No Selfish Heart Explained

No Selfish Heart
Type:Studio
Artist:Rick Redbeard
Cover:No Selfish Heart.jpg
Released:28 January 2013
Recorded:Aberdeenshire, Glasgow, Bernese Oberland
Genre:Alternative folk, alternative country
Length:43.07
Label:Chemikal Underground
Producer:Rick Anthony

No Selfish Heart is the first album by Rick Redbeard, the solo recording pseudonym of Scottish musician Rick Anthony. It was released on 28 January 2013 through Chemikal Underground Records to critical acclaim.[1] [2]

It was self-recorded by Anthony in Aberdeenshire, Glasgow and the Bernese Oberland in the first half of 2012. It is composed of songs written by Anthony between 2004 and 2012 as well as a version of the traditional Scottish folk song Kelvin Grove and one older home-recording from 2007, the single Now We're Dancing.[3] [4]

Themes

The album deals primarily with themes of nature, love, sex, death, memory, nostalgia and the passage of time[5] [6] and has a stripped back sound and emphasis on acoustic instrumentation that is markedly different from Anthony's prior work with The Phantom Band.[7]

Influences

Critics noted the influence on the album of iconic artists such as Leonard Cohen, Will Oldham, Bill Callahan, Jason Molina, Jim Reid (folk musician), Alasdair Roberts and Neil Young[8] as well as the dark, sparse Southern gothic prose of Cormac McCarthy and the surreal fantasy of Alasdair Gray.[9] Anthony has also spoken of the influence that landscape and nature has on his writing, specifically the scenery of his native Aberdeenshire and the mountains of the Bernese Alps.[10]

Track listing

  1. "Clocks" - 2.19
  2. "Old Blue" - 4.06
  3. "Any Way I Can" - 5.21
  4. "A Greater Brave" - 5.08
  5. "We All Float" - 3.03
  6. "Kelvin Grove" - 5.52
  7. "Now We're Dancing" - 4.02
  8. "Cold As Clay (The Grave)" - 4.07
  9. "Wildlove" - 3.11
  10. "No Selfish Heart" - 5.59

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rick Redbeard | . Chemikal.co.uk . 2012-11-22 . 2013-08-09.
  2. Web site: No Selfish Heart Reviews . Metacritic . 2012-01-28 . 2013-08-09.
  3. Web site: Rick Anthony . Track-by-track: Rick Redbeard reveals No Selfish Heart | Music Feature . The Skinny . 2013-01-21 . 2013-08-09.
  4. Web site: Dave Kerr . Phantom Band frontman Rick Redbeard unveils solo debut | Interview . The Skinny . 2013-01-09 . 2013-08-09.
  5. Web site: Reviews | Rick Redbeard . The Quietus . 2013-03-01 . 2013-08-09.
  6. Web site: Shhh! The genius of a music festival that's oh so quiet . Herald Scotland . 2012-11-30 . 2013-08-09.
  7. Web site: Rick Redbeard – No Selfish Heart | Album Reviews . musicOMH . 2013-01-28 . 2013-08-09.
  8. Web site: is this music?» long players » Rick Redbeard . Isthismusic.com . 2013-02-25 . 2013-08-09.
  9. Web site: Introducing... Rick Redbeard | News | Clash Magazine . Clashmusic.com . 28 November 2012. 2013-08-09.
  10. Web site: Gorman . Francine . Reference Points: Rick Redbeard . The Line Of Best Fit . 2013-03-12 . 2013-08-09.