The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg is the second album by South African band Beatenberg. It was self-produced [5] and released on 15 August 2014 on Universal Music Africa.[6] Thematically, the album captures thoughts of love and light-hearted subjects[7] The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg was recorded from June 2013 till March 2014 at Sunset Studios in Stellenbosch and vocalist Matthew Field's home studio.[8]
The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 15 August 2014 | |||
Recorded | June 2013 – March 2014 | |||
Studio | Sunset Studios | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 1:05:00 | |||
Label | Universal Africa | |||
Producer | Ross Dorkin | |||
Beatenberg chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg | ||||
The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg includes Beatenberg’s first hit single, “Chelsea Blakemore”, as well as follow-up singles "Pluto (Remember You)" and "Rafael".[2] The album and singles generally received positive reviews from critics. It peaked at number 2 on the South African iTunes chart[9] and was awarded the South African Music Awards prestigious Album of the Year for 2015.[10] At the end of 2015 the album was certified gold by Recording Industry of South Africa, for selling more than 15,000 copies in South Africa.[11][12]
Reception
editReview scores | |
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Source | Rating |
PLATFORM | 86/100[13] |
The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg peaked at number 2 on the South African iTunes Charts,[9] following the success of their collaboration with DJ Clocks on his track "Pluto (Remember You)". The single became the longest running South African number-one single ever, with seventeen weeks on the local radio charts.[14]
In South Africa, the reviews were favourable. Andy Petersen of PLATFORM said, "it is anthemic and riveting".[13] The satirist Justin Nurse praised Beatenberg's second album, noting their influences and "familiarity that is so infectious".[15] SA Music Scene’s Vicky Jankiewicz praised it as a distinctive pop album with an “African flavour [in] their rhythms and beats".[16] HillyDilly critic Cole Ryan hailed it as “undoubtedly one of the best indie-pop [albums] presented [in 2014]"[17] The We-Are-Awesome blog wrote that it was a "Paul Simon-esque ballads [with] references to suburban nostalgia and an unashamed pop sensibility".[18] The award-winning BEARD.fm blog said "you can’t help but feel happy and picture people in old 1950’s outfits in a shebeen".[19]
Track listing
editAll songs written by Matthew Field except where noted.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Rafael" | 4:10 |
2. | "Beauty Like a Tightened Bow" | 3:26 |
3. | "Chelsea Blakemore" | 3:37 |
4. | "Pluto" | 5:52 |
5. | "Southern Suburbs" | 3:57 |
6. | "Scorpionfish" | 3:28 |
7. | "Ithaca" | 4:49 |
8. | "Cavendish Square" | 4:02 |
9. | "Facebook Apologia" | 3:41 |
10. | "Echoes" | 3:36 |
11. | "All About Me" | 3:09 |
12. | "Cape To Rio" | 4:17 |
13. | "The Prince of the Hanging Gardens" | 4:44 |
Total length: | 55:18 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
14. | "Achievement" | 3:25 |
15. | "Thinking About You (cover; written by Frank Ocean)" | 4:33 |
16. | "Bend the Rules" | 4:14 |
Total length: | 01:05:00 |
Personnel
edit- Matthew Field - vocals, guitar, piano
- Ross Dorkin - bass guitar
- Robin Brink - drums
References
edit- ^ Swank, Allison (30 April 2012). "Audio: Beatenberg 'Echoes'". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ a b "New Track. Beatenberg - 'Chelsea Blackmore'". We Are Awesome. 19 August 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ Klein, Alyssa (22 January 2014). "DJ Clock x Beatenberg 'Pluto (Remember You)'". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ Klein, Alyssa (31 July 2014). "Beatenberg's Tennis Anthem 'Rafael'". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ Monaheng, Tseliso (29 August 2014). "A Night with Beatenberg". Mahala. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ Shackleford, Graeme (19 August 2014). "Beatenberg look forward to album launch". Fourways Review. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ "The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg". GQ South Africa. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ "Beatenberg have launched anticipated album "The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg". Waking Life Magazine. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Beatenberg Band". Entertainment Monitoring Africa. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ Mkhwanazi, Katlego (20 April 2015). "Beatenberg steals the show at the Samas". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ Mdaka, Rifumo (3 December 2015). "Beatenberg's Hanging Gardens goes gold". FDBQ Music. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ Mosupi, Azizzar (4 December 2015). "Beatenberg strikes gold". Times Live. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ a b Petersen, Andy (11 August 2014). "Album Review: Beatenberg - The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg". PLATFORM. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ "'Edujazz' to feature Beatenberg". Cape Times. 14 May 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ Nurse, Justin (9 September 2014). "The Prince of the Hanging Gardens". 2OceansVibe. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ Jankiewicz, Vicky (24 October 2014). "The Hanging Gardens Of Beatenberg – Review". SA Music Scene. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ Ryan, Cole (2014). "The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg Review". HillyDilly. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ "Interview with Beatenberg". We Are Awesome. 20 October 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ "The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg [Review]". The Beard.fm. 6 January 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2016.