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| {{Infobox album | |||
| {{italic title}} | |||
| | name = INSOLO | |||
| ⚫ | '''''INSOLO''''' is the second solo studio album of ], |
||
| | type = studio | |||
| | artist = ] | |||
| | cover = | |||
| | 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 web|title=Gary Kemp|url=https://pocketmags.com/prog-magazine/issue-121/articles/1004622/gary-kemp|access-date=2021-11-27|website=pocketmags.com}}</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|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|newspaper=]|language=en}}</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>{{Cite news|last=McCormick|first=Neil|authorlink=Neil McCormick|date=2021-07-18|title=Gary Kemp: 'Spandau Ballet are never getting back together'|language=en-GB|newspaper=]|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> | |||
| ⚫ | The two songs, In Solo and The Haunted, drew inspiration from ] |
||
| ⚫ | The two songs, "In Solo" and "The Haunted", drew inspiration from ]'s 1932 painting '']''.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} | ||
| ⚫ | 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 Charles 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 web|last=Nast|first=Condé|date=2021-05-28|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=2021-11-27|website=British GQ|language=en-GB}}</ref> The recording features archive ] interview clips of Bowie fans outside his 1978 ] concert. Kemp's brother and former Spandau Ballet bandamate ] contributed bass guitar "for the narrative".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-05|title=Gary Kemp interview (exclusive)|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2021/08/gary-kemp-interview/|access-date=2021-11-27|website=Classic Pop Magazine}}</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 == | ||
| ''The Daily Telegraph'' music critic Neil McCormick wrote that INSOLO |
''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 ] and ]".<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 four-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> | ||
| == Track listing == | == Track listing == | ||
| Line 82: | Line 103: | ||
| * Kate Griffiths - archive research | * Kate Griffiths - archive research | ||
| * Malcolm Venville - cover photography | * Malcolm Venville - cover photography | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 14:22, 2 December 2021
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 Charles 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 bandamate 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
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". 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 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". David Chiu of Newsweek described it as "eloquent and poignant".
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 - strings 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
References
- "Gary Kemp". pocketmags.com. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
- "Gary Kemp: 'My younger self is trapped in a bell jar'". The Independent. 2021-07-14. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
- McCormick, Neil (2021-07-18). "Gary Kemp: 'Spandau Ballet are never getting back together'". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
- Nast, Condé (2021-05-28). "Gary Kemp reveals the story behind his upcoming solo record, 'Waiting For The Band'". British GQ. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
- "Gary Kemp interview (exclusive)". Classic Pop Magazine. 2021-08-05. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
- McCormick, Neil (2021-07-18). "Gary Kemp: 'Spandau Ballet are never getting back together'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
- Davies, Dan Cairns | Lisa Verrico | Mark Edwards | Clive. "The best albums of the week: Prince, David Crosby and more". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
- "Gary Kemp on making 'INSOLO,' his first new solo LP in 25 years". Newsweek. 2021-07-22. Retrieved 2021-11-27.