Mothers (album)

Mothers is the second studio album by British indie rock band Swim Deep. It was released on 2 October 2015 on Chess Club Records, a subsidiary of RCA.[2][8] Following the success of their debut album, Where the Heaven Are We, Swim Deep began to record Mothers in London and Brussels in late 2014.[9] Mothers was originally scheduled for release on 19 September 2015[10] but was pushed back until 2 October.[8]

Mothers
Studio album by
Swim Deep
Released2 October 2015
Recorded2014-2015
GenrePsychedelic pop,[1] krautrock,[2] indie rock[3]
Length51:38
LabelRCA
Swim Deep chronology
Where the Heaven Are We
(2013)		 Mothers
(2015)		 Emerald Classics
(2019)
Singles from Mothers
  1. "To My Brother"
    Released: 9 February 2015[4]
  2. "One Great Song and I Could Change the World"
    Released: 30 April 2015[5]
  3. "Grand Affection"
    Released: 19 June 2015[6]
  4. "Namaste"
    Released: 12 August 2015[7]

Mothers peaked at number 55 on the U.K. charts and received generally positive reviews.[11][12]

Singles

The lead single from the album, "To My Brother", was released on 9 February 2015.[4] "To My Brother" was noted for its more psychedelic style than previous Swim Deep music and its acid house influences.[13][14] Andy Baber of musicOMH described the song as "a blissful slice of psychedelic pop that nods to heavily towards the late ‘80s and early ‘90s and, in particular, Primal Scream’s Screamadelica".[15]

The second single, "One Great Song and I Could Change the World", was released on 30 April[5] and is featured on the soundtrack for football video game FIFA 16.[16]

The third single, "Grand Affection", was debuted at NME Sounds of the Summer on 19 June.[6]

The fourth single, "Namaste", was released on 12 August.[7] Rhian Daly of NME described "Namaste" as "a great big bolt of pop that’s impossible to ignore".[17]

Musical style

Mothers was noted for its distinctly different style in comparison with Where the Heaven Are We.[1][2][18] Speaking to DIY, lead singer Austin Williams addressed the band's new direction, saying, "I feel like we’re all shaving our heads and going to war with this record."[19] Andy Baber of musicOMH wrote, "It is clear the new five-piece had a lot of fun experimenting with their sound and it is a drastic departure from Where The Heaven Are We."[15] Tshepo Mokoena of The Guardian wrote the band "ditched the loose and baggy guitar pop of 2013’s Where the Heaven Are We? in favour of psych-pop that contorts itself into pulsing Balearic acid house and motorik rhythms."[1] DIY's Stephen Ackroyd said "Fueiho Boogie", the album's final track, "explodes time and time again into increasingly more ridiculous krautrock techno extravaganzas".[2]

Reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic79/100[12]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[20]
DIY[2]
Drowned in Sound7/10[21]
The Guardian[1]
The Line of Best Fit7.5/10[18]
musicOMH[15]
NME[8]
Q[12]

At review aggregate site Metacritic, Mothers has an average score of 79 out of 100, based on 9 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[12]

Mokoena called the album "a playful and boldly curious return".[1] Ackroyd described the album as "brave, fresh, exciting", while writing "it works spectacularly". Ackroyd also praised the band's confidence, describing the album as "delivered with the swagger of someone who’s just half-inched Joseph’s Technicolor Dreamcoat".[2] Q's review stated "Mothers marks this once unremarkable band as real contenders."[12]

In a more mixed review, Baber praised "To My Brother" and "One Great Song and I Could Change the World", but likened "Grand Affection" to "a theme tune for a terrible ‘80s video game" and called "Laniakea" "just plain irritating". Baber wrote Mothers lacked moments that stood out, calling the record "a case of close, but not close enough".[15]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."One Great Song and I Could Change the World"
  • James Balmont
  • Cavan McCarthy
  • Zack Robinson
  • Austin Williams
3:57
2."To My Brother"
  • Balmont
  • Tom Higgins
  • Oliver Horton
  • Williams
3:59
3."Green Conduit"
  • Balmont
  • Robinson
  • Williams
4:35
4."Heavenly Moment"
  • Balmont
  • Robinson
  • Williams
4:28
5."Namaste"
  • Balmont
  • Robinson
  • Williams
3:32
6."Is there Anybody Out There"
  • Balmont
  • Robinson
  • Williams
4:30
7."Forever Spacemen"
  • Balmont
  • Williams
3:49
8."Grand Affection"
  • Balmont
  • McCarthy
  • Williams
4:15
9."Imagination"
  • Balmont
  • Williams
5:54
10."Laniakea"
  • Balmont
  • Williams
4:27
11."Fueiho Boogie"
  • Balmont
  • Horton
  • Robinson
  • Williams
8:12
Total length:51:38
Deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."Caramelise"4:44
13."Si Si Me Voy"3:44
14."Everything Is Possible"4:01
15."Hotel California"5:27
Total length:69:34

Charts
Chart (2015) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[11] 55
gollark: Poor ten foot poles.
gollark: Why would you make a ten-foot pole experience the horror of whatever it is?
gollark: What's so special about Venus then?
gollark: You've just spoiled the plot of books 396 through 402!
gollark: Everything is technicalities.

References
  1. Mokoena, Tshepo (1 October 2015). "Swim Deep: Mothers review – baggy indie kids embrace psych-pop". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  2. Ackroyd, Stephen (2 October 2015). "Album Review: Swim Deep - Mothers". DIY. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  3. Vucovich, LynAnne (15 October 2015). "Album Review: Swim Deep's 'Mothers' is here to redefine alternative music as we know it". The Post. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  4. Cooper, Leonie (9 February 2015). "Swim Deep share new single 'To My Brother' - listen". NME. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  5. "Swim Deep share new track 'One Great Song And I Could Change The World' – listen". NME. 30 April 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  6. Wright, Lisa (20 June 2015). "Swim Deep debut new track 'Grand Affection' during NME Sounds Of The Summer with Austin, Texas gig". NME. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  7. Morgan Britton, Luke (12 August 2015). "Swim Deep unveil synth-heavy new track 'Namaste' – listen". NME. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  8. Daly, Rhian (24 September 2015). "Review: Swim Deep - 'Mothers'". NME. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  9. Kendall, Dan (6 February 2015). "Swim Deep at ICP Studios in Brussels". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  10. "Swim Deep announce details of second album 'Mothers'". NME. 21 June 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  11. "Official Charts: SWIM DEEP (Artist)". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  12. http://www.metacritic.com/music/mothers/swim-deep
  13. Gibsone, Harriet. "The playlist: indie – Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Swim Deep, Gaz Coombes and more". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  14. Murray, Robin. "Listen: Swim Deep - 'To My Brother'". Clash. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  15. Baber, Andy (25 September 2015). "Swim Deep – Mothers". musicOMH. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  16. "FIFA 16 Soundtrack". EA Sports. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  17. Daly, Rhian (12 August 2015). "Swim Deep's New Single "Namaste" Is A Great Big Bolt Of Pop Fun". Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  18. Goodman, Jessica (25 September 2015). "Swim Deep find a seamless strength with their second record". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  19. Milton, Jamie. "Swim Deep return with 'To My Brother' single, new UK dates". DIY. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  20. Collar, Matt. "Mothers – Swim Deep". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  21. McBride, Christopher (29 September 2015). "Swim Deep - Mothers". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
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