Queen of the Wave

Queen of the Wave is the fourth album by Pepe Deluxé, released on CD by Catskills in the UK on January 30, 2012, and digitally by Asthmatic Kitty Records in the US on January 31. The album's cover art and liner notes were designed by James Spectrum. It is styled as "an esoteric pop opera in three parts."[1]

Queen of the Wave
Studio album by
Pepe Deluxé
ReleasedJanuary 30, 2012
GenrePsychedelic rock, baroque pop, surf rock
Length48:11
LabelAsthmatic Kitty Records (US)
Catskills (UK)
ProducerJames Spectrum
Pepe Deluxé chronology
Spare Time Machine
(2007)		 Queen of the Wave
(2012)

The band, now consisting of Finnish producer James Spectrum and Swedish composer Paul Malmström, released five album companions in conjunction with the album through their website, and also as a free iPad app.[2][3]

The group has produced promotional videos for the album[4] as well as the tracks "Go Supersonic," "In The Cave," and "A Night and a Day."[5] The video for "Go Supersonic" was chosen as a staff pick on Vimeo.[6]

All the profits from album sales were donated to the John Nurminen Foundation, specifically for the charity's Clean Baltic Sea project.[7]

Reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic70/100 (15 critics)[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash Music[9]
Exclaim!(favorable)[10]
Mixmag[11]
musicOMH[12]
PopMatters[13]
Sputnikmusic[14]

On the review aggregate site Metacritic, the album has a score of 70 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[8]

Alan Ranta of PopMatters gave the album a PopMatters Pick designation, proclaiming it to be "the most impressive album ever painstakingly assembled across space and time."[13] Mixmag's Thomas Green praised the albums eccentricities, writing, "Pepe Deluxé’s fourth album makes Queen or Kanye’s madly eclectic sonic excesses look like a campfire strum-along."[11] Ben Hogwood of musicOMH wrote that "anyone looking for a return to the good old days when albums were invested with tender loving care will want to hear it."[12] Clash Music also gave the album a positive review, as Anna Wilson wrote, "Its cleverness and humour burst like springs from an overstuffed rococo couch. Splendidly indulgent."[9]

On their 75 Best Albums of 2012 list, PopMatters ranked Queen of the Wave at #17.[15]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Queenswave"4:54
2."A Night and a Day"4:04
3."Go Supersonic"4:44
4."Temple of Unfed Fire"2:48
5."Contain Thyself"3:52
6."Hesperus Garden"4:09
7."Grave Prophecy"4:33
8."In the Cave"1:51
9."My Flaming Thirst"3:49
10."Iron Giant"2:22
11."The Storm"3:43
12."Riders on the First Ark"7:18

Personnel

The following people contributed to Queen of the Wave:[16]

  • James Spectrum - Engineer
  • Paul Malmström - Synthesizer, Handclaps, Organ, Recorder, Harpsichord, Guitar, Horns, Tambourine, Bass, Violin, Cello, Clarinet, Harmonium, Piano, Glockenspiel, Flute, Triangle, Vibraphone, Harp
  • Boi Crompton, Chris Cote, Johanna Försti, Lumimarja Wilenius, Sara Welling, Tuire Lukka - Vocals
  • Miikka Paatelainen - Guitar, Bass, Balalaika, Bouzouki, Glockenspiel, Vibraphone
  • Kai Hahto, Markku Reinikainen, Teppo Mäkynen - Drums
  • Timo Lassy - Flute, Saxophone, Horns
  • Kati Pirttimaa - Pipe Organ
  • Jukka Eskola - Trumpet, French Horn
  • Mikko Mustonen - Tuba, Trombone
  • Jarmo Saari - Viola, Guitar

References
  1. cover art
  2. Album Companions
  3. iPad app
  4. album trailer on YouTube
  5. album videos on YouTube
  6. "Go Supersonic" video
  7. Asthmatic Kitty
  8. "Queen of the Wave Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More". Metacritic. Retrieved 2012-11-23.
  9. Wilson, Anna Clash review. Clash Music. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  10. Exclaim! review
  11. Green, Thomas. PEPE DELUXE Archived February 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Mixmag. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  12. Hogwood, Ben. Pepe Deluxe - Queen Of The Wave Archived February 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. musicOMH. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  13. Ranta, Alan. Pepe Deluxé: Queen of the Wave. PopMatters. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  14. Butler, Nick. Pepe Deluxe Queen of the Wave (staff review). Sputnikmusic. 16 September 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  15. The 75 Best Albums of 2012. PopMatters. 10 December 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  16. Pepe Deluxé – Queen Of The Wave (CD, Album). Discogs. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
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