Apocalypso (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Apocalypso
Type = Studio
Artist = The Presets


Released = Start date|2008|4|12|df=yes
Recorded = 2007
Genre = Electronic
Length = 50:53
Label = Modular
Producer = John Fields
Reviews =
*Allmusic rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gvfwxzyjldje link]
*"Consequence of Sound" rating|4|5 [http://consequenceofsound.net/2008/07/11/album-review-apocalypso/ link]
*Pitchfork Media (5.8/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/51125-the-presets-apocalypso link]
*The Quietus [http://www.thequietus.com/2008/05/crystal-castles-crystal-castles-cut-copy-in-ghost-colours-the-presets-apocalypso-reviews/ link]
Last album = "Beams" (2005)
This album = "Apocalypso" (2008)
Next album =
Misc = Singles
Name = Apocalypso
Type = studio
single 1 = My People
single 1 date = 2007
single 2 = This Boy's in Love
single 2 date = 2008
single 3 = Talk Like That
single 3 date = 2008

"Apocalypso" is the second full-length album by Australian electronic duo The Presets. The album was released by Modular Recordings on the 12 April 2008 in Australia, on 13 May in the United States, and 2 June in the United Kingdom. The album debuted at number one on the ARIA charts, [cite web |url = http://acharts.us/album/35086 |title = The Presets - Apocalypso - Music Charts |accessdate = 2008-04-21 |date = 2008-04-21 |publisher = acharts.us ] and achieved gold certification within two weeks. [cite web |url = http://www.inthemix.com.au/news/aust/37551/Apocalypso_goes_gold_for_The_Presets |title = Apocalypso Goes Gold for the Presets |accessdate = 2008-05-01 |author = Hardaker, Tim |date = 2008-04-28 |publisher = inthemix.com.au ] The album features the singles "My People", "This Boy's in Love" and "Talk Like That". "My People" featured in the 2007 Triple J Hottest 100, where it placed at number 18. [cite web |url = http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/countdown/text/countdown.htm |title = Hottest 100 Countdown |accessdate = 2008-04-12 |date = 2008-01-26 |publisher = Triple J ]

Production

After two years of non-stop touring, The Presets began production of "Apocalypso" in early 2007 by going to a farm in Byron Bay for two weeks.cite web |url = http://www.emimusicpub.com/worldwide/artist_profile/the-presets_profile.html |title = Artist Profile: The Presets |accessdate = 2008-04-12 |date = 2008 |publisher = EMI Music Publishing ] cite web |url = http://www.threedworld.com.au/content/view/5696/57/ |title = The Presets - My People |accessdate = 2008-04-12 |author = Rogers, Carlisle |date = 2008-03-28 |publisher = "3D World" ] The duo had no songs written or any idea what the album would sound like before hitting the farm. [cite web |url = http://www.ripitup.com.au/interviews/7087 |title = Go Hard Go Home |accessdate = 2008-04-12 |author = Knight, David |date = 2008-04-10 |publisher = "Rip It Up" ] Basing themselves in Berlin, the band continued work on the album while touring in Europe. The majority of the album was recorded by the band themselves at their own individual home studios. The songs were finished at a friend's studio and the album was mixed at BJB Studios in Sydney and at Seedy Underbelly in Los Angeles. The album was mastered at The Exchange in London.

Kim Moyes, describing the album, said "There is a few songs on "Apocalypso" that have been informed by our live shows in terms of their energy, after 2 and a bit years of touring we really found out what we liked playing and what works well live, but the album as a whole however is not all bangers, there are some very delicate moments too." [cite web |url = http://www.noizemakesenemies.co.uk/2008/04/presets-interview.html |title = The Presets - Interview |accessdate = 2008-05-01 |author = Kendrick, Martin |date = April 2008 |publisher = noizemakesenemies.co.uk ]

In an interview with Australian national radio station Triple J, the band members discussed how they came up with the album's title, stating that it evolved from "Apocalypse Wow", a suggestion by Hamilton. "Y'know the idea of the apocalypse and a calypso together. Something very dark, very intense, you can't get much worse than an apocalypse. And then a calypso which is just super fun, like mojitos, steel drums." [cite web |url = http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s2217801.htm |title = The Presets on Apocalypso |accessdate = 2008-05-02 |publisher = Triple J ]

Track listing

All song written by The Presets

#"Kicking and Screaming" – 5:45
#"My People" – 4:30
#"A New Sky" – 4:36
#"This Boy's in Love" – 4:11
#"Yippiyo-ay" – 4:34
#"Talk Like That" – 3:44
#"Eucalyptus" – 3:28
#"If I Know You" – 4:28
#"Together" – 5:52
#"Aeons" – 3:28
#"Anywhere" – 6:17
#"Buzz Factory" (Digital exclusive track) [Deluxe Edition Only] – 5:20
#"My People (Mouse on Mars Terror Pretz Remix)" [Deluxe Edition Only]

Personnel

*Julian Hamilton – vocals, keyboards
*Kim Moyes – drums, keyboards
*Scott Horscroft – mixer
*John Fields – mixer
*Nilesh Patel – mastering
*Lyn Balzer – photography
*Anthony Perkins – photography
*Jonathan Zawada – art direction

References