Humming (album) explained

Humming
Type:	Album
Artist:	Duncan Sheik
Border:	yes
Released:	October 6, 1998
Length:	62:48
Label:	Atlantic
Producer:	Rupert Hine, Duncan Sheik
Prev Title:	Duncan Sheik
Prev Year:	1996
Next Title:	Phantom Moon
Next Year:	2001

Humming is the second album by American singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik. It was released on Atlantic Records in 1998.

Release and reception

The album was met with moderate success and favorable reviews. According to Allmusic, the album "sprawls across similarly introspective terrain, yet veers more toward the pragmatic than the romantic", adding, "Humming has a more profound and resonant base, complemented by accentuated drums and various string elements."^[1]

Details

The album, which featured the London Session Orchestra on some tracks, contained tributes to other artists, including "That Says It All" and "A Body Goes Down"; the latter song is an elegy for Jeff Buckley, following his death in 1997, which was also included in the documentary . The final track is named after Nichiren, who was a Buddhist monk of 13th century Japan.

Track listing

1. "In Between" - 4:32
2. "Rubbed Out" - 5:09
3. "Bite Your Tongue" - 3:56
4. "Alibi" - 4:07
5. "Varying Degrees of Con-Artistry" - 6:56
6. "That Says It All" - 4:14
7. "Everyone, Everywhere" - 3:30
8. "A Body Goes Down" - 6:05
9. "Nothing Special" - 3:28
10. "House Full of Riches" - 5:37
11. "Nichiren" - 14:47**

• • Note: A hidden song, "Foreshadowing," begins at the 6:40 mark of track 11 after the close of "Nichiren"

Personnel

• Duncan Sheik - acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmonium, piano, resonator guitar, lead vocals, backing vocals
• Jeff Allen - six-string bass guitar, bass guitar, acoustic bass
• Simon Hale - string arrangements, conductor
• Rupert Hine - harmonium, piano, treated piano, backing vocals
• Matt Johnson - drums
• Jarod Lanier - alto flute on "A Body Goes Down" and "Nichiren"
• Gerry Leonard - acoustic guitar, electric guitar
• The London Session Orchestra - strings
• Jay Bellerose - drums on "In Between"
• Abdellah Miry - violin on "A Body Goes Down"
• Trevor Morais - bass drums
• Mark Plati - bass guitar
• Juliet Prater - bodhran, percussion
• Spooky Ghost - guitar loops (tracks 2,3,6,10)

Technical

• Ruadhri Cushnan - recording
• Bob Clearmountain - mixing

Notes and References

1. http://www.allmusic.com/album/humming-mw0000600975 Allmusic review