| Ashes Grammar | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | A Sunny Day in Glasgow |
| Cover: | AshesGrammar.jpg |
| Recorded: | September – December 2008 |
| Studio: | Downtown Performing Arts Center (Lambertville, New Jersey) |
| Label: | Mis Ojos Discos |
| Prev Title: | Tout New Age |
| Prev Year: | 2007 |
| Next Title: | Nitetime Rainbows |
| Next Year: | 2010 |
Ashes Grammar is the second studio album by American indie rock band A Sunny Day in Glasgow. It was released on September 15, 2009, by Mis Ojos Discos.[1]
Following a successful European tour, A Sunny Day in Glasgow's Ben Daniels began preparations for the recording of the band's next album.[2] He rented a large dance studio space within the Downtown Performing Arts Center in Lambertville, which became the primary location for recording.[2] He and bandmate Josh Meakim then began experimenting with sounds and setting up microphones in the space.[2] Prior to the start of formal work on the album, however, three members of A Sunny Day in Glasgow departed the band under varying circumstances: Brice Hickey, who had "very seriously" broken his legs in an accident while loading equipment into his car on the day that recording was set to begin; Lauren Daniels, who left in order to care for Hickey, her then-boyfriend; and Robin Daniels, who wished to pursue her graduate studies.[3] The band was subsequently reduced to Ben Daniels and Josh Meakim.[3] Annie Fredrickson was later invited to join A Sunny Day in Glasgow on the recommendation of a fan of the band who was familiar to Ben Daniels "from shows", after Daniels asked the fan whether he knew any vocalists.[4] The trio of Daniels, Meakim and Fredrickson helmed the album's recording.[5]
Ashes Grammar was recorded from September to December 2008. The expansiveness of the dance studio space allowed Ben Daniels the freedom to experiment with different acoustics.[4] He has cited Alvin Lucier's I Am Sitting in a Room as an influence on the recording process.[3] [4] As Lauren and Robin Daniels, the lead singers on earlier A Sunny Day in Glasgow recordings, had left the band, vocal duties on Ashes Grammar were shared by Fredrickson and Meakim.[2] Fredrickson's friend Beverly Science performed additional vocals on the album.[2] Mich White, who was previously a touring bassist for A Sunny Day in Glasgow, also "contributed ideas" from his home in Austin.[2]
In 2016, Pitchfork ranked Ashes Grammar at number 35 on its list of the best shoegaze albums of all time.[6]
Notes
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[7]
A Sunny Day in Glasgow
Additional musicians
Production
Design