Another Planet/Voyager Explained

Another Planet" / "Voyager
Cover:Pendulum - Another Planet Voyager.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Pendulum
Album:Hold Your Colour
Released:23 February 2004
Recorded:2003
Genre:Drum and bass
Length:
  • 7:33 ("Another Planet")
  • 6:07 ("Voyager")
  • 5:41 ("Voyager" picture disc version)
Label:Breakbeat Kaos
Prev Title:Spiral
Prev Title2:Ulterior Motive
Prev Year:2003
Another Planet
Title2:Voyager
Next Title:Back 2 You
Next Title2:Still Grey
Next Year:2004

"Another Planet" / "Voyager" is the second single by Australian drum and bass band Pendulum. It was released on 23 February 2004 by independent label Breakbeat Kaos, and was their first single to use the 12-inch picture disc format. The single peaked at number 46 in the UK Singles Chart, and reached number one in the UK Dance Chart.

The song "Another Planet" contains samples from Jeff Wayne's musical version of The War of the Worlds, and was included on the CD edition of Hold Your Colour when it was released in July 2005. Both tracks appeared on the compilation album .

Background and writing

Unlike every other single released by Pendulum to date, "Another Planet" / "Voyager" was written and produced in full by all members of the band, which at that time included Rob Swire, Paul Harding and Gareth McGrillen.[1] The song "Another Planet" uses samples from Jeff Wayne's musical version of The War of the Worlds,[2] including several samples of dialogue by Richard Burton.

McGrillen had developed a fear of The War of the Worlds when he was quite young, to the extent that he could not look at the album cover. Years later, while he was working on one song with Swire, he decided to face his fear by travelling home and returning with his father's copy, which they then sampled for the song.[3] One of the samples they used contained a line spoken by Burton, "...and I wandered through the weird and lurid landscape of another planet", which later gave the song its name.

Critical reception

"Another Planet / Voyager" was the first single by Pendulum to receive widespread recognition, and as such was subject to critical attention. One review of the single describes "Voyager" as "a really well done piece of dancefloor drum and bass action", and says that "Pendulum have coined their own recognisable sound, but manage to stay fresh at the same time".[4] "Another Planet" in particular has received a wide range of criticism, partially due to its placement on two albums, and has been described both as "conventional [drum and bass], being largely instrumental and synth based",[5] and as a "crowd favourite ... [that] sounds far too serious for that goofy, bouncy bassline to work".[6]

Marketing and release

"Another Planet" / "Voyager" was released on 23 February 2004 in two formats, a standard 12-inch single and a 12-inch picture disc, the first of several singles by Pendulum to use this format. It was also their first release with independent drum and bass label Breakbeat Kaos, which remained their main label for the next three years.[7]

"Another Planet" was featured on the CD edition of Hold Your Colour, released in July 2005, but was later replaced by the song "Blood Sugar" after the album was reissued.[8] It was also featured on the mix album Fabric Live 22, alongside Pendulum's remix of Nightbreed's "Pack of Wolves". An alternative version of the song, titled "Another Planet (VIP)", was produced and released on the Bass Invaderz compilation album.[9] Both tracks from the single were also included in another compilation album – Jungle Sound - the Bassline Strikes Back! – released in October 2004.[10]

Chart performance

"Another Planet" / "Voyager" was the first single by Pendulum to appear in the UK Singles Chart. It entered the chart on 6 March 2004, peaking at number 46, and remained in the chart for a total of two weeks.[11] The single also performed well in the UK Dance Chart, remaining at number one for two weeks on 6 March and 13 March.[12]

Track listing

12-inch vinyl single

A. "Another Planet" – 7:33

AA. "Voyager" – 6:0712-inch picture disc

A. "Another Planet" – 7:33

AA. "Voyager" – 5:41

Personnel

The following people contributed to "Another Planet" / "Voyager".[13]

Charts

Chart (2004)Peak
position
UK Dance Chart1
UK Singles Chart46

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt Australasian Performing Right Association
  2. Grinter, Alison. Pendulum — Big Bangin'. TNT Magazine. Retrieved on 26 September 2008.
  3. Abbott, Spence (25 June 2008). IGN: Pendulum Q&A . IGN Music. Retrieved on 1 October 2008.
  4. Anne, Sally "Risk" (7 June 2004). Music News Pendulum - Another Planet . inthemix.com.au. Retrieved on 26 September 2008.
  5. Moss, Jack "System-J" (6 September 2005). Album Pendulum - Hold Your Colour . TranceCritic.com. Retrieved on 26 September 2008.
  6. Moss, Jack "System-J" (26 April 2006). Compilations/DJ Mixes Pendulum - Jungle Sounds Gold . TranceCritic.com. Retrieved on 26 September 2008.
  7. http://www.rolldabeats.com/artist/pendulum/releases Pendulum (releases)
  8. http://www.rolldabeats.com/release/breakbeat_kaos/bbk002cd Breakbeat Kaos :: BBK002CD :: Hold Your Colour
  9. http://www.rolldabeats.com/release/human_imprint/huma8014_1 Human Imprint :: HUMA8014-1 :: Bass Invaderz
  10. http://www.rolldabeats.com/release/breakbeat_kaos/bbk001cd Breakbeat Kaos :: BBK001CD :: Jungle Sound: The Bassline Strikes Back
  11. https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Motiveless%20Crime Chart Stats - Pendulum - Another Planet/Voyager
  12. "The Official UK Dance Charts" (13 March 2004). ChartsPlus (133). Milton Keynes, UK: IQWare.
  13. [Pendulum (drum and bass band)|Pendulum]