Inspiral Carpets

by Inspiral Carpets

Overview

Inspiral Carpets is that rarest of things: a reunion album that also represents the first-ever time an original lineup got an opportunity to make a record together. Vocalist Stephen Holt departed the Carpets in 1989, just a year before their debut, Life, and he stayed out of the picture until the band geared up to active duty in 2011, some 20 years after their first album and almost a decade after their initial reunion. It's a slightly convoluted history but never once do the Inspiral Carpets sound burdened by their past on this eponymous record. Instead, they act like no time has passed between their initial demos and this 2014 LP, diving right back into the organ-driven psychedelic swirl that is their signature. This isn't a desperate race toward the past so much as it is a reclamation of strengths, and that matter-of-fact attitude pairs well with the increased muscle the band's grown over the past 20 years. Inspiral Carpets are a heavier, thicker band than they were in the '90s and the lack of wide-eyed optimism gives this comeback gravity and attitude that suits men of a certain age, and while this shift alone would give this comeback distinction, the Carpets have also crafted a set of songs as strong as any of the records they released in the '90s, which means this is a surprisingly effective comeback. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	11/03/2023
Label:	Cherry Red
UPC:	5013929163959
Rank:	156103

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Monochrome
2. Spitfire
3. You're So Good for Me
4. A to Z of My Heart
5. Calling Out to You
6. Flying Like a Bird
7. Changes
8. Hey Now
9. Our Time
10. Forever Here
11. Let You Down
12. Human Sheild

Disc 2

13. You're So Good for Me
14. Head for the Sun
15. Fix Your Smile
16. Save Me
17. Controller

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Inspiral Carpets   Primary Artist
John Cooper Clarke   Featured Artist
Clint Boon   Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Craig Gill   Drums
Graham Lambert   Guitar
Martyn Walsh   Guitar (Bass)
Stephen Holt   Vocals

Technical Credits

John Cooper Clarke   Composer
Jim Spencer   Mixing
John Reed   Coordination
Seadna McPhail   Engineer
Keith Davey   Design
Shirlaine Forrest   Photography
Ian Rook   Cover Photo,Photography
Desh Kapur   Photography
Elspeth Moore   Photography
Inspiral Carpets   Composer,Producer