In the past he has been dubbed “the godfather of the Ibiza anthem,” but Chicane mastermind Nick Bracegirdle has come a long way since the sun-drenched Balearic shores first throbbed to the sound of what is now recognized by many as the archetypal chill-out classic, Offshore.
“Far From the Maddening Crowds” was the debut album from Chicane when Nick first burst onto the scene back in 1997. Featuring Offshore, the album has since become unavailable and original copies are now highly prized.
Chicane was later cast further into the public consciousness in 1999 with the release of the epic “Saltwater” which featured Maire Brennan of Clannad. Then in 2000 with the number 1 smash hit Don’t Give Up featuring the gravely vocal tones of legendary rocker Bryan Adams, Nick found himself a regular fixture on radio. The release of his second album “Behind the Sun” followed, reaching the Top 10 and becoming a major success across Europe.
The Chicane concept is one of a nomadic band, one that doesn’t conform to the traditional approach of having a single lead singer, working with many different artists and producers. It is a common mistake to think Nick is a DJ; he is actually the writer and producer within the band and the hub of all the live performances.
Aside from his own projects, Nick took time out to lend his famed production talents to a string of other artists, including co-writing and producing tracks for Cher’s “Living Proof” album. He performed remixes for the likes of Everything but the Girl, BT and also wrote and produced a song for previous collaborator Bryan Adams called Eastside Story which would later appear on Adams’ “Room Service” album.
Chicane returned in 2006 with a new sound. Stoned in Love, the first single to be taken from forthcoming album “Somersault,” is not so much a departure but in many ways an evolution of the classic Chicane sound. Although the dance element is still alive and well, the track displays a new rock/indie edge and signals a change in direction towards more “song-based” tracks incorporating strong melodies. It also features the unmistakable voice of Tom Jones.
For years Chicane has tended to be pigeonholed as a dance act; however, the current live show and new material confirm that Chicane is far more diverse with the band continuing to push the boundaries of electronic music live.
Over the years the Chicane live experience has traveled far and wide, from the relative sanity of London’s Islington Academy, to the vastness of Moscow’s Red Square. An appearance at The World Trade Center in Manila in 2006 was a similarly bizarre experience. “It was a great gig,” Nick reminisces. “Thousands of fans watching us become dehydrated and shriveling into little more than cornflakes on stage in the unbearable heat.”
2007 saw the release of Chicane’s forthcoming album “Somersault” and the single Come Tomorrow.
Chicane’s Sonic Somersault
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 next 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, released on July 16, 2007.
In February 2007, Chicane’s official website announced its 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; release of the album “Somersault” was subsequently announced in March.
Two of the tracks on the album, Arizona and Spirit, are taken from the “Easy to Assemble” album, which was never officially released due to a leak of the promotional copy on the Internet.
Here’s a track listing of Chicane’s “Somersault”:
1. Stoned in Love (featuring Tom Jones)
2. U R Always (Ernesto Lecuona, Kim Gannon, Bracegirdle, Butler, Hedges)
3. Come Tomorrow
4. Nothing
5. Arizona
6. Spirit (featuring Jewel, Bracegirdle, Tracy Ackerman)
7. Turning Corners
8. Far Away from You (Humphrey Miles, Bracegirdle)
9. Way I’m Feelin’ (Bracegirdle, Butler, Hedges)
10. Time of Your Life
And even hotter still, have you listened to the track Bruised Water? Not yet? Feel free to check out chicanemusic.com and tell me what you think of this new, phenomenal track.
Now, why can’t you get this album here in the Philippines? This is a question that should be attended to by some of the major records label here. How about we ask Universal about it?
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And now, get ready to watch Chicane live in Manila, Sept. 27 at the World Trade Center as they stage a comeback and a one-of-a-kind dance concert. For tickets and VIP tables call Big Fish offices at 634-8238 and 632-7762, or visit www.bigfishmanila.com.
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For comments and suggestions, feel free to e-mail me at bigfish@bigfishmanila.com.