This article is about the Pieter Nooten and Michael Brook album. For the term "sleep with the fishes", see cement shoes.
Sleeps with the Fishes is the lone collaborative album from Clan of Xymox founding member Pieter Nooten and Canadian guitarist/producerMichael Brook, released by 4AD on 12 October 1987.[1] Intended as Nooten's debut solo album after a brief split from Clan of Xymox, the record turned into a collaboration with Brook after a suggestion from 4AD label founder and boss Ivo Watts-Russell. Though not a huge commercial success, Sleeps with the Fishes was described by AllMusic as "essential listening for fans of 4AD, ambient music, minimalism, experimental electronic music, and morose themes alike... an overlooked masterpiece."[2]
According to Martin Aston's 2013 book Facing the Other Way: The Story of 4AD, the genesis of the album formed after Pieter Nooten left Clan of Xymox in 1987 (leader Ronny Moorings subsequently restored the band's name to simply 'Xymox').[3] "For me, Pieter was the heart of Xymox, and taking him out, they became much more like their influences. Pieter was more interested in classical music at that point," said Ivo Watts-Russell.[3] Nooten had told Watts-Russell that he had some "basic, but still intimate, melancholic material," which the label boss had appreciated and responded with the offer of making a solo album.[3] Watts-Russell chose London's Blackwing Studios as the recording location, but Nooten claims he "couldn't bring anything fresh to [the recordings]... we needed new blood."[3] Watts-Russell was a fan of the Editions EG Records label, and suggested Canadianambient guitarist and producer Michael Brook, whose debut album Hybrid (featuring Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois) had caught the label boss's ear. "Michael's input was so large, it became a joint record... I was really enjoying Brian Eno and Michael's first album, so I loved releasing something in that vein, combined with Pieter's melodies," said Watts-Russell.[4] Nooten hailed Brook as "the ultimate producer - calm, thoughtful, highly skilled and, above all, a brilliant guitarist. We shared the same approach to the material: subtle, sensitive, thoughtful, intimate and intense."[5] A number of tracks on Sleeps with the Fishes were re-recorded from previous Clan of Xymox contributions: "Equal Ways" from 1985's Clan of Xymox, and "After the Call" and "Theme I" (herein renamed "Clouds" and featuring vocals and lyrics) from 1986's Medusa.[5]
Sleeps with the Fishes was released as 4AD catalog number CAD 710 in October 1987 on vinyl LP and CD in the United Kingdom (a reissue of the CD briefly appeared in 1998, with revised tray and disc artwork and the "reissue catalog number" of GAD 710).[1]
The album features a roster of 4AD alum and session musicians, including violinist Gini Ball, vocalist Alison Limerick, and percussionists Peter Ulrich and John Fryer, all of whom had performed as part of the 4AD supergroup This Mortal Coil across three albums: 1984's It'll End in Tears, 1986's Filigree & Shadow, and 1991's Blood. Additionally, Nooten and vocalist Deirdre Rutkowski performed a version of "Several Times I" as part of This Mortal Coil on the collective's album Blood in 1991. The artwork for Sleeps with the Fishes was designed by Vaughan Oliver, with calligraphy by graphic designer Chris Bigg and photography by Diana Grandi and Sarah Tucker.[2]
Following the album's release, Nooten rejoined the rebranded Xymox, now signed to Wing/PolyGram Records, for their third and fourth albums, Twist of Shadows (1989) and Phoenix (1991), with the latter album featuring guitar from Brook on two tracks.[6] Brook would continue producing and recording, including three further albums on 4AD: Cobalt Blue and Live at the Aquarium in 1992,[7] and the motion picture soundtrack for the film Albino Alligator in 1997.[8]
AllMusic's Tim DiGravina awarded the album 4 out of 5 stars, praising that, "It's hard to imagine this collaboration between [Nooten and Brook] working any better. Sleeps with the Fishes comprises 15 excellent, moody soundscapes, given depth by Nooten's subtle vocals and instrumentation that sounds piped in from some dreamy other world. Brook's guitar rings and chimes, sounding cleaner, and his guitar work is more precise than ever. Synthesizers creep in and around the vocals and guitar to stunning effect. The album seems to define the word 'mysterious.'" DiGravina concludes, "Sleeps with the Fishes could not be a more perfect dark ambient, experimental album. It's essential listening for fans of 4AD, ambient music, minimalism, experimental electronic music, and morose themes alike. This album is an overlooked masterpiece."[2] Jason Morehead of music blog Opus said of the album, "Sleeps with the Fishes is adept at taking what should be morose music and converts it into something resplendent. And it maintains that sad, beautiful sensation throughout its length. Not too many albums have such a perfectly-realized mood and atmosphere, one that draws you into its haunting world and stays with you long after the last song ends. But Sleeps with the Fishes is just such an album. And though some of its content delves into the goth and ambient genres, it easily avoids the former's self-indulgent melodramatics and the latter's vacuousness."[9]
Sleeps with the Fishes also holds high rank with 4AD founder Ivo Watts-Russell, who said, "Among the forum world of 4AD followers, some people think it's 4AD's best record. I'd place it in the top ten. It's absolutely beautiful. So is the sleeve, with Chris Bigg's embossed calligraphy."[5] The album is also a favorite and inspiration to Warren Defever, whose art rock project His Name Is Alive would sign with 4AD in 1990. Defever singles out Sleeps with the Fishes and fellow 4AD releases Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares by the Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir and This Mortal Coil's cover of "Song to the Siren" as most influential, and told Martin Aston in Facing the Other Way: The Story of 4AD in 2013, "Twenty-five years later, they still seem just as important, inspirational, bewildering and mystifying."[11]
Aston, Martin. Facing the Other Way: The Story of 4AD. The Friday Project, 2013. ISBN978-0-007-48961-9
March 24, 2023
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This article is about the Pieter Nooten and Michael Brook album For the term sleep with the fishes see cement shoes Sleeps with the Fishes is the lone collaborative album from Clan of Xymox founding member Pieter Nooten and Canadian guitarist producer Michael Brook released by 4AD on 12 October 1987 1 Intended as Nooten s debut solo album after a brief split from Clan of Xymox the record turned into a collaboration with Brook after a suggestion from 4AD label founder and boss Ivo Watts Russell Though not a huge commercial success Sleeps with the Fishes was described by AllMusic as essential listening for fans of 4AD ambient music minimalism experimental electronic music and morose themes alike an overlooked masterpiece 2 Sleeps with the FishesStudio album by Pieter Nooten and Michael BrookReleased12 October 1987 1987 10 12 Recorded1987StudioBlackwing Studios London EnglandGenreDark wave ambient gothic rockLength47 38LanguageEnglishLabel4ADProducerMichael BrookPieter Nooten chronologySleeps with the Fishes 1987 Hanggliding 1992 Michael Brook chronologyHybrid 1985 Sleeps with the Fishes 1987 Mustt Mustt 1990 Contents 1 Background 2 Reception 3 Track listing 4 Credits 4 1 Musicians 4 2 Production 5 Notes 6 ReferencesBackground EditAccording to Martin Aston s 2013 book Facing the Other Way The Story of 4AD the genesis of the album formed after Pieter Nooten left Clan of Xymox in 1987 leader Ronny Moorings subsequently restored the band s name to simply Xymox 3 For me Pieter was the heart of Xymox and taking him out they became much more like their influences Pieter was more interested in classical music at that point said Ivo Watts Russell 3 Nooten had told Watts Russell that he had some basic but still intimate melancholic material which the label boss had appreciated and responded with the offer of making a solo album 3 Watts Russell chose London s Blackwing Studios as the recording location but Nooten claims he couldn t bring anything fresh to the recordings we needed new blood 3 Watts Russell was a fan of the Editions EG Records label and suggested Canadian ambient guitarist and producer Michael Brook whose debut album Hybrid featuring Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois had caught the label boss s ear Michael s input was so large it became a joint record I was really enjoying Brian Eno and Michael s first album so I loved releasing something in that vein combined with Pieter s melodies said Watts Russell 4 Nooten hailed Brook as the ultimate producer calm thoughtful highly skilled and above all a brilliant guitarist We shared the same approach to the material subtle sensitive thoughtful intimate and intense 5 A number of tracks on Sleeps with the Fishes were re recorded from previous Clan of Xymox contributions Equal Ways from 1985 s Clan of Xymox and After the Call and Theme I herein renamed Clouds and featuring vocals and lyrics from 1986 s Medusa 5 Sleeps with the Fishes was released as 4AD catalog number CAD 710 in October 1987 on vinyl LP and CD in the United Kingdom a reissue of the CD briefly appeared in 1998 with revised tray and disc artwork and the reissue catalog number of GAD 710 1 The album features a roster of 4AD alum and session musicians including violinist Gini Ball vocalist Alison Limerick and percussionists Peter Ulrich and John Fryer all of whom had performed as part of the 4AD supergroup This Mortal Coil across three albums 1984 s It ll End in Tears 1986 s Filigree amp Shadow and 1991 s Blood Additionally Nooten and vocalist Deirdre Rutkowski performed a version of Several Times I as part of This Mortal Coil on the collective s album Blood in 1991 The artwork for Sleeps with the Fishes was designed by Vaughan Oliver with calligraphy by graphic designer Chris Bigg and photography by Diana Grandi and Sarah Tucker 2 Following the album s release Nooten rejoined the rebranded Xymox now signed to Wing PolyGram Records for their third and fourth albums Twist of Shadows 1989 and Phoenix 1991 with the latter album featuring guitar from Brook on two tracks 6 Brook would continue producing and recording including three further albums on 4AD Cobalt Blue and Live at the Aquarium in 1992 7 and the motion picture soundtrack for the film Albino Alligator in 1997 8 Reception EditProfessional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic 2 Opusvery positive 9 Peek a Boo10 10 10 AllMusic s Tim DiGravina awarded the album 4 out of 5 stars praising that It s hard to imagine this collaboration between Nooten and Brook working any better Sleeps with the Fishes comprises 15 excellent moody soundscapes given depth by Nooten s subtle vocals and instrumentation that sounds piped in from some dreamy other world Brook s guitar rings and chimes sounding cleaner and his guitar work is more precise than ever Synthesizers creep in and around the vocals and guitar to stunning effect The album seems to define the word mysterious DiGravina concludes Sleeps with the Fishes could not be a more perfect dark ambient experimental album It s essential listening for fans of 4AD ambient music minimalism experimental electronic music and morose themes alike This album is an overlooked masterpiece 2 Jason Morehead of music blog Opus said of the album Sleeps with the Fishes is adept at taking what should be morose music and converts it into something resplendent And it maintains that sad beautiful sensation throughout its length Not too many albums have such a perfectly realized mood and atmosphere one that draws you into its haunting world and stays with you long after the last song ends But Sleeps with the Fishes is just such an album And though some of its content delves into the goth and ambient genres it easily avoids the former s self indulgent melodramatics and the latter s vacuousness 9 Sleeps with the Fishes also holds high rank with 4AD founder Ivo Watts Russell who said Among the forum world of 4AD followers some people think it s 4AD s best record I d place it in the top ten It s absolutely beautiful So is the sleeve with Chris Bigg s embossed calligraphy 5 The album is also a favorite and inspiration to Warren Defever whose art rock project His Name Is Alive would sign with 4AD in 1990 Defever singles out Sleeps with the Fishes and fellow 4AD releases Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares by the Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir and This Mortal Coil s cover of Song to the Siren as most influential and told Martin Aston in Facing the Other Way The Story of 4AD in 2013 Twenty five years later they still seem just as important inspirational bewildering and mystifying 11 Track listing EditAll tracks are written by Pieter Nooten No TitleLength1 Several Times I 3 022 Searching 3 233 The Choice 4 294 After the Call 5 165 Finally II 1 536 Instrumental 3 537 Suddenly II 1 308 Suddenly I 2 369 Clouds 4 2710 Finally I 3 4911 Several Times II 2 0512 Equal Ways 5 0013 These Waves 3 1214 Time 1 5115 Several Times III 1 13Total length 47 38Credits EditMusicians Edit Pieter Nooten keyboards vocals Michael Brook infinite guitars keyboards buzz bass Gini Ball violin Tim Eaton oboe John Fryer percussion on Suddenly Alison Limerick vocals on Equal Ways Audrey Riley cello Rob Suters string arrangements piano Peter Ulrich percussionProduction Edit Recording personnelMichael Brook producer engineer Nigel K Hine additional engineering Brian Eno and Jean Philippe Rykiel DX7 soundsArtworkVaughan Oliver sleeve art direction and design Chris Bigg calligraphy Diana Grandi back sleeve photograph Sarah Tucker inner sleeve photographNotes Edit a b 4AD Sleeps With The Fishes by Pieter Nooten And Michael Brook Retrieved 30 October 2015 a b c d DiGravina Tim Sleeps with the Fishes Nooten Brook Songs Reviews Credits AllMusic Retrieved 30 October 2015 a b c d Aston pg 256 Aston pgs 256 and 257 a b c Aston pg 257 Henderson Alex Phoenix Xymox Songs Reviews Credits AllMusic Retrieved 30 October 2015 4AD Michael Brook Retrieved 30 October 2015 Raggett Ned Albino Alligator Michael Brook Songs Reviews Credits AllMusic Retrieved 30 October 2015 a b Morehead Jason 30 June 2001 Sleeps With The Fishes by Pieter Nooten Michael Brook Review Retrieved 30 October 2015 Becu Didier 23 June 2014 Pieter Nooten Classics Sleeps with the Fishes Retrieved 23 March 2016 Aston pg 324References EditAston Martin Facing the Other Way The Story of 4AD The Friday Project 2013 ISBN 978 0 007 48961 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sleeps with the Fishes amp oldid 1001962924, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
