Rhine Gold (album)

Rhine Gold is the second studio album by Copenhagen-based Danish chamber pop band Choir of Young Believers, released in Europe on February 27, 2012 on Tigerspring and in the United States on March 20, 2012 on Ghostly International.[1]

Rhine Gold
Studio album by Choir of Young Believers
Released	February 27, 2012 (EU) March 20, 2012 (US)
Studio	Realfarm Studios in Stege Moono in Copenhagen Sauna Recording Studio in Frederiksberg Fishcorp in Copenhagen
Genre	Chamber pop avant pop orchestral pop
Length	54:28
Label	Ghostly International Tigerspring
Producer	Aske Zidore Nis Bysted
Choir of Young Believers chronology
This Is for the White in Your Eyes (2008) Rhine Gold (2012) Grasque (2016)
Singles from Rhine Gold
"Patricia's Thirst" Released: October 14, 2011 "Sedated" Released: October 14, 2011 "Nye Nummer Et" Released: January 29, 2012
Alternative cover
Tigerspring artwork

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	77/100[2]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Consequence of Sound	C+[4]
Exclaim!	8/10[5]
Filter	81%[6]
The Guardian	[7]
musicOMH	[8]
Paste	7.9/10[9]
Pitchfork	7.7/10[10]
PopMatters	[11]
Under the Radar	[12]

Rhine Gold received largely positive reviews from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 77, based on 18 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[2]

Austin Trunick of Under the Radar praised the album, stating, "Rhine Gold manages to sound little like anything else that's arrived in recent years. With lead singer Makrigiannis' aloof vocals daringly clearing trails through swaths of rich synthesizer and grandiose orchestral pop accompaniment, it stealthily slips into a sea of cool detachment rarely heard since David Bowie's Berlin period, particularly in the funky outsider vibe given off on Low. At its most morose, it recalls the weary, sun-faded blues of Dennis Wilson's Pacific Ocean Blue. Riveting and unpredictable across multiple plays, Choir of Young Believers has expanded upon the blueprint outlined on their well-crafted first album and channeled it into a sophomore release that's really outstanding."[12]

Eric Harvey of Pitchfork Media gave the album a positive review, stating, "Choir of Young Believers have created a singular sonic world all their own. They don't let you get comfortable for too long at a stretch, but their itchy curiosity is its own reward."[10]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jannis Noya Makrigiannis.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Third Time"	7:12
2.	"Patricia's Thirst"	2:39
3.	"Sedated"	6:25
4.	"Paralyze"	10:13
5.	"Have I Ever Truly Been Here"	6:28
6.	"Nye Nummer Et" (English: New Number One)	4:42
7.	"Paint New Horrors"	4:37
8.	"The Wind Is Blowing Needles"	5:54
9.	"Rhine Gold"	6:18
Total length:		54:28

Personnel

Main personnel

• Jannis Noya Makrigiannis – vocals, guitar, keyboard
• Jakob Millung – bass, lap steel guitar, backing vocals
• Cæcilie Trier – cello, backing vocals
• Lasse Herbst – percussion
• Casper Henning Hansen – drums
• Bo Rande – horns, keyboard, backing vocals
• Sonja Labianca – keyboard, saxophone
• Jeppe Brix Sørensen – guitar (5)
• Aske Zidore – additional guitar
• Nis Bysted – additional guitar
• Rune Borup – keyboard (5)

Additional personnel

• Anders Schumann – mastering (5)
• Mikkel Gemzøe – mastering (5)
• Aske Zidore – production (1-4, 6-9), recording (1-4, 6-9), mixing (1-4, 6-9)
• Nis Bysted – production (1-4, 6-9), recording (1-4, 6-9), mixing (1-4, 6-9)
• Rune Borup – recording (5)
• Jannis Noya Makrigiannis – artwork
• Nis Bysted – artwork
• Nis Sigurdsson – artwork
• Cæcilie Trier – photography
• Frederik Sølberg – photography
• Peter Bysted – photography

References

1. Hilleary, Mike (2011-11-22). "Choir of Young Believers Announce "Rhine Gold"". Under the Radar. Retrieved 2016-03-27.
2. "Rhine Gold – Choir of Young Believers". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
3. Raggett, Ned (2012-03-20). "Rhine Gold – Choir of Young Believers". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-03-27.
4. Coplan, Chris (March 21, 2012). "Album Review: Choir of Young Believers - Rhine Gold". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2016-03-27.
5. Pollard, Vincent (2012-04-11). "Choir of Young Believers - Rhine Gold". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2016-03-27.
6. Studarus, Laura (2012-04-12). "Choir of Young Believers - Rhine Gold". Filter. Retrieved 2016-03-27.
7. Sullivan, Caroline. Choir of Young Believers: Rhine Gold – review. The Guardian. 15 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
8. Wright, Danny. Choir of Young Believers - Rhine Gold. musicOMH 30 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
9. Hodges, Carey (March 21, 2012). "Choir of Young Believers: Rhine Gold: Music Reviews". Paste. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
10. Harvey, Eric. Choir of Young Believers: Rhine Gold. Pitchfork Media. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
11. Ezell, Brice. Choir of Young Believers: Rhine Gold. PopMatters. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
12. Trunick, Austin. Choir of Young Believers: Rhine Gold. Under the Radar. 16 April 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2016.