Rite² is an ambient music album by Julian Cope, released in 1997. It is technically Cope's fourteenth solo album, but is also the follow-up to the earlier album Rite (released in 1992 and credited to "Julian Cope & Donald Ross Skinner") and is the second in the Rite series.

Rite²
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 1997
StudioNolatone
Harveytron Foundation
GenreAmbient, krautrock
Length55:14
LabelHead Heritage
ProducerJulian Cope
Julian Cope chronology
Interpreter
(1996)
Rite²
(1997)
Odin
(1999)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
The Great Rock Discography[2]

For Rite², Cope collaborated extensively with synthesizer player Thighpaulsandra (Coil, Spiritualized) although the album was credited to Cope alone. The album has been described as a tribute of sorts to Krautrock bands such as Amon Düül II and Tangerine Dream and is based on the sound of the Mellotron and the wah-wah guitar, although it also employs miscellaneous tone generators the ARP 2600 synthesizer and the Hammond B3 organ, as well as vocal chants.[3][4][5]

Rite² was the debut release on Cope's Head Heritage label, which would be the home of almost all of his future recordings.

Critical reception

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John Bush of Allmusic called Rite² "one of Julian Cope's most consistent works" and commented: "Instead of leaping to and fro between undeniably catchy synth-pop and fractured end-of-the-century prog, Cope sticks to the prog and comes out better for it."[1]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Ver"Julian Cope, Thighpaulsandra10:47
2."Hill of Odin"Cope, Donald Ross Skinner15:37
3."D-c.o.m.p.o.s.e.r."Cope, Thighpaulsandra19:15
4."The Ringed Hills Of Ver"Cope, Mark Cosby, Skinner9:35

Personnel

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Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[6]

Musicians

  • Julian Cope – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, Mellotron 400 and Mark 2
  • Thighpaulsandra – grand piano, ARP 2600, Mellotron 400, Faerial 5
  • Mark "Rooster" Cosby – crystal machine, tone generator, accordion
  • Donald Ross Skinner – Hammond B3 organ, crystal machine and alto stylophone
  • Jody Evans – kraut/stereo presence and un-rec. percussions

Technical

  • Julian Cope – producer, directed by
  • Thighpaulsandra – recorded by, computed by
  • Shaun Harvey – recorded by
  • Adam Fullerton – Mr. Sandra's modifications
  • Martin Smith – all Mellotronic maintenance
  • John Bradley – all Mellotronic maintenance
  • Get Carter/Copix – design

References

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  1. ^ a b Bush, John. "Rite²". Allmusic. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  2. ^ Strong, Martin C. "Julian Cope Biography". The Great Rock Bible. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  3. ^ "The S.P.A.C.E.R.O.C.K.E.R.’s Guide to Julian Cope" (Aural Innovations magazine #23, April 2003)
  4. ^ Discography entry for Rite² on Julian Cope homepage
  5. ^ Allmusic review of Rite² by John Bush
  6. ^ Julian Cope - Rite² (CD liner notes). Head Heritage. 1997. HH1
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