2013 studio album by Devlin
| A Moving Picture | ||||
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| Studio album by Devlin | ||||
| Released | 4 February 2013 | |||
| Recorded | 2011–13 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 46:58 (standard edition) 1:02:32 (deluxe edition) | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| Devlin chronology | ||||
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| Singles from A Moving Picture | ||||
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A Moving Picture is the second studio album by English rapper Devlin, released on 4 February 2013 via Island Records and Universal Music Group. The album was produced by various producers, including Labrinth, Kraze, Lewi White, TMS, Future Cut and Naughty Boy. Featured guests on the album include Katy B, Ed Sheeran, Wretch 32, Diane Birch, Etta Bond and Chasing Grace.
Background
Devlin stated in an interview with Digital Spy that the standard version of the album will contain between sixteen and eighteen tracks, and that the deluxe edition could contain up to twenty-two. A total of twenty four tracks have been recorded for possible inclusion on the album. An exclusive version of the album will be available to purchase through Devlin's official website. This version of the album includes a DVD which contains an exclusive documentary on the making of the album, and an extended version of the 'Watchtower' music video, made into a short film. The short film features appearances from Jaime Winstone, Neil Maskell, Tilly Vosburgh, and George Russo, in a cinematic thriller with Devlin and Ed Sheeran in the lead roles. This version of the album will also come with an exclusive poster.
Critical reception
A Moving Picture received generally mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 51, based on nine reviews.
Jan Mulder of Amazon.co.uk awarded the album five out of five stars, and said the following of the album: "Album opener 'Sun Goes Down' is a strong musically layered anthem, making use of the eerie, yet sophisticated hook from Katy B to the best possible advantage, and the addition of some lyrically mastered verses to the mix cement this as the album's finest opener. 'Watchtower' really lends highly upon the fantastic bass line and sensitivity of Ed Sheeran's voice, linking up the fantastic hook with a powerful instrumental arrangement. Wretch 32 hook up 'Off With Their Heads' is a clustered arrangement of in and out verses from Devlin and Wretch, and is one of the album's darker highlights. 'Rewind' sticks out like a sore thumb on the album, as it's the most mainstream style track Devlin has ever written and released. However, despite that, the track is so musically pleasing in its own right that it deserves a place amongst the highest of rap masterpieces, and proves that Devlin can take on any musical challenge and win. And to close, 'The Cast' is an ideal opener for the next horror slasher to grace our screens, and 'The Garden', which picks a classic beat, add some bars overtop, mixes it a little bit at the end, and creates the perfect swansong for another classic British album. Devlin keeps it flowing from the start to the end, and the album doesn't disappoint."
Robert Corpsey of Digital Spy awarded the album three out of five stars, and said the following of the album: "Opener 'Sun Goes Down' picks up where Devlin left off and magnifies it x10, employing weighty beats and a haunting string section to match angry verses that are instantly lifted by the Katy B-assisted chorus. The aggression that made his debut so fascinating rears its head again on 'Off With Their Heads' and closer 'The Garden', the latter a razor-sharp, chorus-less affair where he sounds at his most comfortable. Frustratingly, it's the set's more chart-friendly cuts that let it down. The trancey bleeps on 'Love Cards' and watery production on his latest single 'Rewind' make him sound like an artist that's trying to fit in rather than stand out."
Singles
"Watchtower" was released on 20 August 2012, as the lead single from the album. The track features vocals from Ed Sheeran, was produced by Labrinth and features a sample of the original version, recorded by Bob Dylan. The music video was recorded in the form of a short film, with edited versions being used for television airplay. It peaked at No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Devlin's most successful single to date. "Off with Their Heads" was released on 10 October 2012, as the second single from the album. The track features vocals from fellow rapper Wretch 32, and was released shortly after its premiere on BBC Radio 1 Xtra. The music video features Devlin and Wretch performing the track in a deserted underground warehouse. It peaked at No. 34 on the UK Dance Singles Chart. "Rewind" was released a week prior to the album, on 28 January 2013. The track samples the original version of the track, and features vocals from the original artist, Diane Birch. It was originally due for release on 22 October 2012, but was delayed as the album was also pushed back until 2013. Devlin premiered the song during his gig as part of the BBC Radio 1Xtra festival during the first week of November 2012.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sun Goes Down" (featuring Katy B) | Devlin, Katy B, Robbie Lamond | Robbie Lamond, Future Cut | 4:11 |
| 2. | "Really Cold" | Devlin, Emily Phillips, Ant Whiting | Ant Whiting | 3:47 |
| 3. | "(All Along the) Watchtower" (featuring Ed Sheeran) | Devlin, Sheeran, Timothy McKenzie, Bob Dylan | Labrinth | 4:32 |
| 4. | "Off with Their Heads" (featuring Wretch 32) | Devlin, Jermaine Scott, Robbie Lamond | Robbie Lamond | 4:03 |
| 5. | "Ghost Ship" | Devlin, Jaz Rodgers, Alex Clare | Jaz Rodgers | 4:30 |
| 6. | "Letter to My Boys" | Devlin, Hugo Chegwin, Harry Craze | Craze & Hoax | 4:32 |
| 7. | "Mother's Son" | Devlin, Paddy Byrne, Dan Radclyffe | Utters | 3:35 |
| 8. | "Rewind" (featuring Diane Birch) | Devlin, Diane Birch, Thomas Barnes, Peter Keheller, Ben Kohn, Ruth-Anne Cunningham | TMS | 3:41 |
| 9. | "Love Cards" (featuring Etta Bond) | Devlin, Etta Bond | Raf Riley | 3:52 |
| 10. | "Gift & Curse" (featuring Chasing Grace) | Devlin, Chasing Grace | Naughty Boy, Phil Leigh | 3:29 |
| 11. | "The Cast" | Devlin, Lewi White | Lewi White | 3:37 |
| 12. | "The Garden" | Devlin, Lewi White | Lewi White | 3:07 |
| Total length: | 46:58 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "(All Along the) Watchtower" (Acoustic Version) | Devlin, Sheeran, Timothy McKenzie, Bob Dylan | Labrinth | 3:49 |
| 14. | "Rewind" (Acoustic Version) | Devlin, Diane Birch, Thomas Barnes, Peter Keheller, Ben Kohn, Ruth-Anne Cunningham | TMS | 4:19 |
| 15. | "Off with Their Heads" (Acoustic Version) | Devlin, Jermaine Scott, Robbie Lamond | Robbie Lamond | 3:57 |
| 16. | "Sun Goes Down" (Acoustic Version) | Devlin, Katy B, Robbie Lamond | Robbie Lamond, Future Cut | 3:43 |
| Total length: | 1:02:32 | |||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Moving Picture: Making the Album" (Documentary) | -- |
| 2. | "Watchtower" (Music Video - Short Film Director's Cut) | -- |
Charts
| Chart (2013) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart | 19 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 4 February 2013 | CD, CD + DVD, digital download | Island Records, Universal Music Group |
| United Kingdom |
References
- "Official Devlin Webstore - Official webstore for Devlin - Merchandise, T-shirts, Tickets, CD Albums, Vinyl, MP3 Downloads, Posters". Store.officialdevlin.com. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
- "Devlin: "I'm Just Enjoying Myself..."". MTV. 18 October 2010. Archived from the original on 18 December 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
- "Devlin interview: 'I won't touch dance music'". Digital Spy. 26 July 2012.
- "Official Devlin Webstore - Official webstore for Devlin - Merchandise, T-shirts, Tickets, CD Albums, Vinyl, MP3 Downloads, Posters". Store.officialdevlin.com. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
- "A Moving Picture by Devlin". Metacritic.
- "Amazon.co.uk:Customer reviews: A Moving Picture". Amazon UK.
- "Devlin: 'A Moving Picture' review". Digital Spy. February 2013.
- "BMI | Repertoire Search". Archived from the original on 18 January 2013.
- "ITunes - Music - A Moving Picture (Deluxe Edition) by Devlin". iTunes. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
- "A Moving Picture chart history". Official Charts. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
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