Vanishing Point (album)

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Vanishing Point
Vanishing Point cover
Studio album by Primal Scream
Released July 7, 1997
Genre Alternative
Length 53:31
Label Creation Records
Sire US
Producer Primal Scream, Brendan Lynch, Andrew Weatherall
Professional reviews
Primal Scream chronology
Give Out But Don't Give Up
(1994)		 Vanishing Point
(1997)		 Echo Dek
(1997)

Vanishing Point is a 1997 (see 1997 in music) album by Primal Scream. It is named after and inspired by the 1971 film Vanishing Point, especially the song "Kowalski", which is meant to be an alternative soundtrack to the movie. Leader singer Bobby Gillespie said, "The music in the film is hippy music, so we thought, 'Why not record some music that really reflects the mood of the film?' It's always been a favourite of the band, we love the air of paranoia and speed- freak righteousness. It's impossible to get hold of now, which is great! It's a pure underground film, rammed with claustrophobia."[1] Vanishing Point shows inspiration from dub, ambient music, dance, krautrock and other genres, as well as individual bands such as Motörhead, Can, and The Stooges. It was the first album to feature the band's new bass player Gary 'Mani' Mounfield, formerly of The Stone Roses.

The album was recorded with the aid of two portable eight-track recording studios at the band's Chalk Farm rehearsal rooms where it was also written.[1] The entire album was written and recorded in two months and mixed an additional month.[1] On their cover of "Motorhead," Gillespie sung the first verse through a Darth Vader mask.[2] According to an article, much of the album came from live improvisation and, "Then later on we'd layer other sounds and loops over the top, and the vocals," said Gillespie in an interview.[2] The track "If They Move, Kill 'Em" was originally to have included a sample from Sam Peckinpah's film, The Wild Bunch (the song title is one of the earliest lines of dialogue spoken in the film) but it could not be cleared in time.[2]

Gillespie has described the album as "an anarcho-syndicalist speedfreak road movie record!"[1]

Author Irvine Welsh scripted the video for the album's first single, "Kowalski" and was directed by musician Douglas Hart. The video features a Dodge Challenger and super model Kate Moss beating up the band. Gillespie described the video as "a cross between Faster Pussycat, Kill! Kill! and The Sweeney."[2]

Guests on Vanishing Point include Augustus Pablo, Glen Matlock, and The Memphis Horns.

Contents

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Burning Wheel" – 7:06
  2. "Get Duffy" – 4:09
  3. "Kowalski" – 5:50 (Gillespie/Innes/Young/Duffy/Mounfield)
  4. "Star" – 4:24
  5. "If They Move, Kill 'Em" – 3:01
  6. "Out of the Void" – 3:59
  7. "Stuka" – 5:36
  8. "Medication" – 3:52
  9. "Motörhead" – 3:38 (Lemmy)
  10. "Trainspotting" – 8:07
  11. "Long Life" – 3:49

All songs written by Gillespie/Innes/Young/Duffy, unless noted.

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Band

[edit] Guests

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Kessler, Ted. "Vortex, Drug & Rock n Roll", New Musical Express, May 3, 1997. Retrieved on 2007-07-17. 
  2. ^ a b c d Perry, Andrew. "Freeze!", Select, June 1997. Retrieved on 2007-07-17. 
v • d • e
Primal Scream
Bobby Gillespie · Andrew Innes · Martin Duffy · Mani · Darrin Mooney
Former Members
Jim Beattie · Paul Harte · Martin St. John · Stuart May · Tom McGurk · Paul Mulreany · Phillip "Toby" Tomanov · Robert "Throb" Young
Studio albums
Live albums/videos
Compilation and remix albums
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