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| {{Infobox album | |||
| {{italic title}} | |||
| | name = INSOLO | |||
| ⚫ | '''''INSOLO''''' is the second solo studio album of ], |
||
| | type = studio | |||
| | artist = ] | |||
| | cover = Gary Kemp - INSOLO.jpg | |||
| | alt = | |||
| | released = {{start date|2021|7|16|df=yes}} | |||
| | recorded = | |||
| | venue = | |||
| | studio = | |||
| | genre = | |||
| | length = | |||
| | label = ] | |||
| | producer = | |||
| *Gary Kemp | |||
| *Toby Chapman | |||
| | prev_title = Little Bruises | |||
| | prev_year = 1995 | |||
| | next_title = | |||
| | next_year = | |||
| }} | |||
| ⚫ | '''''INSOLO''''' is the second solo studio album of ], the former guitarist and songwriter of ]. The album was released on 16 July 2021, on ], and was produced and mixed by Gary Kemp and Toby Chapman. | ||
| ==Style== | |||
| ⚫ | The music, in contrast to the Irish folk instrumentation of his first album, reflects |
||
| ==Composition== | |||
| The album reflects on Kemp’s growing obsession with life seen through a rear view mirror after passing his 60th birthday and “confronting the past.” Charlotte Cripps of ] noted, “Kemp’s attachment to Spandau Ballet and the band’s long goodbye may have meant it’s taken 25 years for him to release more new work on his own. But perhaps INSOLO will help him to put the 1980s to rest, once and for all.”<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-14|title=Gary Kemp: ‘My younger self is trapped in a bell jar’|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/gary-kemp-spandau-ballet-insolo-true-gold-new-romantic-b1882447.html|access-date=2021-11-27|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | The music, in contrast to the Irish folk instrumentation of his first album, reflects Kemp's time spent playing in ] and his teenage pre-Spandau Ballet influences. Kemp told Jo Kendall of '']'', "There are 70s references on the whole album, and I'm pushing the guitar and psychedelia to the fore".<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Kendall|first=Jo|title=Gary Kemp|url=https://pocketmags.com/prog-magazine/issue-121/articles/1004622/gary-kemp|access-date=27 November 2021|magazine=]|issue=121|url-access=subscription}}</ref> | ||
| The album reflects Kemp's growing obsession with life seen through a rear view mirror after passing his 60th birthday and "confronting the past". Charlotte Cripps of '']'' noted, "Kemp's attachment to Spandau Ballet and the band's long goodbye may have meant it's taken 25 years for him to release more new work on his own. But perhaps ''INSOLO'' will help him to put the 1980s to rest, once and for all."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cripps|first=Charlotte|date=14 July 2021|title=Gary Kemp: 'My younger self is trapped in a bell jar'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/gary-kemp-spandau-ballet-insolo-true-gold-new-romantic-b1882447.html|access-date=27 November 2021|newspaper=]}}</ref> | |||
| For his part, Kemp confirmed during press promotion for INSOLO that this album signalled the end of any further collaboration with Spandau Ballet. He told ] of '']'' that "We have no creative energy together, the lead protagonists have no communication, it's just a lie. So it's over. It's over. We are never going to get back together."<ref name="Telegraph">{{Cite news|last=McCormick|first=Neil|authorlink=Neil McCormick|date=18 July 2021|title=Gary Kemp: 'Spandau Ballet are never getting back together'|newspaper=]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/gary-kemp-spandau-ballet-never-getting-back-together/|access-date=27 November 2021|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> | |||
| The two songs, In Solo and The Haunted, drew inspiration from ]’s 1932 painting ] | |||
| The two songs, "In Solo" and "The Haunted", drew inspiration from ]'s 1932 painting '']''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-22|title=Gary Kemp on making 'INSOLO,' his first new solo LP in 25 years|url=https://www.newsweek.com/gary-kemp-making-insolo-his-first-new-solo-album-25-years-1594386|access-date=2021-12-16|website=Newsweek|language=en}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | Kemp recorded a ] live session for ] featuring |
||
| == Singles == | == Singles and promotion == | ||
| Ahead of the Game, the first UK single release |
"Ahead of the Game", the first UK single release, was released on 2 April 2021. The video was directed by Charles Lightening. An extended 8 minute 28 second remix was later released. | ||
| Too Much was the second single released |
"Too Much" was the second single, released on 2 June 2021. The video was again directed by Lightening and featured ] soloist Meaghan Grace Hinkis. | ||
| The third UK single, Waiting for the Band, was inspired by ] |
The third UK single, "Waiting for the Band", was inspired by ]'s ], which the 14-year-old Kemp attended at the ] in October 1973.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Kemp|first=Gary|author-link=Gary Kemp|date=28 May 2021|title=Gary Kemp reveals the story behind his upcoming solo record, 'Waiting For The Band'|url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/music/article/gary-kemp-waiting-for-the-band-insolo|access-date=27 November 2021|magazine=] (British edition)}}</ref> The recording features archive ] interview clips of Bowie fans outside his 1978 ] concert. Kemp's brother and former Spandau Ballet bandmate ] contributed bass guitar "for the narrative".<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Earls|first=John|author-link=John Earls|date=2021-08-05|title=Gary Kemp interview (exclusive)|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2021/08/gary-kemp-interview/|access-date=27 November 2021|magazine=Classic Pop}}</ref> | ||
| I Remember You was released in the UK on October |
"I Remember You" was released in the UK on 5 October 2021. | ||
| ⚫ | Kemp recorded a ] live session for ] featuring "Too Much", a cover of ]'s "]" and "]".{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} | ||
| == Critical reception == | == Critical reception == | ||
| {{Album ratings | |||
| ''The Daily Telegraph'' music critic Neil McCormick wrote that INSOLO “is an intricate, mature and soulful piece of work, which blends (Kemp’s) melodic songcraft with luscious arrangements reminiscent of 70s prog rock stylists like Steely Dan and Pink Floyd.” <ref>{{Cite news|last=McCormick|first=Neil|date=2021-07-18|title=Gary Kemp: ‘Spandau Ballet are never getting back together’|language=en-GB|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/gary-kemp-spandau-ballet-never-getting-back-together/|access-date=2021-11-27|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>] ] awarded the album a 4-star rating describing it as “nostalgic, wistful and filled with a gloriously romantic sense of despair and futility.” In contrast the same paper's Lisa Verrico described it as "a perplexing blend of prog guitars, jazzy sax, cinematic strings, French horn and vocals that veer from dramatically breathy to blandly bluesy."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Davies|first=Dan Cairns {{!}} Lisa Verrico {{!}} Mark Edwards {{!}} Clive|title=The best albums of the week: Prince, David Crosby and more|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-best-albums-of-the-week-prince-david-crosby-and-more-n2cvg6qcr|access-date=2021-11-27|issn=0140-0460}}</ref> David Chiu of ] described it as “eloquent and poignant.”<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-22|title=Gary Kemp on making 'INSOLO,' his first new solo LP in 25 years|url=https://www.newsweek.com/gary-kemp-making-insolo-his-first-new-solo-album-25-years-1594386|access-date=2021-11-27|website=Newsweek|language=en}}</ref> ] of ] was less enthusiastic, suggesting of INSOLO that “while these 11 tracks are neatly crafted, they do go on a bit. You’d never know they were by the same author as To Cut A Long Story Short.”<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lisle|first=Tim De|date=2021-07-10|title=Celeste review: Her songs range from middling to majestic|url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/event/article-9768567/Celeste-review-songs-range-middling-majestic.html|access-date=2021-11-27|website=Mail Online}}</ref> | |||
| | rev1 = '']'' | |||
| | rev1score = {{Rating|1|5}}<ref name="Arts Desk" /> | |||
| | rev2 = '']'' | |||
| | rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Mojo" /> | |||
| | rev3 = '']'' | |||
| | rev3score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Clarke |first=Ed |title=Gary Kemp – ''Insolo'' |magazine=] |date=September 2021 |page=115}}</ref> | |||
| | rev4 = '']'' | |||
| | rev4score = 6/10<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Staunton |first=Terry |title=Gary Kemp – ''Insolo'' |magazine=] |date=September 2021 |page=28}}</ref> | |||
| }} | |||
| ''INSOLO'' received mixed reviews from critics. ''The Daily Telegraph'' music critic Neil McCormick wrote that ''INSOLO'' "is an intricate, mature and soulful piece of work, which blends melodic songcraft with luscious arrangements reminiscent of 70s ] stylists like ] and ]".<ref name="Telegraph" /> David Chiu of '']'' described it as "eloquent and poignant".<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Chiu|first=David|date=22 July 2021|title=Gary Kemp on making 'INSOLO,' his first new solo LP in 25 years|url=https://www.newsweek.com/gary-kemp-making-insolo-his-first-new-solo-album-25-years-1594386|access-date=27 November 2021|magazine=]}}</ref> '']''{{'}} ] awarded the album a four-star rating, describing it as "nostalgic, wistful and filled with a gloriously romantic sense of despair and futility".{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} | |||
| In contrast, in ''The Times''{{'}} sister paper '']'', Lisa Verrico described it as "a perplexing blend of prog guitars, jazzy sax, cinematic strings, French horn and vocals that veer from dramatically breathy to blandly bluesy".<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Cairns|first1=Dan|last2=Verrico|first2=Lisa |last3=Edwards|first3=Mark|last4=Davies|first4=Clive|title=The best albums of the week: Prince, David Crosby and more|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-best-albums-of-the-week-prince-david-crosby-and-more-n2cvg6qcr|newspaper=]|date=22 July 2021|access-date=27 November 2021|url-access=subscription|issn=0140-0460}}</ref> John Bungey of '']'' described the album as "1970s–80s AOR, lushly upholstered and hook-laden". He highlighted the title track, "I Am the Past" and "I Remember You" as stand-out tracks, but concluded, "anyone expecting echoes of wayward genius/madman ] amid ''Insolo''{{'}}s smooth contours will be disappointed".<ref name="Mojo">{{cite magazine |last=Bungey |first=John |title=Gary Kemp – ''Insolo'' |magazine=] |date=September 2021 |page=78}}</ref> Thomas H Green of '']'' called ''INSOLO'' "one of the worst albums I've ever heard, showcasing Kemp as the most awful ] indulgent", and "a place where post-Eighties prog rock skitters into ] FM radio smoothness, ], and tepid jazziness" with "clunkily expounded existential narratives".<ref name="Arts Desk">{{cite web |last=Green |first=Thomas H |title=Album: Gary Kemp – ''Insolo'' |url=https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-gary-kemp-insolo |website=] |date=14 July 2021 |access-date=2 December 2021}}</ref> | |||
| == Track listing == | == Track listing == | ||
| Line 41: | Line 74: | ||
| | title1 = In Solo | | title1 = In Solo | ||
| | title9 = The Feet of Mercury | | title9 = The Feet of Mercury | ||
| | title8 = I |
| title8 = I Am the Past | ||
| | title7 = The Fastest Man in the World | | title7 = The Fastest Man in the World | ||
| | title6 = Too Much | | title6 = Too Much | ||
| Line 67: | Line 100: | ||
| * Lily Carassik - trumpet (5) | * Lily Carassik - trumpet (5) | ||
| * ] - drums (6) | * ] - drums (6) | ||
| * Rob Taggart - |
* Rob Taggart - string arrangement (1, 3, 6, 7) | ||
| * Bryony James - cello | * Bryony James - cello | ||
| * Chris Worsey - cello | * Chris Worsey - cello | ||
| Line 82: | Line 115: | ||
| * Kate Griffiths - archive research | * Kate Griffiths - archive research | ||
| * Malcolm Venville - cover photography | * Malcolm Venville - cover photography | ||
| ==Charts== | |||
| {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" | |||
| |- | |||
| !scope=col | Chart (2021) | |||
| !scope=col | Peak<br />position | |||
| |- | |||
| {{Album chart|UK2|43|artist=Gary Kemp|date=20210723|rowheader=true}} | |||
| |} | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
| ] | ] | ||
Latest revision as of 23:19, 16 August 2023
2021 studio album by Gary Kemp| INSOLO | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Gary Kemp | ||||
| Released | 16 July 2021 (2021-07-16) | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Gary Kemp chronology | ||||
| ||||
INSOLO is the second solo studio album of Gary Kemp, the former guitarist and songwriter of Spandau Ballet. The album was released on 16 July 2021, on Columbia Records, and was produced and mixed by Gary Kemp and Toby Chapman.
Composition
The music, in contrast to the Irish folk instrumentation of his first album, reflects Kemp's time spent playing in Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets and his teenage pre-Spandau Ballet influences. Kemp told Jo Kendall of Prog, "There are 70s references on the whole album, and I'm pushing the guitar and psychedelia to the fore".
The album reflects Kemp's growing obsession with life seen through a rear view mirror after passing his 60th birthday and "confronting the past". Charlotte Cripps of The Independent noted, "Kemp's attachment to Spandau Ballet and the band's long goodbye may have meant it's taken 25 years for him to release more new work on his own. But perhaps INSOLO will help him to put the 1980s to rest, once and for all."
For his part, Kemp confirmed during press promotion for INSOLO that this album signalled the end of any further collaboration with Spandau Ballet. He told Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph that "We have no creative energy together, the lead protagonists have no communication, it's just a lie. So it's over. It's over. We are never going to get back together."
The two songs, "In Solo" and "The Haunted", drew inspiration from Edward Hopper's 1932 painting Room in New York.
Singles and promotion
"Ahead of the Game", the first UK single release, was released on 2 April 2021. The video was directed by Charles Lightening. An extended 8 minute 28 second remix was later released.
"Too Much" was the second single, released on 2 June 2021. The video was again directed by Lightening and featured the Royal Ballet soloist Meaghan Grace Hinkis.
The third UK single, "Waiting for the Band", was inspired by David Bowie's the 1980 Floor Show, which the 14-year-old Kemp attended at the Marquee Club in October 1973. The recording features archive London Weekend Television interview clips of Bowie fans outside his 1978 Earl's Court concert. Kemp's brother and former Spandau Ballet bandmate Martin Kemp contributed bass guitar "for the narrative".
"I Remember You" was released in the UK on 5 October 2021.
Kemp recorded a BBC Radio 2 live session for Zoe Ball featuring "Too Much", a cover of Jimmy Webb's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and "True".
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Arts Desk |   |
| Mojo | |
| Record Collector | |
| Uncut | 6/10 |
INSOLO received mixed reviews from critics. The Daily Telegraph music critic Neil McCormick wrote that INSOLO "is an intricate, mature and soulful piece of work, which blends melodic songcraft with luscious arrangements reminiscent of 70s prog rock stylists like Steely Dan and Pink Floyd". David Chiu of Newsweek described it as "eloquent and poignant". The Times' Will Hodgkinson awarded the album a four-star rating, describing it as "nostalgic, wistful and filled with a gloriously romantic sense of despair and futility".
In contrast, in The Times' sister paper The Sunday Times, Lisa Verrico described it as "a perplexing blend of prog guitars, jazzy sax, cinematic strings, French horn and vocals that veer from dramatically breathy to blandly bluesy". John Bungey of Mojo described the album as "1970s–80s AOR, lushly upholstered and hook-laden". He highlighted the title track, "I Am the Past" and "I Remember You" as stand-out tracks, but concluded, "anyone expecting echoes of wayward genius/madman Syd Barrett amid Insolo's smooth contours will be disappointed". Thomas H Green of The Arts Desk called INSOLO "one of the worst albums I've ever heard, showcasing Kemp as the most awful M.O.R indulgent", and "a place where post-Eighties prog rock skitters into West Coast FM radio smoothness, yacht rock, and tepid jazziness" with "clunkily expounded existential narratives".
Track listing
All tracks are written by Gary Kemp
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "In Solo" | 6.23 |
| 2. | "A Rumour of You" | 5.36 |
| 3. | "Waiting for the Band" | 5.28 |
| 4. | "Ahead of the Game" | 3.53 |
| 5. | "I Remember You" | 3.47 |
| 6. | "Too Much" | 4.15 |
| 7. | "The Fastest Man in the World" | 4.29 |
| 8. | "I Am the Past" | 4.36 |
| 9. | "The Feet of Mercury" | 3.32 |
| 10. | "The Haunted" | 6.02 |
| 11. | "Our Light" | 4.06 |
Personnel
- Gary Kemp - vocals, all guitars (2, 6), programming (1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), backing vocals, strings arrangement (1, 3, 6, 7)
- Toby Chapman - piano (1, 10), organ (1, 10), keyboards & programming, backing vocals, strings arrangement (1, 3, 6, 7)
- Guy Pratt - bass (1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- Ged Lynch - drums (1, 5) & percussion (1, 5, 10)
- Matt Clifford - French horn (1, 6, 8)
- Lee Harris - lap steel (2)
- Martin Kemp - bass (3)
- Theo Travis - saxophone (3)
- Richard Jones - bass (4, 6)
- Ash Soan - drums (4, 7, 8, 10, 11)
- Lily Carassik - trumpet (5)
- Roger Taylor - drums (6)
- Rob Taggart - string arrangement (1, 3, 6, 7)
- Bryony James - cello
- Chris Worsey - cello
- Emma Owens - violas
- Polly Wiltshire - violas
- Emma Parker - violins (leader)
- Glesni Roberts - violins
- Jackie Hartley - violins
- Laura Melhuish - violins
- Richard George - violins
- Cat Parker - violins
- Andy Corns - guitar tech
- Phil Knights - copyist
- Kate Griffiths - archive research
- Malcolm Venville - cover photography
Charts
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums (OCC) | 43 |
References
- Kendall, Jo. "Gary Kemp". Prog. No. 121. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- Cripps, Charlotte (14 July 2021). "Gary Kemp: 'My younger self is trapped in a bell jar'". The Independent. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ McCormick, Neil (18 July 2021). "Gary Kemp: 'Spandau Ballet are never getting back together'". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- "Gary Kemp on making 'INSOLO,' his first new solo LP in 25 years". Newsweek. 2021-07-22. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
- Kemp, Gary (28 May 2021). "Gary Kemp reveals the story behind his upcoming solo record, 'Waiting For The Band'". GQ (British edition). Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- Earls, John (2021-08-05). "Gary Kemp interview (exclusive)". Classic Pop. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ Green, Thomas H (14 July 2021). "Album: Gary Kemp – Insolo". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ Bungey, John (September 2021). "Gary Kemp – Insolo". Mojo. p. 78.
- Clarke, Ed (September 2021). "Gary Kemp – Insolo". Record Collector. p. 115.
- Staunton, Terry (September 2021). "Gary Kemp – Insolo". Uncut. p. 28.
- Chiu, David (22 July 2021). "Gary Kemp on making 'INSOLO,' his first new solo LP in 25 years". Newsweek. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- Cairns, Dan; Verrico, Lisa; Edwards, Mark; Davies, Clive (22 July 2021). "The best albums of the week: Prince, David Crosby and more". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.