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Troubled Times
Studio album by Cast
Released	2 November 2011 (2011-11-02)
Recorded	Real World Studios, The Bee Barn (Bala), The Premises Studios, The Yard (London), The Viper Studio
Genre	Rock
Label	Cast Recordings (CASTRECCD1)
Producer	John Leckie, Paul Hemmings
Cast chronology
The Complete BBC Sessions (2007) Troubled Times (2011) Kicking Up the Dust (2017)

Troubled Times is the fifth album by the English band Cast, released digitally on 2 November 2011. It is the first album they recorded since reuniting in 2010 for shows celebrating the 15th anniversary of their debut, All Change. It is also the last album recorded with founding bassist Pete Wilkinson, who left the band in 2014.

Background

Nearly a decade after Cast split up shortly after the release of their fourth album Beetroot, lead singer and songwriter John Power had already released three solo albums when he started writing material that he felt was more suited to the band. After spending the years since the split shying away from Cast's music, Power decided it was time to play the songs again, especially with debut album All Change's impending 15th anniversary. He then got in touch with the other band members: guitarist Liam "Skin" Tyson, bassist Pete Wilkinson and drummer Keith O'Neill. Following the All Change 15th Anniversary Tour around the U.K. in November and December 2010, the band started work on the new album with fans helping to fund the recording through PledgeMusic, with a percentage of the profits donated to the charity Shelter.

Recording

Cast began recording at Real World Studios on 3 May 2011 under the supervision of John Leckie, who had previously produced the band's first two albums, All Change and Mother Nature Calls. Keith O'Neill was absent from the album sessions due to his work as a tour manager. As a result, the album features drumming by Steve Pilgrim, who had played in Power's solo band and would also fill in for O'Neill on Cast tours since the band's reformation. Tracking on the album was completed in September 2011, with Power taking time off in July due to having a baby.

Days after mastering was complete, the album was released digitally on 2 November 2011 to fans who had helped fund the album through PledgeMusic. Troubled Times was finally released physically on 5 March 2012, with two bonus tracks.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Record Collector

Jamie Atkins of Record Collector was critical of Power being "keen to inform the world that things these days are vaguely not 'alright'" without substantiating as to why, using his "undoubted talent to produce abstract, clichéd drivel to hammer this point home".

Track listing

All songs written by John Power.

Bonus tracks

Personnel

Cast

• John Power – acoustic guitars, vocals
• Liam "Skin" Tyson – electric guitars, 12-string acoustic, lap steel, slide guitar, backing vocals
• Peter Wilkinson – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Keith O'Neill – drums (did not play on the album)

Additional musician

• Steve Pilgrim – drums

Production

• John Leckie - producer, engineer, mixing
• Paul Hemmings - producer (tracks 13 and 14)

References

1. Wilkinson, Matt (23 June 2010). "Cast announce first live dates for 15-year anniversary tour". NME. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
2. Cast (12 December 2014). "Pete had to leave the tour after Hull gig for personal reasons and Keith is back on drums after tomorrow". Twitter. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
3. Cast (1 April 2015). "Well I'm glad that's all in the open because I thought I was going mad or something". Facebook. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
4. Stokes, Paul (22 June 2010). "Cast will reform, announces John Power". NME. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
5. Cast (15 November 2010). "Cast: Troubled Times on PledgeMusic". PledgeMusic. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
6. Cast (4 May 2011). "4 May: Recording!". PledgeMusic. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
7. Stanley, Carl (20 January 2012). "John Power in conversation…". Louder Than War. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
8. Wright, Jade (12 March 2012). "John Power on Cast's Liverpool gig, working with The La's and hopes for Hillsborough justice". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
9. Cast (29 September 2011). "In The Studio: Pictures". PledgeMusic. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
10. Cast (19 July 2011). "Shipping update & demo download". PledgeMusic. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
11. Cast (1 November 2011). "Album released to Pledgers tomorrow!". PledgeMusic. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
12. Cast (21 February 2012). "Update: CD release of Troubled Times & UK Tour". PledgeMusic. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
13. ^ Atkins, Jamie (April 2012). "Reviews". Record Collector (400): 88. ISSN 0261-250X.

• Cast (band) albums
• 2011 albums
• Albums produced by John Leckie