Dark Matters (The Stranglers album)

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Dark Matters
Studio album by
the Stranglers
Released10 September 2021
Recorded2019–2021[1][2]
StudioCharlton Farm Studios, Bath
OX4 Sound Studios, Oxford
Baz Warne home studio, Yorkshire
unknown studio, France
Length42:55
LabelCoursegood
ProducerLouie Nicastro
The Stranglers chronology
Giants
(2012) 		Dark Matters
(2021)
Singles from Dark Matters
  1. "And If You Should See Dave..."
    Released: 14 May 2021
  2. "If Something's Gonna Kill Me (It Might As Well Be Love)"
    Released: 7 August 2021
  3. "This Song"
    Released: September 2021
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Arts Desk[3]
Benzine[4]
Classic Rock8/10[5]
Goldmine[6]
Gigwise7/10[7]
Liverpool Sound and Vision8.5/10[8]
Louder Than War9/10[9]
Maximum Volume Music9/10[10]
Mojo[11]
musicOMH[12]
Music Waves[13]
Ondarock7/10[14]
Punktuation![15]
stereoboard.com[16]
Uncut[17]

Dark Matters is the eighteenth studio album by British rock band the Stranglers, released on 10 September 2021 through Coursegood.[18] It features the playing of keyboardist Dave Greenfield, who died in 2020.[19] It is also the first studio album recorded without founding drummer Jet Black, who retired from performing with the band in 2015.

Dark Matters entered the United Kingdom's Official Albums Chart at number 4,[20] the highest-placed studio album by the Stranglers since Feline in 1983. It was awarded "Album of the Year" by Vive Le Rock magazine in its December 2021 issue.[21][22]

Background and recording

[edit]

Dark Matters is the first Stranglers studio album since 2012's Giants and the first since the death of keyboardist Dave Greenfield in May 2020.[23] The track, "And If You Should See Dave...", was written by bassist and singer Jean-Jacques Burnel as a tribute to Greenfield.[24] Greenfield features on eight of the album's 11 tracks, with the remainder being completed by other band members remotely due to COVID-19 restrictions.[25] The album was recorded over the course of two years with long-time producer Louie Nicastro,[26] mainly at the Stranglers' own studio near Bath in Somerset and Mark Gardener's OX4 Sound Studios in Oxford.[11][27] Additional recording was done at guitarist Baz Warne's home studio in Yorkshire and at a studio near Burnel's home in the south of France.[2][28][29]

Burnel's "If Something's Gonna Kill Me (It Might as Well Be Love)", which also includes a lyrical tribute to Greenfield,[30] was arranged by Warne as a Kraftwerk-inspired electro-pop track, complete with keyboard bass and programmed drums. To create the song, Nicastro, who played the keyboard parts, used only keyboards that Greenfield would have used in the early days of the Stranglers, such as Oberheim, PPG Wave and Minimoog synthesizers.[30] The third post-Greenfield track, "The Lines", is a one-take recording featuring Burnel on acoustic guitar and Warne on lead vocals, with keyboards added later on.[2]

Dark Matters also marks the first Stranglers studio album since original drummer Jet Black stepped away from active performances in 2015.[31] Black does not perform on the album, but is thanked in the album's sleeve notes. He is replaced by long-time touring drummer Jim Macaulay.[7][31]

"This Song" is a cover of the track "This Song Will Get Me Over You" by the band the Disciples of Spess,[7] but is co-credited to the Stranglers; the music video features the former England footballer Stuart Pearce, a long-time fan of the band.[32]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by the Stranglers, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Water" 4:47
2."This Song"Mathew Seamarks, The Stranglers3:20
3."And If You Should See Dave..." 3:35
4."If Something's Gonna Kill Me (It Might as Well Be Love)" 4:56
5."No Man's Land" 2:25
6."The Lines" 1:37
7."Payday" 3:04
8."Down" 3:01
9."The Last Men on the Moon" 5:35
10."White Stallion" 4:45
11."Breathe" 5:50
Total length:42:55
Japanese edition bonus tracks[33][34]
No.TitleLength
12."Toiler on the Sea" (live at TSUTAYA O-West, Tokyo, Japan, 5 November 2019)4:39
13."Freedom Is Insane" (live at TSUTAYA O-West, Tokyo, Japan, 5 November 2019)5:33
14."Down" (Japanese version)3:04
Total length:56:40

A bonus CD, Dave Greenfield – A Tribute, was issued with pre-orders made through the Stranglers' official store. It features eight previously unreleased live recordings selected by the band, celebrating Greenfield's talent. It includes four of the Stranglers songs that Greenfield performed lead vocals on: "Dead Ringer", "Peasant in the Big Shitty", "Do You Wanna?" and "Four Horsemen".[26]

Dave Greenfield – A Tribute
No.TitleWriter(s)Recording date and locationLength
1."Dead Ringer" O2 Academy Birmingham, 12 March 20162:54
2."Peasant in the Big Shitty" Cambridge Corn Exchange, 28 March 20143:32
3."Walk On By"Burt Bacharach, Hal DavidTSUTAYA O-West, Tokyo, Japan, 5 November 20195:37
4."Do You Wanna?" O2 Academy Bristol, 19 March 20162:31
5."Baroque Bordello" O2 Academy Brixton, London, 22 March 20193:48
6."Four Horsemen" Manchester Academy, 21 March 20153:22
7."This Song"Seamarks, The StranglersO2 Academy Brixton, London, 22 March 20193:06
8."Water" O2 Academy Brixton, London, 22 March 20194:29

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the album liner notes, except where noted.[35]

The Stranglers

  • Jean-Jacques Burnel – bass, lead (1, 3, 8, 10, 11) and backing vocals, acoustic guitar (6)[2]
  • Dave Greenfield – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Baz Warne – guitar, lead (2–7, 9) and backing vocals
  • Jim Macaulay – drums, percussion, backing vocals

Additional musicians

  • Louie Nicastro – additional keyboards[30]
  • Matthew Bourne-Jones – trumpet (4)

Technical

  • Louie Nicastro – producer, engineer
  • Phil Johnson – sleeve design, art direction

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Dark Matters
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[36] 152
Scottish Albums (OCC)[37] 3
UK Albums (OCC)[38] 4
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[39] 2

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Garcia-Navarro, Lulu (12 September 2021). "The Stranglers Continue To Push The Boundaries Of Music In 'Dark Matters'". NPR. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "Baz Warne - Dark Matters 2021". Punk77.co.uk. 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  3. ^ Green, Thomas H. (4 September 2021). "Dark Matters review". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  4. ^ Debarnot, Eric (14 September 2021). "Dark Matters review". Benzine (in French). Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  5. ^ Roberts, Chris (September 2021). "Dark Matters review". Classic Rock. United Kingdom: Future. p. 81. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  6. ^ Curley, John (23 October 2021). "Dark Matters review". Goldmine. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  7. ^ a b c England, Adam (8 September 2021). "Album Review: The Stranglers - Dark Matters". Gigwise. Gigwise Ltd. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  8. ^ Hall, Ian D. (12 September 2021). "Dark Matters review". Liverpool Sound and Vision. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  9. ^ Robb, John (11 August 2021). "Dark Matters review". Louder Than War. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  10. ^ Sullivan, Damian (8 September 2021). "Dark Matters review". Maximum Volume Music. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  11. ^ a b Cameron, Keith (October 2021). "Dark Matters review". Mojo. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  12. ^ Hogwood, Ben (12 September 2021). "Dark Matters review". musicOMH. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  13. ^ Stork, Adrian (3 September 2021). "Dark Matters review". Music Waves. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  14. ^ Ciro, Paolo (17 September 2021). "Dark Matters review". Ondarock (in Italian). Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  15. ^ Howden, Nic (7 September 2021). "Dark Matters review". Punktuation!. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  16. ^ Marsh, Graeme (17 September 2021). "Dark Matters review". stereoboard.com. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  17. ^ Hasted, Nick (10 September 2021). "Dark Matters review". Uncut. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  18. ^ The Stranglers honour late keyboard player Dave Greenfield with 'And If You Should See Dave'. Gigwise. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  19. ^ Hear The Stranglers' tribute to late keyboard player Dave Greenfield - Uncut. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  20. ^ Copsey, Rob. "Manic Street Preachers win "titanic battle" against Steps to claim second Number 1 on Official Albums Chart". Official Charts. The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  21. ^ "VLR album of the year!". thestranglers.co.uk. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  22. ^ "The Stranglers Are Again Cover Stars Of The Latest Issue Of Vive Le Rock". Aural Sculptors. 19 December 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  23. ^ Dave Greenfield: The Stranglers keyboard player dies at 71 -BBC News. 4 May 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  24. ^ The Stranglers announce new album 'Dark Matters' and share tribute single for late keyboardist Dave Greenfield - NME. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  25. ^ Dark Matters CD Album + Dave Greenfield - A Tribute (Exclusive Bonus CD) - The Stranglers Official Online Store. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  26. ^ a b "The Stranglers share tribute to late keyboard player Dave Greenfield, announce first studio album since 2012". Classic Rock. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  27. ^ "OX4 Sound Rides The Faders On New SSL AWS 948 Console". solidstatelogic.com. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  28. ^ "The Stranglers talk making new album Dark Matters..." HMV. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  29. ^ Mooney, Giles. "LOCK DOWN TRACKS WITH BAZ WARNE FROM THE STRANGLERS". A Love Supreme. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  30. ^ a b c Janes, Steve (30 July 2021). "Out today – The Stranglers x If Something's Gonna Kill Me Track Chat". With Guitars. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  31. ^ a b Hall, Duncan (10 July 2015). "The Stranglers guitarist Baz Warne on the departure of Jet Black and looking to the next 40 years". The Argus. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  32. ^ Aubrey, Elizabeth (2 September 2021). "Nottingham Forest legend Stuart Pearce stars in The Stranglers' new video". NME. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  33. ^ "亡き盟友デイヴ・グリーンフィールドに捧ぐ。ストラングラーズ最新アルバム国内盤9月15日発売！2019年東京公演ライヴ音源2曲と、JJが日本語で歌った特別ボーナス・トラック収録決定。" (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  34. ^ "Dark Matters [Japan Bonus Track]". CDJapan. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  35. ^ The Stranglers (2021). Dark Matters (CD sleeve). Coursegood. CGCD12.
  36. ^ "Ultratop.be – The Stranglers – Dark Matters" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  37. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  38. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  39. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
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