Squaring the Circle (album)
Squaring the Circle is the fourth studio album by English electronic band Sneaker Pimps, released on 10 September 2021.
Squaring the Circle | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 10 September 2021 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 1:07:40 | |||
Label | Unfall Productions | |||
Producer | Sneaker Pimps | |||
Sneaker Pimps chronology | ||||
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Content
After a hiatus of 18 years, it is the fourth album in the Sneaker Pimps discography.[1] It includes songs that had been sitting incomplete for decades, and collaborations with singer Simonne Jones.[2][1] This returned the group to a trio of founders Liam Howe and Chris Corner alongside a female vocalist, reflecting their most commercially successful period in the mid-1990s when they worked with Kelli Ali.[3]
The album was recorded at Sawtooth Studios, Pioneertown, California and the Tower Studios, London.[4] It features Corner playing acoustic guitar on several tracks; Corner has said he has been influenced by Spanish guitar music and Simon and Garfunkel.[5] The title comes from squaring the circle, a seemingly impossible process, which describes the relationship between Howe and Corner and the unlikeliness of them reforming.[6]
The title track and "Fighter" were released as singles ahead of the album in July 2021,[7] which was released on 10 September.[5]
Howe's solo venture as Ape Mink Press (AMP) remixed several tracks from the album, including "Alibis", "Fighter" and "So Far Gone".[8]
Critical reception
The album received a mixed review from Dana Alward of mxdwn.com, who appreciated the duo wanted to move on from previous work, but found the resulting work "fails to create a cohesive thematic atmosphere".[6] Saby Reyes-Kulkarni of Popmatters appreciated tracks like "Tranquility Trap", "Child in the Dark" and "Immaculate Hearts" which showed them as "a latter-day Depeche Mode" and praised Corner's acoustic guitar work, but criticised the lack of input from Jones, adding the founding duo "haven't learned from past mistakes".[3]
Track listing
- "Fighter"
- "Child in the Dark"
- "Alibis"
- "So Far Gone"
- "Immaculate Hearts"
- "No Show"
- "The Tranquillity Trap"
- "SOS"
- "Stripes"
- "The Paper Room"
- "Black Rain"
- "Love Me Stupid"
- "Lifeline"
- "Pink Noise"
- "Come Like the Cure"
- "Squaring the Circle"
References
- Woods, Cat (23 September 2021). "The ghost of trip hop is back to haunt your turntable". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- "5 Albums I Can't Live Without: Liam Howe Of Sneaker Pimps". Spin. 5 October 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- "Sneaker Pimps (sort of) nod to the past with "Squaring the Circle"". Popmatters. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- "Sneaker Pimps Announce 'Squaring The Circle,' First New Album In Nearly 20 Years". udiscovermusic. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ""We have no ego when it comes to the last decision" : Sneaker Pimps' Chris Corner on new album Squaring the Circle". guitar.com. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- "Album Review: Sneaker Pimps – Squaring The Circle". mxdwn.com. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- "Listen to Sneaker Pimps' first new songs in nearly 20 years". NME. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- @SneakerPimpsNow (11 August 2021). "Today sees the release of the first ever Ape Mink Press (AMP) remix. AMP is Liam's new solo project" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
External links
- Squaring The Circle at Discogs (list of releases)
- Squaring The Circle at Sneaker Pimps Legacy