The Expanding Flower Planet
The Expanding Flower Planet is the first studio album by Deradoorian, a former member of Dirty Projectors.[1] It was released on Anticon on August 21, 2015.[2] Co-produced with Kenny Gilmore, it features contributions from Jeremy Hyman, Michael Lockwood, Niki Randa, and Arlene Deradoorian.[3] The title comes from a Chinese mandala tapestry that hung in Deradoorian's studio.[4]
The Expanding Flower Planet | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 21, 2015 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 46:16 | |||
Label | Anticon | |||
Producer |
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Deradoorian chronology | ||||
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Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 78/100[5] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [6] |
The A.V. Club | B[7] |
Consequence of Sound | B−[8] |
Exclaim! | 8/10[9] |
The Guardian | [10] |
MusicOMH | [11] |
Pitchfork | 8.0/10[4] |
PopMatters | [12] |
The Skinny | [13] |
Spin | 6/10[14] |
At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, The Expanding Flower Planet received an average score of 78, based on 17 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[5]
Alex McCown of The A.V. Club gave the album a grade of B, saying, "Despite most songs consisting of little more than a simple drum beat, bass, and some synths buffeting Deradoorian's soaring and layered vocal tracks, it wouldn't be accurate to call the arrangements spare."[7] Daniel Sylester of Exclaim! gave the album an 8 out of 10 and said, "On The Expanding Flower Planet, Deradoorian melds atmospheric dance beats with world music melodies, crafting a sound reminiscent of early Sinéad O'Connor."[9]
Daniel Paton of MusicOMH gave the album 4 stars out of 5 and said, "Deradoorian has demonstrated here that she is a confident, mature and distinctive artist."[11] John Paul of PopMatters gave the album 8 stars out of 10 and called it "a confident declaration of independence from a vital artist operating at the top of her creative game."[12]
The Skinny placed it at number 47 on the "50 Best Albums of 2015" list.[15]
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "A Beautiful Woman" | 3:31 |
2. | "Expanding Flower Planet" | 4:26 |
3. | "Violet Minded" | 5:33 |
4. | "Komodo" | 4:38 |
5. | "Your Creator" | 5:40 |
6. | "The Invisible Man" | 4:54 |
7. | "Dark Lord" | 2:56 |
8. | "Ouneya" | 4:58 |
9. | "The Eye" | 3:36 |
10. | "Grow" | 6:04 |
Total length: | 46:16 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.
- Angel Deradoorian – vocals, drums, guitar, bass guitar, banjo, synthesizer, flute, piano, production, recording, mixing, layout, design
- Kenny Gilmore – guitar, synthesizer, production, recording, mixing
- Arlene Deradoorian – vocals
- Niki Randa – vocals
- Jeremy Hyman – drums
- Michael Lockwood – drums
- Sonny Diperri – mixing
- Dave Cooley – mastering
- Daniel Higgs – cover artwork
- Brian DeRan – other artwork
- Bryant Rutledge – layout, design
References
- Brown, Harley (June 4, 2015). "Angel Deradoorian Announces Debut LP, 'The Expanding Flower Planet'". Spin. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- Geslani, Michelle (June 4, 2015). "Dirty Projectors' Angel Deradoorian announces debut album, shares "A Beautiful Woman" — listen". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- Beauchemin, Molly (June 4, 2015). "Angel Deradoorian (Dirty Projectors, Avey Tare) Announces Debut LP The Expanding Flower Planet". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- Sherburne, Philip (August 20, 2015). "Deradoorian: The Expanding Flower Planet". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- "The Expanding Flower Planet by Deradoorian". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
- Deming, Mark. "Deradoorian / Angel Deradoorian - The Expanding Flower Planet". AllMusic. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- McCown, Alex (August 21, 2015). "With a spacious solo debut, Deradoorian leaves her Dirty Projectors past behind". The A.V. Club. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- Corcoran, Nina (August 18, 2015). "Deradoorian – The Expanding Flower Planet". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- Sylvester, Daniel (August 19, 2015). "Deradoorian - The Expanding Flower Planet". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- Mackay, Emily (August 30, 2015). "The Expanding Flower Planet: Deradoorian review – blossoming grooves". The Guardian. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
- Paton, Daniel (August 25, 2015). "Deradoorian – The Expanding Flower Planet". MusicOMH. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
- Paul, John (August 26, 2015). "Deradoorian: The Expanding Flower Planet". PopMatters. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
- Gordon, Andrew (August 26, 2015). "Deradoorian – The Expanding Flower Planet". The Skinny. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
- Brodsky, Rachel (August 19, 2015). "Review: Deradoorian's 'The Expanding Flower Planet' Needs Weeding". Spin. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- "The 50 Best Albums of 2015". The Skinny. December 7, 2015. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
External links
- The Expanding Flower Planet at Discogs (list of releases)
- "A Beautiful Woman" on SoundCloud