live.
  18. Dale, Mickey. MrMickeyDale. 1300165156262027267. Finally I found my way into it. My stress levels were exacerbated by Youth wanting Wil Malone to do all the string arrangements on the album. I am eternally grateful to the other band members for demanding that I do the strings, and nobody else.. https://web.archive.org/web/20200830201526/https://twitter.com/MrMickeyDale/status/1300165156262027267. 30 August 2020. 30 August 2020. 2 September 2022.
  19. Web site: Interview with Danny McNamara. Hybridmagazine. DeVoe, David. 2 September 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712124002/http://www.hybridmagazine.com/music/0705/embrace.shtml. live.
  20. Dale, Mickey. MrMickeyDale. 1300170819201568771. Near Life. This was Youth throwing a spanner in. 'Let's have dinner, light some candles & just jam from a blank page'. Near Life & Out Of Nothing were both born from this liberating approach. https://web.archive.org/web/20200830203827/https://twitter.com/MrMickeyDale/status/1300170819201568771. 30 August 2020. 30 August 2020. 2 September 2022.
  21. Dale, Mickey. MrMickeyDale. 1300171190061936640. I think we played for an hour or more and Youth assembled it in the computer. Near Life indeed.. https://web.archive.org/web/20200830203937/https://twitter.com/MrMickeyDale/status/1300171190061936640. 30 August 2020. 30 August 2020. 2 September 2022.
  22. Web site: Embrace's new success rising from the Ashes.. Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Porritt, Richard. 15 November 2004. 1 September 2022. The Free Library. 2 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220902164739/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Embrace%27s+new+success+rising+from+the+Ashes.-a0124778846. live.
  23. Dale, Mickey. MrMickeyDale. 1300162693572288514. 1. Ashes - This left the womb as an understated super-slow gospel-esque ballad. Youth heard it, saw the potential and suggested a disco beat! I was worried. A hit single ensued. No complaints from band or label. Bowie-esque outro? Life On Mars, maybe.. https://web.archive.org/web/20200830200557/https://twitter.com/MrMickeyDale/status/1300162693572288514. 30 August 2020. 30 August 2020. 2 September 2022.
  24. McNamara, Richard. RichardMcNamara. 1300162468736573440. This used to have a really long outro on it which was great but we edited it off... 'come back, come back' Youth said we should keep it because Crowded house regretted editing it ... now i know what he meant.. https://web.archive.org/web/20200830200454/https://twitter.com/RichardMcNamara/status/1300162468736573440. 30 August 2020. 30 August 2020. 2 September 2022.
  25. Web site: Cuddly Chris. NME. 14 June 2004. 31 August 2022. 11 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200811185402/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-20-1367542. live.
  26. Web site: Embrace, Shepherd's Bush Empire, London. https://web.archive.org/web/20220706143920/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/embrace-shepherd-s-bush-empire-london-542754.html. The Independent. Mugan, Chris. 8 September 2004. 6 July 2022. 1 September 2022.
  27. Dale, Mickey. MrMickeyDale. 1300163873899720705. Someday Part 1 - when I first started playing with the band in 95 in a practice room in Ossett, this was a song that Danny had written & we'd keep running at it. It had no chorus but we pondered the possibility of a Scott Walker epic strings vibe... . https://web.archive.org/web/20200830201053/https://twitter.com/MrMickeyDale/status/1300163873899720705. 30 August 2020. 30 August 2020. 2 September 2022.
  28. McNamara, Danny. dannymcnamara. 1300163677946085380. Richard wrote the chorus for this for another song called How Do You Like To Fly. A demo of it will be in a future Secret List. https://web.archive.org/web/20200830200930/https://twitter.com/dannymcnamara/status/1300163677946085380. 30 August 2020. 30 August 2020. 2 September 2022.
  29. McNamara, Danny. dannymcnamara. 1300165370888818689. wrote this about a girl as she was spending her last night with the guy before me. It was a strange night and an even stranger relationship.. https://web.archive.org/web/20200830201608/https://twitter.com/dannymcnamara/status/1300165370888818689. 30 August 2020. 30 August 2020. 2 September 2022.
  30. McNamara, Richard. RichardMcNamara. 1300165137513558016. 'Looking as you Are' Mercury Rev vocal with a Tears for Fears 'Rule The World' riff at the front and Led Zep in the middle and Ricks happy!. https://web.archive.org/web/20200830201543/https://twitter.com/RichardMcNamara/status/1300165137513558016. 30 August 2020. 30 August 2020. 2 September 2022.
  31. Dale, Mickey. MrMickeyDale. 1300167086610821121. I asked 'are you trying to remake Neil Young's Harvest album?' and Youth said 'Now there's a fucking idea!' At that point I understood his vibe. Less is more. Space. I sometimes find myself producing bands and shouting less, and more space!. https://web.archive.org/web/20200830202338/https://twitter.com/MrMickeyDale/status/1300167086610821121. 30 August 2020. 30 August 2020. 2 September 2022.
  32. Web site: Embrace - 'Out Of Nothing' (Independiente). https://web.archive.org/web/20050215141637/http://www.gigwise.com/contents.asp?contentid=2753. Gigwise. Lai, Alex. 15 February 2005. 1 September 2022. live.
  33. McNamara, Danny. dannymcnamara. 1300168372332777474. Spell It Out. This used to be called Pocket To The Sun. Rik wrote it on piano.. https://web.archive.org/web/20200830202834/https://twitter.com/dannymcnamara/status/1300168372332777474. 30 August 2020. 30 August 2020. 2 September 2022.
  34. Dale, Mickey. MrMickeyDale. 1300168245023068160. Spell It Out Originally called 'Pocket To The Sun', this is a Ricardo song very much inspired by Flaming Lips. We occasionally played it live & it was a tricky fucker, but having found ancient film of us doing it live, we actually nailed it!. https://web.archive.org/web/20200830202754/https://twitter.com/MrMickeyDale/status/1300168245023068160. 30 August 2020. 30 August 2020. 2 September 2022.
  35. McNamara, Richard. RichardMcNamara. 1300169780243165185. I remember Youth trying to get us to play Glorious Day like a Mcfly track ..... you cant be right all the time!! ha ha. https://web.archive.org/web/20200830203351/https://twitter.com/RichardMcNamara/status/1300169780243165185. 30 August 2020. 30 August 2020. 2 September 2022.
  36. Dale, Mickey. MrMickeyDale. 1300169919510839296. Glorious Day: 'We want it to sound like the fucked piano at Rik's'.. So we went visiting London piano shops & rented an upright piano & had it delivered to Olympic Studios. It's times like this that I understand how we never made any money!. https://web.archive.org/web/20200830203412/https://twitter.com/MrMickeyDale/status/1300169919510839296. 30 August 2020. 30 August 2020. 2 September 2022.
  37. Dale, Mickey. MrMickeyDale. 1300172088863531008. Out Of Nothing One of our big melancholy album closers. I'm a sucker for a moody ballad, so this ticks many boxes. A big post-rock inspired outro too. Youth was encouraging the band listen to post rock such as Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky.. https://web.archive.org/web/20200830204327/https://twitter.com/MrMickeyDale/status/1300172088863531008. 30 August 2020. 30 August 2020. 2 September 2022.
  38. Web site: Cuddles Galore!. NME. 22 July 2004. 31 August 2022. 9 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200809084258/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-46-1362059. live.
  39. Web site: 'Guerrilla's in Our Midst!. NME. 16 August 2004. 31 August 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712084257/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-38-1358536. live.
  40. Web site: Embrce Bounce Back. NME. 21 August 2004. 31 August 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712084257/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-35-1357571. live.
  41. Web site: Embrce Risk Arrest. NME. 27 August 2004. 31 August 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712084123/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-32-1356708. live.
  42. Web site: The Secret Will Out. NME. 6 September 2004. 31 August 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712084254/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-33-1357103. live.
  43. Web site: All You Lucky, Lucky People!. NME. 24 September 2004. 31 August 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712084708/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-24-1368367. live.
  44. Web site: London Embraces Embrace. NME. 24 August 2004. 31 August 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712084254/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-33-1357103. live.
  45. Web site: Something Comes from 'Nothing'. NME. 12 November 2004. 31 August 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712084548/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-47-1362144. live.
  46. Web site: Big cuddles at Christmas!. NME. 5 November 2004. 31 August 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712084551/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-48-1362898. live.
  47. Web site: Pit stop!. NME. 20 December 2004. 31 August 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712084502/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-36-1357355. live.
  48. Newman 2005, p. 13
  49. Web site: Extra Embrace. NME. 27 October 2004. 31 August 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712084639/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-10-1364406. live.
  50. Web site: Embrace announce Irish dates. Hot Press. 28 February 2005. 1 September 2022. 2 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220902164741/https://www.hotpress.com/music/embrace-announce-irish-dates-2783399. live.
  51. Raihala 2005, p. C3
  52. Anon. 2004, p. 52
  53. Web site: New Man on Patrol!. https://web.archive.org/web/20220903074405/https://www.nme.com/news/music/snow-patrol-144-1361113. NME. 1 April 2005. 3 September 2022. 3 September 2022. live.
  54. Web site: Cuddly News. NME. 3 February 2005. 31 August 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712085207/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-23-1368582. live.
  55. Web site: A Second 'Glorious Day' for Embrace!. NME. 7 February 2005. 31 August 2022. 24 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201124014658/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-21-1368314. live.
  56. Web site: Embrace Get Some Support. NME. 4 March 2005. 31 August 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712085207/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-12-1364808. live.
  57. Out of Nothing. Embrace. 2005. sleeve. Lava Records. STCD 301793.
  58. Live 8 Keeps Expanding. https://web.archive.org/web/20060509045135/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/embrace/articles/story/7400736/live_8_keeps_expanding. Rolling Stone. Wolinsky, David. 16 June 2005. 9 May 2006. 1 September 2022. live.
  59. A Glorious Day Live in Leeds. Embrace. 2005. sleeve. Eagle Vision. EREDV508/EREDV508AP.
  60. Web site: Embrace A Glorious Day. Exclaim!. Lindsay, Cam. 1 November 2005. 1 September 2022. 6 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211206174141/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/embrace-glorious_day. live.
  61. SG#14 Live in Majorca. Embrace. 2005. sleeve. Independiente.
  62. "Talk". Coldplay. 2005. sleeve. Parlophone. R 6679/00946 346924 7 2.
  63. Web site: Embrace To Play Special Leeds Arena Concert In 2020. The Yorkshire Times. Clark, Graham. 30 July 2019. 1 September 2022. 17 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191017041530/https://yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/Embrace-To-Play-Special-Leeds-Arena-Concert-In-2020. live.
  64. Web site: Embrace announce vinyl reissues and one-off live show. Classic Pop. 29 August 2020. 1 September 2022. 24 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220424145043/https://www.classicpopmag.com/2020/08/embrace-announce-vinyl-reissues-and-one-off-online-live-show/. live.
  65. Out of Nothing. Embrace. 2020. sleeve. Craft Recordings. 0888072209282.
  66. Out of Nothing. Embrace. 2004. sleeve. Independiente. ISOM 45LP.
  67. "Gravity". Embrace. 2004. sleeve. Independiente. ISOM87S.
  68. "Gravity". Embrace. 2004. sleeve. Independiente. ISOM87S.
  69. Web site: Embrace Storm the Palais!. NME. 2 August 2004. 31 August 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712084324/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-43-1360729. live.
  70. Gravity. Embracemusic. 7 July 2017. 1 September 2022. YouTube. 27 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220827125821/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ9ValMXCRk. live.
  71. Web site: Embrace Get Back to What They Know. NME. 12 October 2004. 31 August 2022. 10 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200810054418/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-18-1366393. live.
  72. "Ashes". Embrace. 2004. sleeve. Independiente. ISOM 89S.
  73. "Ashes". Embrace. 2004. sleeve. Independiente. ISOM89MS.
  74. "Ashes". Embrace. 2004. sleeve. Independiente. ISOM89SMS.
  75. Ashes. Embracemusic. 7 July 2017. 1 September 2022. YouTube. 2 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220902164744/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMqkhGrVOsU. live.
  76. Web site: Embracing Eminem's Buddies. NME. 19 October 2004. 31 August 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712084640/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-14-1365436. live.
  77. Web site: FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock . FMQB. 30 October 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130322142732/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16771 . 22 March 2013 .
  78. Web site: Something Comes from 'Nothing'. NME. 9 December 2004. 31 August 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712084502/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-39-1358632. live.
  79. "Looking as You Are". Embrace. 2005. sleeve. Independiente. ISOM91S.
  80. "Looking as You Are". Embrace. 2005. sleeve. Independiente. ISOM 91MS.
  81. "Looking as You Are". Embrace. 2005. sleeve. Independiente. ISOM91SMS.
  82. Web site: Embrace on Valentine's Day!. NME. 10 January 2005. 31 August 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712085216/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-31-1355979. live.
  83. Looking As You Are. Embracemusic. 7 July 2017. 1 September 2022. YouTube. 2 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220902164743/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R61rLF6OOYM. live.
  84. Web site: Embrace - Glorious Day (Independiente). https://web.archive.org/web/20060528175341/http://www.musicomh.com/singles4/embrace-4.htm. musicOMH. Shepherd, Sam. 28 May 2006. 1 September 2022.
  85. "A Glorious Day". Embrace. 2005. sleeve. Independiente. ISOM 94S.
  86. "A Glorious Day". Embrace. 2005. sleeve. Independiente. ISOM94MS.
  87. "A Glorious Day". Embrace. 2005. sleeve. Independiente. ISOM94SMS.
  88. A Glorious Day. Embracemusic. 7 July 2017. 1 September 2022. YouTube. 16 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201216095604/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zNcvFPM7LM. live.
  89. Web site: Embrace – Out Of Nothing - Album Reviews. https://web.archive.org/web/20040916195351/http://www.musicomh.com/albums2/embrace-2.htm. musicOMH. Murphy, John. 16 September 2004. 31 August 2022.
  90. Web site: Embrace Out of Nothing Review. BBC Music. Smith, Jack. 1 September 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712122537/https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/59qv/. live.
  91. Web site: Embrace success. Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 20 September 2004. 1 September 2022. 18 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210718094758/https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/embrace-success-5086619. live.
  92. Web site: Embrace Out Of Nothing. British Phonographic Industry. 31 August 2022. 2 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220902164756/https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/4947-1384-2. live.
  93. Web site: Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. 27 August 2016. 3 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803012525/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20040905/41/. live.
  94. Web site: Embrace Gravity. British Phonographic Industry. 31 August 2022. 2 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220902164759/https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/9486-1384-1. live.
  95. Web site: Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. 27 August 2016. 11 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160311184312/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20041121/41/. live.
  96. Web site: Embrace Ashes. British Phonographic Industry. 5 March 2023. 24 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230224192817/https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/18278-1384-1. live.
  97. Web site: Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. 27 August 2016. 14 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180814003350/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20050220/41/. live.
  98. Web site: Thank Chris!. NME. 30 October 2004. 1 September 2022. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712084601/https://www.nme.com/news/music/embrace-8-1363869. live.
  99. Web site: Embrace - Out of Nothing. https://web.archive.org/web/20071222225922/http://stylusmagazine.com/articles/weekly_article/the-top-40-albums-of-2004.htm. Stylus Magazine. Edwards, Mark. 20 December 2004. 22 December 2007. 1 September 2022.
  100. Web site: Embrace: The Complete Guide. Clash. James, Gareth. 14 April 2014. 12 July 2021. 21 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161021193811/http://www.clashmusic.com/features/embrace-the-complete-guide. live.
  101. Out of Nothing. Embrace. 2004. booklet. Independiente. ISOM45CD/5185722006.
  102. Web site: End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2004. Official Charts Company. 18 November 2021. 1 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190401163703/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20040104/37502/. live.
  103. Web site: The Official UK Albums Chart 2005. UKChartsPlus. 18 November 2021. 22 February 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120222101152/http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2005.pdf. live.