The Vertigo of Bliss

The Vertigo of Bliss
Studio album by Biffy Clyro
Released 16 June 2003
Recorded Linford Manor
Milton Keynes, England
Genre Alternative rock
Experimental rock
Length 62:13
Label Beggars Banquet
BBQCD233
Producer Chris Sheldon
Biffy Clyro
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Biffy Clyro chronology
Blackened Sky
(2002)
The Vertigo of Bliss
(2003)
Infinity Land
(2004)
Singles from The Vertigo of Bliss
  1. "Toys, Toys, Toys, Choke, Toys, Toys, Toys"
    Released: 15 July 2002
  2. "The Ideal Height"
    Released: 24 March 2003
  3. "Questions and Answers"
    Released: 26 May 2003
  4. "Eradicate the Doubt"
    Released: 22 September 2003

The Vertigo of Bliss is the second studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Biffy Clyro, released on 16 June 2003, on Beggars Banquet Records. The band has confirmed the myth that principal recording on the album was recorded in just one day, leaving the band to "play the PlayStation" for the remainder of the week that had been booked in Linford Manor.[1]

Contents

Overview

The Vertigo of Bliss was recorded and released only one year after Blackened Sky. The album arguably sounds more like a singular piece of work (the only track not recorded during the same sessions was "Toys, Toys, Toys..." which was originally a double-A-side single with "Joy.Discovery.Invention") as opposed to a collection of individual songs. The album remains a firm favourite with a lot of fans on the Biffy Clyro board, perhaps because of its more experimental style, which sees songs such as "Bodies in Flight" and "Toys Toys Toys, Choke, Toys Toys Toys" cramming several movements into the space of one song. Moreover, string sections are used to climactic effect in "With Aplomb" and "Now The Action Is On Fire" showing the band's clear progression from their debut.

The distinctive cover art was created by Milo Manara, who also created the cover art for all the singles from The Vertigo of Bliss. The album takes its name from one of Lucifer's musings in the novel, I, Lucifer. As with each of the band's first three albums, it has only been played in full once, on 14 December 2005 at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow. The album reached #48 in the UK Albums Chart.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Simon Neil, James Johnston, and Ben Johnston. 

No. Title Length
1. "Bodies in Flight"   5:17
2. "The Ideal Height"   3:41
3. "With Aplomb"   5:29
4. "A Day of..."   2:24
5. "Liberate the Illiterate / A Mong Among Mingers"   5:28
6. "Diary of Always"   4:04
7. "Questions and Answers"   4:02
8. "Eradicate the Doubt"   4:26
9. "When the Faction's Fractioned"   3:36
10. "Toys, Toys, Toys, Choke, Toys, Toys, Toys"   5:28
11. "All the Way Down: Prologue / Chapter 1"   6:43
12. "A Man of His Appalling Posture"   3:25
13. "Now the Action is on Fire!"   8:01
14. "Ewen's True Mental You" (Hidden track starting at 6:24 of previous track) 1:37

B-sides From Vertigo of Bliss

Release history

The Vertigo of Bliss was released in the UK in 2003.

Country Date Label Format Catalogue number
United Kingdom 16 June 2003 Beggars Banquet CD BBQCD233
United Kingdom 16 June 2003 Beggars Banquet Vinyl (now out of print) BBQ233

Notes

  1. ^ In an interview with Daniel P. Carter on BBC Radio 1's The Rock Show