Wilderness (Brett Anderson album)

Wilderness is the second studio album by the English singer Brett Anderson.

Wilderness
Studio album by Brett Anderson
Released	7 July 2008 (USB Stick Format) 29 July 2008 (Digital Download) 11 August 2008 (Disc Format through indie stores) 1 September 2008 (General Release)
Recorded	12–18 May 2008
Studio	RAK Studios, The Pierce Rooms
Genre	Indie rock, art rock, baroque pop, acoustic rock
Length	35:48
Label	BA Songs
Producer	Brett Anderson, Fred Ball
Brett Anderson chronology
Live at Queen Elizabeth Hall (2007) Wilderness (2008) Slow Attack (2009)
Singles from Wilderness
"Back to You" Released: 9 July 2007 "A Different Place" Released: 21 July 2008

Background

Wilderness was created with minimal use of instrumentation and studio production. Singer Brett Anderson opted for a pared-back sound, singing and playing piano alongside cellist Amy Langley.[1] Wilderness was recorded in only seven days, with most tracks recorded as live takes. The cover photograph is by Allan Jenkins. Anderson is keen to make the live shows of Wilderness symbolise an intimate affair. "The live shows will be very minimalist with just myself and a cello player on stage."[2] Speaking on the album’s much lower media profile compared with his previous work, Anderson said: "I have no record company, no publisher and a smaller audience but I have never been more confident and focused about what I am doing as an artist."[3]

Release

According to Anderson's manager Ian Grenfell, promoting Wilderness was not going to follow the usual "rule book". He said: "Brett knew exactly what record he wanted to make, and we recognized it was unlikely to get radio airplay, so we've put a [marketing] structure around it that makes sense commercially."[1] The album was released on Anderson's own BA Songs label.[1] The album was released to audiences via various dates and methods. Fans who bought tickets for Anderson's performance at London's Mermaid Theatre on 7 July received a copy of the album on USB stick format.[4] Members of Bowers & Wilkins Music Club were able to receive a copy on their website from 9 July.[3] This was followed by a download version 29 July, limited CD release through Coalition independent music retailers 11 August and a general release 1 September.[1]

Reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	46/100[5]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
The Guardian	[7]
The Independent	[8]
Metro	[9]
Mojo	[10]
musicOMH	[11]
NME	[12]
The Press	[13]
Q	[14]
The Sunday Times	[15]

The album received mixed reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 46 out of 100, which indicates "mixed or average reviews" based on 6 reviews.[5] Sam Wolfson of The Guardian was unimpressed, saying that "Anderson had reached a creative menopause."[7] Rick Martin of NME wrote: "Most depressing of all is that Brett Anderson, once one of Britain’s most beguiling indie-pop stars, has become this irrelevant."[12] Andy Gill of The Independent was also negative, saying: "this slim suite of melancholy reveries should polish off what remains of Anderson's fanbase." He did, however have kind words for the single "Back to You", calling it a "half-decent song" and his pick of the album.[8]

AllMusic were more favourable, Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote: "For those who are still paying attention, it's actually quite nice to hear Anderson reconnecting to that initial spark while finding ways to experiment. It may not make him a star again, but Wilderness does find Brett Anderson creatively revitalized."[6] Also favourable was Jenni Cole of musicOMH, who wrote: "Wilderness is a slow burner, a gentle and fragile album stripped of the raw emotion of earlier Anderson efforts but no worse for that."[11]

Track listing

1. "A Different Place" – 4:12
2. "The Empress" – 3:39
3. "Clowns" – 3:03
4. "Chinese Whispers" – 3:21
5. "Blessed" – 4:41
6. "Funeral Mantra" – 2:57
7. "Back to You" Feat. Emmanuelle Seigner – 3:14
8. "Knife Edge" – 3:02
9. "P. Marius" – 4:37
10. "Symmetry" – 2:40 (iTunes Bonus Track)

Personnel

Credits adapted from Wilderness liner notes.

Musicians

• Brett Anderson − lead and backing vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards, tabla, percussion
• Amy Langley − cello
• Emmanuelle Seigner − vocals (7)

Production

• Brett Anderson − production
• Fred Ball − production, string arrangements
• Steve Fitzmaurice − engineering, mixing
• Bunt Stafford Clark − mastering
• Dan Morrison − mixing
• Raj Das − mixing
• Allan Jenkins − photography

References

1. Adams, Steve (13 September 2008). "Global Pulse - The Wild One" (PDF). Billboard. 120 (37): 55. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
2. Took, Michael (1 September 2008). "Into The Wilderness: Brett Anderson". Gigwise.com. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
3. "Suede Star Online Preview". Clash. 8 July 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
4. "Ex-Suede Singer Brett Anderson Announces New Solo Album". NME. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
5. "Metacritic – Wilderness". Metacritic. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
6. Allmusic review
7. Wolfson, Sam (14 September 2008). "Pop review: Brett Anderson, Wilderness". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
8. Gill, Andy (29 August 2008). "Brett Anderson: Wilderness". The Independent.
9. Haider, Arwa (1 September 2008). "Anderson's Wilderness a pleasure to get lost in". Metro.
10. "Brett Anderson: Wilderness". Mojo (179): 110. October 2008.
11. Cole, Jenni. "Brett Anderson - Wilderness (Drowned in Sound)". musicOMH. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013.
12. Martin, Rick (27 August 2008). "Brett Anderson". NME. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
13. Gordon, Maxine (12 September 2008). "Brett Anderson, Wilderness (Drowned In Sound)". The Press. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
14. "Brett Anderson: Wilderness". Q. No. 267. October 2008. p. 139.
15. Edwards, Mark (31 August 2008). "Brett Anderson: Wilderness The Sunday Times review". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 6 June 2019.