Purity of Essence (Hoodoo Gurus album)

Purity of Essence
Studio album by Hoodoo Gurus
Released 12 March 2010
Recorded November–December 2009
Genre Rock
Length 61:09
Label Sony
Producer Hoodoo Gurus, Charles Fisher
Hoodoo Gurus chronology

Mach Schau
(2004)		 Purity of Essence
(2010)
Singles from Purity of Essence
  1. "Crackin' Up"
    Released: 15 December 2009
  2. "I Hope You're Happy"
    Released: 5 March 2010
  3. "What's in It for Me?"
    Released: 2010

Purity of Essence is Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus' ninth studio album. It was recorded six years after their last studio album, Mach Schau, and was released on 12 March 2010. The album peaked at No. 16 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Albums Chart.[1] It was released internationally on 11 May on the band's own label via Virtual Label/ADA.

The album was co-produced by the band with Charles Fisher, who produced two of the band's previous albums, Mars Needs Guitars! and Blue Cave. The album was mixed by Ed Stasium, who previously worked with the Hoodoo Gurus on the Kinky and Crank.

Their first single from the album, "Crackin' Up" was released three months earlier in December 2009. A second single, "I Hope You're Happy" appeared in March 2010 with the third single, "What's in It for Me?" issued subsequently.

Background

Hoodoo Gurus were formed in 1981 in Sydney, their eighth studio album, Mach Schau, was released in 2004.[2] They were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame on 18 July 2007.[3] This was followed by a national tour of Australia called 'Clash of the Titans' with The Stems and Radio Birdman.[4] According to Hoodoo Gurus frontman, Dave Faulkner, there were tentative plans to release a new album in 2009, although little material had been written by July 2008.[5]

In March 2009, Hoodoo Gurus signed a new recording contract with Sony Music Australia, the deal includes the band's back catalogue as well as a new album, the band's ninth studio album.[6][7] The album was originally scheduled for release in September 2009 but they were not happy with the final mix.[8]

We weren't really satisfied with the studio we were in and a whole lot of things, so we had to pull the plug on that and then rethink. We just had to eat the expense, you know, we had to give them a week's cancellation (fee).
—Dave Faulkner[8]

Hoodoo Gurus then sent their songs off to Durango, Colorado, where Ed Stasium, who worked on the band's previous albums Kinky and Crank worked with Faulkner. Faulkner flew to the US after Hoodoo Gurus performed in Japan,[9] their first performances there in over 20 years.[8]

In August 2009 it was revealed that Shepherd had been diagnosed with cancer and was recovering from recent surgery.[10] It was his second cancer diagnosis, having had a melanoma removed five years earlier.[10]

The first single from their new album, "Crackin' Up", was released in December 2009[11] and received some airplay on Australian radio stations.[12] The album, Purity of Essence, was released on 12 March 2010 in Australia and internationally on 11 May.[13]

A limited edition of the album was also released which included a bonus DVD containing four live tracks, part of the "Max Sessions in the Sand", recorded at the St Kilda Festival on 10 February 2008.

Reception

Professional reviews

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [14]
The Australian (Positive)[15]
The Age (Positive)[16]

Track listing

Purity of Essence
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Crackin' Up"  Dave Faulkner[17] 3:55
2. "A Few Home Truths"  Faulkner[17] 3:32
3. "Are You Sleeping?"  Faulkner[17] 4:35
4. "Burnt Orange"  Faulkner[17] 3:01
5. "I Hope You're Happy"  Faulkner[17] 3:43
6. "Ashamed of Me"  Faulkner[17] 3:55
7. "What's in It for Me?"  Faulkner[17] 3:23
8. "Over Nothing"  Faulkner[17] 5:01
9. "You've Got Another Thing Coming"  Brad Shepherd[17] 2:57
10. "Only in America"  Faulkner[17] 4:44
11. "Somebody, Take Me Home"  Faulkner, Shepherd[17] 3:04
12. "Let Me In"  Faulkner, Shepherd[17] 3:24
13. "Evening Shade"  Faulkner[17] 3:39
14. "Why So Sad?"  Faulkner[17] 4:26
15. "1968"  Faulkner, Shepherd[17] 2:37
16. "The Stars Look Down"  Faulkner[17] 5:33
Total length:
 61:09
Bonus DVD - Live from St Kilda
No. Title Length
1. "Bittersweet" (Music Video)  
2. "Come Anytime" (Music Video)  
3. "1000 Miles Away" (Video)  
4. "I was a Kamikaze Pilot" (Video)  

Release history

Region Date Label Format Catalog
Australia 12 March 2010 Sony Music CD 88697645112
Limited Edition CD (with bonus DVD) 88697670902
Digital download
United States 11 May 2010 CD 881626927724
Worldwide
Brazil 7 Dec 2010 Som Livre CD 1755-2[18]

Charts

Year Chart Title Peak
position
2010 Australian Albums Chart Purity of Essence 16[1]

Personnel

Credited to:[19][20]

Hoodoo Gurus members

Additional musicians

  • Andy Bickers – saxophone (tracks 4, 10)
  • Erina Clark – backing vocals (tracks 5, 10)
  • Ian Cooper – viola (track 8)
  • Garrett Costigan – pedal steel guitar (tracks 11, 16)
  • Anthony Kable – trombone (tracks 4, 10)
  • Adrian Keating – violin (track 8)
  • Stewart Kirwan – trumpet (tracks 4, 10)
  • Sophie Serafino – violin (track 8)
  • Prinnie Stevens – backing vocals (tracks 5, 10)

Production details

  • Engineer – Tim Whitten
    • Engineer assistants – Jason Lea
  • Mastering – Greg Calbi at Sterling Sonic, New York
    • Mastering (additional) - Don Bartley (track 1) at Benchmark Mastering, Sydney
  • Mixers – Ed Stasium at Kozytone Studio, Durango, Colorado
  • Producers – Hoodoo Gurus, Charles Fisher
  • Artwork - DK Sony
    • Design and layout – Doug Bartlett
    • Artists – David Bowers, Nick Morris
  • Photography – Tony Mott
  • Recording studio – Electric Avenue Studios, Camperdown, NSW

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Hoodoo Gurus discography". Australian charts portal (Hung Medien). Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  2. ↑ ""Hoodoo Gurus sign a deal with Capitol ... new album in 2004"" (PDF). EMI Sydney. 2003-11-17. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
  3. ↑ "ARIA Presents the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 6 May 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  4. ↑ Mccabe, Kathy (12 September 2007). "Rockin' Dinosaurs". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
  5. ↑ Smith, Craig (6 July 2008). "Interview with Dave Faulkner of Hoodoo Gurus". Webcuts Music. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  6. ↑ "Australian icons Hoodoo Gurus sign to Sony Music Australia". Sony Music Australia. 22 April 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  7. ↑ Elizier, Christie (28 April 2009). "Hoodoo Gurus sign to Sony Music". The Music.com.au. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Collins, Simon (25 September 2009). "Gurus head west". The West Australian (West Australian Newspapers Limited). Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  9. ↑ "Hoodoo Gurus live in Japan 2009". Super-Deluxe.com. 22 September 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 McCabe, Kathy (25 August 2009). "Hoodoo Gurus guitarist fighting cancer". The Daily Telegraph (News Corporation). Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  11. ↑ "Crackin' Up - Hoodoo Gurus". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  12. ↑ "Hear The Hoodoo Gurus' New Song First". Triple M. 7 December 2009. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  13. ↑ Haug, Ian. "Hoodoo Guru's Brad Shepherd interviewed by Powderfinger's Ian Haug". Australian Musician magazine. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  14. ↑ Deming, Mark. "Purity of Essence > Review". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  15. ↑ Cuthbertson, Ian (6 March 2010). "This week's music reviews – Rock – Purity of Essence – Hoodoo Gurus – Sony". The Australian (News Limited (News Corporation)). Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  16. ↑ Donovan, Patrick (12 March 2010). "Perennial party pumpers are back on song". The Age (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 17.7 17.8 17.9 17.10 17.11 17.12 17.13 17.14 17.15 "Australasian Performing Right Association". APRA. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  18. ↑ "Hoodoo Gurus - Purity Of Essence - Saraiva.com.br". Livraria Saraiva. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  19. ↑ "Images for Hoodoo Gurus – Purity of Essence". Discogs. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  20. ↑ "Purity of Essence > Credits". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 4 August 2010.