Two Vines Explained

Two Vines
Type:	studio
Artist:	Empire of the Sun
Cover:	Empire of the Sun - Two Vines.png
Recorded:	2015–2016
Length:	41:01
Label:	Virgin EMI
Producer:	Empire of the Sun Peter Mayes Donnie Sloan
Prev Title:	Ice on the Dune
Prev Year:	2013
Next Title:	Ask That God
Next Year:	2024

Two Vines is the third studio album by Australian electronic music duo Empire of the Sun. It was released on 28 October 2016 by Virgin EMI Records. The album features guest appearances from Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham, Wendy Melvoin, Henry Hey, and Tim Lefebvre.

Background

The duo started writing their third studio album after contributing music to the 2014 film Dumb and Dumber To.^[1] The album was recorded in Hawaii and Los Angeles, and it was co-produced by Empire of the Sun and Peter Mayes alongside regular collaborator Jonathan Sloan.^[2] In November 2015, lead singer Luke Steele noted that the album was "75 percent there".^[1]

On 22 August 2016, it was announced that the album was titled Two Vines and would be released on 28 October. It features contributions from Fleetwood Mac singer-guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, Wendy Melvoin (from Prince's The Revolution band), and David Bowie collaborators Henry Hey and Tim Lefebvre.^[2] Nick Littlemore explained the inspiration behind the title as "this image of a modern city overtaken by jungle".^[3]

The album's lead single, "High and Low", was released on 24 August 2016.^[2] This was shortly followed by the album's first promotional single, "Two Vines", which was released the following day.^[4] "To Her Door" was released on 30 September 2016 as the album's second single.^[5]

Critical reception

Two Vines received generally positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 66, based on 14 reviews.^[6]

Personnel

• Empire of the Sun – production
• Steve Bach – additional keyboards
• Lindsey Buckingham – backing vocals, guitars
  • Evan Frasier – mbira Teddy Geiger – additional vocals
• Mark Goldenberg – acoustic guitar
• Michael Harris – engineering, drum and percussion engineering
• Henry Hey – keyboards
• Scott Horscroft – production assistance
  • SK Kakraba – gyil Mito Kasuya – vocals
• Tim Lefebvre – bass

• • Alan Mark Lightner – marimba, xylophone Mike Marsh – mastering
• Peter Mayes – engineering, mixing, production
• Jake Najor – drums
• Next Episode – artwork
• Roof Studio – artwork
• Todd Simon – percussion direction
  • Todd M. Simon – marimba, vibraphone Donnie Sloan – production
• Dexter Story – slit drums
• Te'Amir Yohannes Sweeney – slit drums
• David Wilder – bass

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2016)! scope="col"

Peak position
New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ)^[7]	2

Year-end charts

Chart (2016)! scope="col"

Position
US Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)^[8]	25

Notes and References

1. Web site: Kaplan . Ilana . 24 Hours in LA with Empire of the Sun: Vodka, Robots, and Lots of Lasers . . 9 November 2015 . 22 October 2016.
2. Reed . Ryan . Empire of the Sun Recruit Lindsey Buckingham for New LP . . 22 August 2016 . 23 August 2016.
3. Web site: Pearce . Sheldon . Empire of the Sun Announce New Album Two Vines . . 22 August 2016 . 1 October 2016.
4. Web site: Monroe . Jazz . Listen to Empire of the Sun's New Song "Two Vines" . Pitchfork . 25 August 2016 . 22 October 2016.
5. Web site: To Her Door – Single by Empire of the Sun . iTunes Store (US) . 22 October 2016.
6. Web site: Reviews for Two Vines by Empire of the Sun . . 30 October 2016.
7. Web site: NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 7 November 2016. 4 November 2016.
8. Dance/Electronic Albums – Year-End 2016 . Billboard . 10 December 2016.