Axes (album) explained

Axes
Type:studio
Artist:Electrelane
Cover:ElectrelaneAxes.jpg
Recorded:December 2004–January 2005 in Chicago, Illinois
Genre:Post-rock
Length:59:16
Label:Too Pure
Prev Title:The Power Out
Prev Year:2004
Next Title:No Shouts, No Calls
Next Year:2007

Axes is the third album by English rock group Electrelane.

For the mostly instrumental album, Electrelane once again returned to Steve Albini's studio in Chicago. In the first recording session for Axes, the band played through the entire album in one take.[1] This reflected the band's desire to have listeners experience the band's live show. Emma Gaze explained the album was recorded "the way we rehearse and practise: we all stand in a circle and it is very relaxed. Our previous recording experiences have been with the bass in one room, the drums in a different room, the two guitarists in a different room and then the vocals are done afterwards. Obviously it works like that because that is how most bands do it. But we just wanted it to sound more live; there is a different kind of energy that comes from playing in the same room."[2] Verity Susman said that "We see the record as a continuous piece of music, not a collection of songs. It also reflects the way we improvise, moving from one idea to the next without a clear break. It’s also how we play live."[1] The album was released on 9 May 2005 to mixed, but generally positive reviews.

Track listing

All songs written by Electrelane and Verity Susman, except where noted.

  1. "One, Two, Three, Lots" – 1:44
  2. "Bells" – 4:38
  3. "Two for Joy" – 5:58
  4. "If Not Now, When?" – 5:47
  5. "Eight Steps" – 5:01
  6. "Gone Darker" – 7:05
  7. "Atom's Tomb" – 2:08
  8. "Business or Otherwise" – 5:47
  9. "Those Pockets Are People" – 5:02
  10. "The Partisan" (Anna Marly, Hy Zaret) – 2:32
  11. "I Keep Losing Heart" – 3:41
  12. "Come Back" – 0:07
  13. "Suitcase" (Electrelane, Ros Murray) – 9:46

Personnel

Release history

RegionDateLabelFormatCatalog
United KingdomToo PureCDPURE 162CD
Double LPPURE 162LP
United StatesToo Pure, Beggars BanquetCDPURE 162

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Electrelane - Biography . . 2005 . 2008-02-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070711110815/http://www.toopure.com/electrelane/biography.html . July 11, 2007 .
  2. Web site: Electrelane . Broken Spring Review . 2006-04-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070303060550/http://www.brokenspringreview.com/features/electrelane.htm . 2007-03-03 .