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{{Short description|Album by Chicane}}
{{Infobox Album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
| Name = Somersault
{{Infobox album
| Type = Studio
| name = Somersault
| Artist = [[Chicane (recording artist)|Chicane]]
| Cover = Chicane_somersault.jpg
| type = Studio
| artist = [[Chicane (musician)|Chicane]]
| Released = 23 July 2007
| Recorded =
| cover = Chicane_somersault.jpg
| alt =
| Genre = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[Electronic dance music|dance]]
| Length = 42:13
| released = 23 July 2007
| Label = Modena
| recorded =
| studio =
| Producer = Nick Bracegirdle, Richard Searle, [[Ray Hedges]], Nigel Butler, [[Steve Osborne]]<ref name="discogs">{{cite web | author = | year = | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/1023670 | title = Chicane - Somersault | format = | work = | publisher = [[Discogs]] | accessdate = 2007-08-04 }}</ref>
| genre = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[Electronic dance music|dance]]
| Last album = ''[[Behind the Sun (Chicane album)|Behind the Sun]]''<br /> (2000)
| length = 42:13
| This album = '''''Somersault'''''<br /> (2007)
| label = Modena
| Next album = ''[[Giants (album)|Giants]]''<br /> (2010)
| Misc = {{Singles
| producer =
* Nick Bracegirdle
| Name = Somersault
* Richard Searle
| Type = studio
* [[Ray Hedges]]
| single 1 = Stoned in Love
* Nigel Butler
| single 1 date = April 24th, 2006
* [[Steve Osborne]]<ref name="discogs">{{cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/1023670 | title = Chicane - Somersault | date = 23 July 2007 | publisher = [[Discogs]] | accessdate = 2007-08-04 }}</ref>
| single 2 = Come Tomorrow
| prev_title = [[Easy to Assemble (album)|Easy to Assemble]]
| single 2 date = July 16th, 2007
| prev_year = 2003
}}
| next_title = [[The Best of Chicane: 1996–2008]]
| next_year = 2008
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Somersault
| type = studio
| single1 = [[Stoned in Love]]
| single1date = 17 April 2006
| single2 = Come Tomorrow
| single2date = 16 July 2007
}}
}}
}}


'''''Somersault''''' is [[Chicane (recording artist)|Chicane]]'s third official studio album, released on 23 July 2007.<ref name="SmithGary">Smith, Gary (2007) "Turning the Corner", ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'', 21 July 2007, p.38</ref> It is Chicane's first album self-released on producer and songwriter Nick Bracegirdle's independent record label, Modena Records.<ref name="bang">{{cite web | author = Sole, Kate | date = 20 July 2007 | url = http://home.eircom.net/content/bang/eNews/10780921?view=Standard | title = Chicane shine on | format = | work = | publisher = BANG Media International | accessdate = 2007-07-22 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070929142031/http://home.eircom.net/content/bang/eNews/10780921?view=Standard <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-09-29}}</ref>
'''''Somersault''''' is the third studio album by British [[electronic music]] artist [[Chicane (musician)|Chicane]], released on 23 July 2007.<ref name="SmithGary">Smith, Gary (2007) "Turning the Corner", ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'', 21 July 2007, p.38</ref> It is Chicane's first album to be self-released on his record label, Modena Records.<ref name="bang">{{cite web|author=Sole, Kate |date=20 July 2007 |url=http://home.eircom.net/content/bang/eNews/10780921?view=Standard |title=Chicane shine on |publisher=BANG Media International |access-date=2007-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929142031/http://home.eircom.net/content/bang/eNews/10780921?view=Standard |archive-date=29 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==History==
==History==
"[[Stoned in Love]]", the first officially released song from ''Somersault'', was first heard as a single in April 2006, at which time little was known about the then-untitled album. Several other songs that were to appear on the album were first played live by Chicane in concerts during the same month; one of these songs, "Come Tomorrow", was announced as the follow-up single at this time.<ref name="manchester">{{cite web | author = Edwards, Mark | date = April 23, 2006 | url = http://www.chicane.cc/live220406.htm | title = Pictures | work = | publisher = | accessdate = 2007-07-22 }}</ref> It was released on July 16, 2007.
"[[Stoned in Love]]", the first officially released song from ''Somersault'', was first heard as a single in April 2006, at which time little was known about the then-untitled album. Several other songs that were to appear on the album were first played live by Chicane in concerts during the same month; one of these songs, "Come Tomorrow", was announced as the follow-up single at this time.<ref name="manchester">{{cite web | author = Edwards, Mark | date = April 23, 2006 | url = http://www.chicane.cc/live220406.htm | title = Pictures | access-date = 2007-07-22 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929143039/http://www.chicane.cc/live220406.htm | archive-date = September 29, 2007 }}</ref> It was released on July 16, 2007.


In February 2007, Chicane's official website announced his departure from Universal Records, the label that released "Stoned in Love", and the subsequent scheduled release of "Come Tomorrow" and the forthcoming album on Modena; the title ''Somersault'' was subsequently announced in March.<ref name="official">{{cite web | author = | year = | url = http://www.modenarecords.com/ | title = News | format = | work = | publisher = Modenarecords.com | accessdate = 2007-07-22 }}</ref>
In February 2007, Chicane's official website announced his departure from Universal Records, the label that released "Stoned in Love", and the subsequent scheduled release of "Come Tomorrow" and the forthcoming album on Modena; the title ''Somersault'' was subsequently announced in March.<ref name="official">{{cite web| url =http://www.modenarecords.com/| title =News| publisher =Modenarecords.com| access-date =2007-07-22| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070824234355/http://www.modenarecords.com/| archive-date =2007-08-24}}</ref>


Two of the tracks on the album, "Arizona" and "Spirit", are taken from the ''Easy to Assemble'' album, which was never officially released after it was widely pirated.<ref name="Sinclair">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/frontier-lawmen-1050557.html|title=If the internet is the Wild West of the digital age, then musicians need new-fangled gunslingers to protect them|publisher=''[[The Independent]]''|author=Sinclair, David|date=2007-08-03|accessdate=2011-08-28}}</ref> Fifty review copies were sent out before the record label [[Warner Music Group|WEA]] changed hands leading to the departure of the [[Artist and repertoire|A&R]] manager and music director who had signed him, and its release was put on hold while Bracegirdle negotiated an exit from his contract.<ref name="SmithGary" /> The album was subsequently uploaded to a [[peer-to-peer]] site and pirated by Russian criminals to such an extent that it was felt that it was not worth releasing it officially.<ref name="Sinclair"/> He self-financed ''Somersault'', raising almost £400,000 by selling his [[Ferrari]] and remortgaging his house, and when it was released he employed the company [[Web Sheriff]] to monitor and close down sites that were distributing the album illegally.<ref name="SmithGary" /><ref name="Sinclair"/>
Two of the tracks on the album, "Arizona" and "Spirit", are taken from the ''Easy to Assemble'' album, which was never officially released after it was widely pirated.<ref name="Sinclair">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/frontier-lawmen-1050557.html|title=If the internet is the Wild West of the digital age, then musicians need new-fangled gunslingers to protect them|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|author=Sinclair, David|date=2007-08-03|accessdate=2011-08-28}}</ref> Fifty review copies were sent out before the record label [[Warner Music Group|WEA]] changed hands leading to the departure of the [[Artist and repertoire|A&R]] manager and music director who had signed him, and its release was put on hold while Bracegirdle negotiated an exit from his contract.<ref name="SmithGary" /> The album was subsequently uploaded to a [[peer-to-peer]] site and pirated by Russian criminals to such an extent that it was felt that it was not worth releasing it officially.<ref name="Sinclair"/> He self-financed ''Somersault'', raising almost £400,000 by selling his [[Ferrari]] and remortgaging his house, and when it was released he employed the company [[Web Sheriff]] to monitor and close down sites that were distributing the album illegally.<ref name="SmithGary" /><ref name="Sinclair"/>

==Reception==
{{Music ratings
|rev1 = [[BBC]]
|rev1score = neutral<ref name="Jackman">Jackman, Robert (2007) "[https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/mh25 Chicane Somersault Review]", [[BBC]], 20 July 2007, retrieved 25 November 2009</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[Birmingham Mail]]''
|rev2score = neutral<ref name="BRUM">"Albums", ''[[Birmingham Mail]]'', 4 August 2007, p. 34</ref>
|rev3 = ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]''
|rev3score = favourable<ref name="DR">Fulton, Rick (2007) "ALBUMS ; singles and albums", ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]'', 27 July 2007, p. 53</ref>
|rev4 = ''[[Evening Standard]]''
|rev4score = favourable<ref name="Elwell-Sutton">Elwell-Sutton, Chris (2007) "CDs of the Week: Chicane - Somersault", ''[[Evening Standard]]'', 20 July 2007</ref>
|rev5 = ''Mansized''
|rev5score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="Jobling">Jobling, John (2007) "[http://www.mansized.co.uk/reviews/review.phtml/624/751/ Chicane – Somersault: The dance architect’s so called foray into rockier territory goes all Pete Tong] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614055022/http://www.mansized.co.uk/reviews/review.phtml/624/751/ |date=2008-06-14 }}", Mansized, 19 July 2007, retrieved 25 November 2009</ref>
|rev6 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
|rev6score = {{rating|1|5}}<ref>(August 2007)</ref>
}}

''Somersault'' received mixed reviews from most music critics. ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' magazine gave ''Somersault'' one star out of five in its August 2007 issue, criticizing it for being "old-fashioned" in both "[[house music|house]]" tracks such as "Always" and "Time of Your Life" and "[[Alternative dance|indie-dance]]" tracks such as "Come Tomorrow"—which was nevertheless recommended as a download.<ref name="q">{{Cite news | last=Segal | first=Victoria | date=August 2007 | title=Chicane - Come Tomorrow | periodical=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] | issue=253 | pages=91 | issn= 0955-4955 }}</ref> [[Virgin Media]]'s album review gave the same rating, also citing a lack of innovation, though it is suggested that those of the "[[Ibiza]] crowd" could appreciate it.<ref name="virgin">{{cite web | author = O'Leary, Matt | url = http://www.virginmedia.com/music/reviews/albumreviews/chicane-somersault.php | title = Chicane: Somersault review | publisher = [[Virgin Media]] | accessdate = 2007-08-17 }}</ref> UK [[fanzine]] ''High Voltage'' offered a rating of three out of five, with similar critique: "Bracegirdle's stubborn, yet kind of heroic refusal to divert from his initial blueprint has seen him become a dinosaur." It also goes on to suggest that the album's "purity" will continue to gain favour with "its demographic"—in reference to [[nightclub]] goers.<ref name="highvoltage">{{cite web|author=Morton, James |url=http://www.highvoltage.org.uk/displaydemoreview.asp?num=2891&band=1849 |title=Chicane: - Somersault |publisher=High Voltage |access-date=2007-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070913211554/http://www.highvoltage.org.uk/displaydemoreview.asp?num=2891&band=1849 |archive-date=2007-09-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Entertainment guide IndieLondon, however, expressed skepticism that the album would stand out to clubbers, cautioning that it "could just as easily alienate [Bracegirdle's] fans", using "Come Tomorrow", "Nothing", and "Arizona" as examples of songs that attempt to vary from the Ibiza sound but do not fully transcend to new genres.<ref name="indielondon">{{cite web | author = Foley, Jack | url = http://www.indielondon.co.uk/Music-Review/chicane-somersault | title = Chicane: - Somersault | publisher = IndieLondon | accessdate = 2007-08-18 }}</ref> Other reviews were generally unenthusiastic about the album,<ref name="Jobling" /><ref name="Jackman" /><ref name="BRUM" /> although the ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]'' was more favourable, describing it as a "summertastic album, perfect for iPod listening during days of recovery on the beach".<ref name="DR" /> The ''[[Daily Express]]'' noted the shift in style towards more song-based tracks, comparing the structures of the songs to [[Coldplay]] and [[Keane (band)|Keane]], while adding "This album might veer towards the middle of the road, but it's technically flawless."<ref name="Express">"CD Round-Up", ''[[Daily Express]]'', 20 July 2007</ref> The ''Evening Standard'' while giving it a favourable review, nevertheless stated "It's all good stuff, really just don't expect much by way of originality".<ref name="Elwell-Sutton" />


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
Line 36: Line 64:


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
{{Track listing
All songs written by Nick Bracegirdle except those noted otherwise.<ref name="discogs" />
| extra_column = Producer(s)


| title1 = [[Stoned in Love]]
# "[[Stoned in Love]]" (featuring [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]]) (John Pickering, Nick Bracegirdle, Nigel Butler, Ray Hedges, Tom Jones) – 5:02
| note1 = featuring [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]]
# "U R Always" ([[Ernesto Lecuona]], [[Kim Gannon]], Bracegirdle, Butler, Hedges) – 5:25
| writer1 = [[Chicane (musician)|Nick Bracegirdle]], [[Ray Hedges]], Nigel Butler, John Pickering, Tom Jones
# "Come Tomorrow" – 4:47
| extra1 = Chicane, Hedges{{ref|a|[a]}}, [[Steve Osborne]]{{ref|a|[a]}}
# "Nothing" – 4:09
| length1 = 5:02
# "Arizona" – 3:01
# "Spirit" (featuring [[Jewel (singer)|Jewel]]) (Bracegirdle, [[Absolute (production team)|Tracy Ackerman]]) – 4:38
# "Turning Corners" – 3:58
# "Far Away from You" (Humphrey Miles, Bracegirdle) – 3:48
# "Way I'm Feelin'" (Bracegirdle, Butler, Hedges) – 4:52
# "Time of Your Life" – 2:33


| title2 = U R Always
"U R Always" is credited to Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona and American lyricist [[Kim Gannon|James "Kim" Gannon]] due to its incorporation of a vocal performance of the song "Always in My Heart" by [[Nana Mouskouri]]. (Previously, the English band [[Bent (band)|Bent]] made similar use of the song in their 2000 single, "Always".)
| writer2 = Bracegirdle, Hedges, Butler, [[Ernesto Lecuona]], [[Kim Gannon]]
| extra2 = Chicane, Richard Searle{{ref|a|[a]}}, Hedges{{ref|a|[a]}}, Butler{{ref|a|[a]}}
| length2 = 5:25


| title3 = Come Tomorrow
==Reception==
| writer3 = Bracegirdle
{{Album ratings
| extra3 = Chicane, Searle{{ref|a|[a]}}
|rev1 = [[Q Magazine]]
| length3 = 4:47
|rev1Score = {{rating|1|5}}<ref>(August 2007)</ref>

|rev2 = Mansized
| title4 = Nothing
|rev2Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="Jobling">Jobling, John (2007) "[http://www.mansized.co.uk/reviews/review.phtml/624/751/ Chicane – Somersault: The dance architect’s so called foray into rockier territory goes all Pete Tong]", Mansized, 19 July 2007, retrieved 25 November 2009</ref>
| writer4 = Bracegirdle
|rev3 = [[BBC]]
| extra4 = Chicane, Searle{{ref|a|[a]}}
|rev3Score = (neutral)<ref name="Jackman">Jackman, Robert (2007) "[http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/mh25 Chicane Somersault Review]", [[BBC]], 20 July 2007, retrieved 25 November 2009</ref>
| length4 = 4:09
|rev4 = [[Birmingham Mail]]

|rev4Score = (neutral)<ref name="BRUM">"Albums", ''[[Birmingham Mail]]'', 4 August 2007, p. 34</ref>
| title5 = Arizona Pt 2
|rev5 = [[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]
| writer5 = Bracegirdle
|rev5Score = (favourable)<ref name="DR">Fulton, Rick (2007) "ALBUMS ; singles and albums", ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]'', 27 July 2007, p. 53</ref>
| extra5 = Chicane
|rev6 = [[Evening Standard]]
| length5 = 3:01
|rev6Score = (favourable)<ref name="Elwell-Sutton">Elwell-Sutton, Chris (2007) "CDs of the Week: Chicane - Somersault", ''[[Evening Standard]]'', 20 July 2007</ref>

| title6 = Spirit
| note6 = featuring [[Jewel (singer)|Jewel]]
| writer6 = Bracegirdle, [[Absolute (production team)|Tracy Ackerman]]
| extra6 = Chicane
| length6 = 4:38

| title7 = Turning Corners
| writer7 = Bracegirdle
| extra7 = Chicane, Searle{{ref|a|[a]}}
| length7 = 3:58

| title8 = Far Away from You
| writer8 = Bracegirdle, Humphrey Miles
| extra8 = Chicane
| length8 = 3:48

| title9 = Way I'm Feelin{{'-}}
| writer9 = Bracegirdle, Hedges, Butler
| extra9 = Chicane, Searle{{ref|a|[a]}}
| length9 = 4:52

| title10 = Time of Your Life
| writer10 = Bracegirdle
| extra10 = Chicane
| length10 = 2:33
}}
}}


'''Notes'''
Somersault received mixed reviews from most music critics.
* {{small|{{note|a|a}}}} signifies a [[record producer|co-producer]]
''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' magazine gave ''Somersault'' one star out of five in its August 2007 issue, criticizing it for being "old-fashioned" in both "[[house music|house]]" tracks such as "Always" and "Time of Your Life" and "[[Alternative dance|indie-dance]]" tracks such as "Come Tomorrow"—which was nevertheless recommended as a download.<ref name="q">{{Cite news | last=Segal | first=Victoria | author-link= | year=August 2007 | title=Chicane - Come Tomorrow | periodical=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] | volume= | issue=253 | pages=91 | id=ISSN 0955-4955 | url= }}</ref> [[Virgin Media]]'s album review gave the same rating, also citing a lack of innovation, though it is suggested that those of the "[[Ibiza]] crowd" could appreciate it.<ref name="virgin">{{cite web | author = O'Leary, Matt | year = | url = http://www.virginmedia.com/music/reviews/albumreviews/chicane-somersault.php | title = Chicane: Somersault review | format = | work = | publisher = [[Virgin Media]] | accessdate = 2007-08-17 }}</ref> UK [[fanzine]] ''High Voltage'' offered a rating of three out of five, with similar critique: "Bracegirdle's stubborn, yet kind of heroic refusal to divert from his initial blueprint has seen him become a dinosaur." It also goes on to suggest that the album's "purity" will continue to gain favour with "its demographic"—in reference to [[nightclub]] goers.<ref name="highvoltage">{{cite web | author = Morton, James | year = | url = http://www.highvoltage.org.uk/displaydemoreview.asp?num=2891&band=1849 | title = Chicane: - Somersault | format = | work = | publisher = High Voltage | accessdate = 2007-08-17 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070913211554/http://www.highvoltage.org.uk/displaydemoreview.asp?num=2891&band=1849 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-09-13}}</ref> Entertainment guide IndieLondon, however, expressed skepticism that the album would stand out to clubbers, cautioning that it "could just as easily alienate [Bracegirdle's] fans", using "Come Tomorrow", "Nothing", and "Arizona" as examples of songs that attempt to vary from the Ibiza sound but do not fully transcend to new genres.<ref name="indielondon">{{cite web | author = Foley, Jack | year = | url = http://www.indielondon.co.uk/Music-Review/chicane-somersault | title = Chicane: - Somersault | format = | work = | publisher = IndieLondon | accessdate = 2007-08-18 }}</ref> Other reviews were generally unenthusiastic about the album,<ref name="Jackman" /><ref name="BRUM" /><ref name="Jobling" /> although the ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]'' was more favourable, describing it as a "summertastic album, perfect for iPod listening during days of recovery on the beach".<ref name="DR" /> The ''[[Daily Express]]'' noted the shift in style towards more song-based tracks, comparing the structures of the songs to [[Coldplay]] and [[Keane (band)|Keane]], while adding "This album might veer towards the middle of the road, but it's technically flawless."<ref name="Express">"CD Round-Up", ''[[Daily Express]]'', 20 July 2007</ref> The ''Evening Standard'' while giving it a favourable review, nevertheless stated "It's all good stuff, really just don't expect much by way of originality".<ref name="Elwell-Sutton" />
* "U R Always" is credited to Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona and American lyricist [[Kim Gannon|James "Kim" Gannon]] due to its incorporation of a vocal performance of the song "Always in My Heart". (Previously, the English band [[Bent (band)|Bent]] made similar use of the song in their 2000 single, "Always".)


==Charts==
==Notes and references==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
{{reflist}}
|+Chart performance for ''Somersault''
!scope="col"|Chart (2007)
!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|[[UK Album Downloads Chart|UK Album Downloads]] (Official Charts Company)<ref name="uk1">{{cite web|title=Official Album Downloads Chart Top 50|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-downloads-chart/20070729/7003/|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|accessdate=6 April 2019}}</ref>
| 45
|-
!scope="row"|[[UK Dance Chart|UK Dance Albums]] (Official Charts Company)<ref name="uk2">{{cite web|title=Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/dance-albums-chart/20070729/105/|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|accessdate=6 April 2019}}</ref>
| 10
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


{{Chicane}}
{{Chicane}}

{{Authority control}}


[[Category:2007 albums]]
[[Category:2007 albums]]
[[Category:Chicane albums]]
[[Category:Chicane (musician) albums]]
[[Category:Self-released albums]]
[[Category:Self-released albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Steve Osborne]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Steve Osborne]]
[[Category:Albums recorded at Shangri-La (recording studio)]]

Latest revision as of 14:24, 25 March 2024

Somersault
Studio album by
Chicane
Released23 July 2007
GenrePop, dance
Length42:13
LabelModena
Producer
Chicane chronology
Easy to Assemble
(2003) 		Somersault
(2007) 		The Best of Chicane: 1996–2008
(2008)
Singles from Somersault
  1. "Stoned in Love"
    Released: 17 April 2006
  2. "Come Tomorrow"
    Released: 16 July 2007

Somersault is the third studio album by British electronic music artist Chicane, released on 23 July 2007.[2] It is Chicane's first album to be self-released on his record label, Modena Records.[3]

History

[edit]

"Stoned in Love", the first officially released song from Somersault, was first heard as a single in April 2006, at which time little was known about the then-untitled album. Several other songs that were to appear on the album were first played live by Chicane in concerts during the same month; one of these songs, "Come Tomorrow", was announced as the follow-up single at this time.[4] It was released on July 16, 2007.

In February 2007, Chicane's official website announced his departure from Universal Records, the label that released "Stoned in Love", and the subsequent scheduled release of "Come Tomorrow" and the forthcoming album on Modena; the title Somersault was subsequently announced in March.[5]

Two of the tracks on the album, "Arizona" and "Spirit", are taken from the Easy to Assemble album, which was never officially released after it was widely pirated.[6] Fifty review copies were sent out before the record label WEA changed hands leading to the departure of the A&R manager and music director who had signed him, and its release was put on hold while Bracegirdle negotiated an exit from his contract.[2] The album was subsequently uploaded to a peer-to-peer site and pirated by Russian criminals to such an extent that it was felt that it was not worth releasing it officially.[6] He self-financed Somersault, raising almost £400,000 by selling his Ferrari and remortgaging his house, and when it was released he employed the company Web Sheriff to monitor and close down sites that were distributing the album illegally.[2][6]

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
BBCneutral[7]
Birmingham Mailneutral[8]
Daily Recordfavourable[9]
Evening Standardfavourable[10]
Mansized[11]
Q[12]

Somersault received mixed reviews from most music critics. Q magazine gave Somersault one star out of five in its August 2007 issue, criticizing it for being "old-fashioned" in both "house" tracks such as "Always" and "Time of Your Life" and "indie-dance" tracks such as "Come Tomorrow"—which was nevertheless recommended as a download.[13] Virgin Media's album review gave the same rating, also citing a lack of innovation, though it is suggested that those of the "Ibiza crowd" could appreciate it.[14] UK fanzine High Voltage offered a rating of three out of five, with similar critique: "Bracegirdle's stubborn, yet kind of heroic refusal to divert from his initial blueprint has seen him become a dinosaur." It also goes on to suggest that the album's "purity" will continue to gain favour with "its demographic"—in reference to nightclub goers.[15] Entertainment guide IndieLondon, however, expressed skepticism that the album would stand out to clubbers, cautioning that it "could just as easily alienate [Bracegirdle's] fans", using "Come Tomorrow", "Nothing", and "Arizona" as examples of songs that attempt to vary from the Ibiza sound but do not fully transcend to new genres.[16] Other reviews were generally unenthusiastic about the album,[11][7][8] although the Daily Record was more favourable, describing it as a "summertastic album, perfect for iPod listening during days of recovery on the beach".[9] The Daily Express noted the shift in style towards more song-based tracks, comparing the structures of the songs to Coldplay and Keane, while adding "This album might veer towards the middle of the road, but it's technically flawless."[17] The Evening Standard while giving it a favourable review, nevertheless stated "It's all good stuff, really just don't expect much by way of originality".[10]

Personnel

[edit]

In addition to "Stoned in Love", five other songs feature leading male vocals and verse-chorus form lyrics. The singer on these songs (3, 4, 7, 8, 9) is (pseudonym) Jack Starks[1] (whereas no previous album has included multiple songs with the same singer).

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Stoned in Love" (featuring Tom Jones)Nick Bracegirdle, Ray Hedges, Nigel Butler, John Pickering, Tom JonesChicane, Hedges[a], Steve Osborne[a]5:02
2."U R Always"Bracegirdle, Hedges, Butler, Ernesto Lecuona, Kim GannonChicane, Richard Searle[a], Hedges[a], Butler[a]5:25
3."Come Tomorrow"BracegirdleChicane, Searle[a]4:47
4."Nothing"BracegirdleChicane, Searle[a]4:09
5."Arizona Pt 2"BracegirdleChicane3:01
6."Spirit" (featuring Jewel)Bracegirdle, Tracy AckermanChicane4:38
7."Turning Corners"BracegirdleChicane, Searle[a]3:58
8."Far Away from You"Bracegirdle, Humphrey MilesChicane3:48
9."Way I'm Feelin'"Bracegirdle, Hedges, ButlerChicane, Searle[a]4:52
10."Time of Your Life"BracegirdleChicane2:33

Notes

  • ^a signifies a co-producer
  • "U R Always" is credited to Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona and American lyricist James "Kim" Gannon due to its incorporation of a vocal performance of the song "Always in My Heart". (Previously, the English band Bent made similar use of the song in their 2000 single, "Always".)

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Somersault
Chart (2007) Peak
position
UK Album Downloads (Official Charts Company)[18] 45
UK Dance Albums (Official Charts Company)[19] 10

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Chicane - Somersault". Discogs. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  2. ^ a b c Smith, Gary (2007) "Turning the Corner", Billboard, 21 July 2007, p.38
  3. ^ Sole, Kate (20 July 2007). "Chicane shine on". BANG Media International. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  4. ^ Edwards, Mark (23 April 2006). "Pictures". Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  5. ^ "News". Modenarecords.com. Archived from the original on 24 August 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  6. ^ a b c Sinclair, David (3 August 2007). "If the internet is the Wild West of the digital age, then musicians need new-fangled gunslingers to protect them". The Independent. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  7. ^ a b Jackman, Robert (2007) "Chicane Somersault Review", BBC, 20 July 2007, retrieved 25 November 2009
  8. ^ a b "Albums", Birmingham Mail, 4 August 2007, p. 34
  9. ^ a b Fulton, Rick (2007) "ALBUMS ; singles and albums", Daily Record, 27 July 2007, p. 53
  10. ^ a b Elwell-Sutton, Chris (2007) "CDs of the Week: Chicane - Somersault", Evening Standard, 20 July 2007
  11. ^ a b Jobling, John (2007) "Chicane – Somersault: The dance architect’s so called foray into rockier territory goes all Pete Tong Archived 2008-06-14 at the Wayback Machine", Mansized, 19 July 2007, retrieved 25 November 2009
  12. ^ (August 2007)
  13. ^ Segal, Victoria (August 2007). "Chicane - Come Tomorrow". Q. No. 253. p. 91. ISSN 0955-4955.
  14. ^ O'Leary, Matt. "Chicane: Somersault review". Virgin Media. Retrieved 17 August 2007.
  15. ^ Morton, James. "Chicane: - Somersault". High Voltage. Archived from the original on 13 September 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2007.
  16. ^ Foley, Jack. "Chicane: - Somersault". IndieLondon. Retrieved 18 August 2007.
  17. ^ "CD Round-Up", Daily Express, 20 July 2007
  18. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  19. ^ "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
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