Wanderlust (Sophie Ellis-Bextor album)

Wanderlust
Studio album by Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Released 20 January 2014
Recorded State of the Ark (Richmond, London); The Bulgarian Embassy (London)
Genre
Length 40:56
Label EBGB's
Producer Ed Harcourt
Sophie Ellis-Bextor chronology

  • Wanderlust
  • (2014)
Singles from Wanderlust
  1. "Young Blood"
    Released: 21 November 2013
  2. "Runaway Daydreamer"
    Released: 31 March 2014
  3. "Love Is a Camera"
    Released: 23 June 2014
  4. "The Deer & the Wolf"
    Released: 25 August 2014

Wanderlust (stylised as ШАNDԐЯLUЅT) is the fifth studio album by English recording artist Sophie Ellis-Bextor, released on 20 January 2014 by EBGB's. The album marks a sharp shift in Sophie's music style, incorporating elements of folk, baroque and orchestral music. It was featured as BBC Radio 2's "Album of the Week" on 18 January 2014.[1]

A double-disc repackaged version was released on November 3, 2014 and included a remix version of the album.[2]

Singles

The album's lead single, "Young Blood", was offered as a free download on Ellis-Bextor's official website on 26 March 2013,[3] before being officially released on iTunes on 21 November 2013.[4] The single reached number thirty-four on the UK Singles Chart and number three on the UK Indie Singles Chart.[5][6] The accompanying music video was directed by Sophie Muller.[7]

On 31 March 2014, "Runaway Daydreamer" was released as the second single from the album. The music video was also directed by Sophie Muller.[8] It peaked at number 29 on the UK Indie Chart.[9]

The album's third single is "Love Is a Camera", which will be released on 23 June, with the video being filmed in Florence, Italy on 30 April, by director Sophie Muller.[10] The single was added straight onto the BBC Radio 2's A-list playlist.[11]

"The Deer & the Wolf" was released on 24 August as the fourth and final single lifted from the album. The video was shot in London by up-and-coming director Harry Cauty.[12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic 65/100[13]
Review scores
Source Rating
Clash 8/10[14]
Daily Mail [15]
The Daily Telegraph [16]
Digital Spy [17]
The Guardian [18]
The Independent [19]
The Irish Times [20]
musicOMH [21]
The Observer [22]
Virgin Media [23]

Wanderlust received positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 63 based on eleven reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews",[13] while aggregating website AnyDecentMusic? reports a score of 6.1 based on fourteen professional reviews.[24] Gareth James of Clash found the album "quite remarkable", and described the songs as "grand and ambitious."[14] Matthew Horton of Virgin Media wrote that Ellis-Bextor "has decided on a change of tack [...] that has brought out the best in her," and called the songs "almost without exception, marvelous."[23] John Paul Lucas of So So Gay found Wanderlust "bold, ambitious and frequently surprising" and wrote that it "feels like an arrival, and potentially the most important album of her career."[25] Robert Copsey of Digital Spy described it as "a brave excursion into something surprisingly off-kilter for a traditionally top 40 popstar," however he felt that its lyrics sound "occasionally sappy and sentimental."[17] Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian noticed "the preponderance of sweeping string-and-piano arrangements" and noted that "what really sells this album is its forays into eastern European-style pathos."[18]

Louise Bruton of The Irish Times compared the album's sound to the Norwegian folk/pop band Katzenjammer and felt that "as a breakaway from her usual dancefloor dalliances, Sophie chose wisely."[20] Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph described Wanderlust as "an odd mix of colourful and melodious songs with thoughtful lyrics and lush, slightly wonky arrangements," while also noticing a "lack [of] an emotional centre."[16] Adrian Thrills of the Daily Mail wrote that "despite the overwrought moments" Wanderlust is "a dark and atmospheric album, with some big, cinematic crescendos adding quirky touches."[15] Kate Bennett of musicOMH stated that "Sophie Ellis-Bextor has just abandoned her electropop comfort blanket for a smothering duvet of clichés and ineffectual romanticism,"[21] while Hermiony Hobby of The Observer felt that she "sounds like a nine-year-old girl" and called the album's arrangements "more saccharine than stirring."[22] Andy Gill of The Independent noted Wanderlust's "Eastern European flavour" and suggested that Ellis-Bextor is "re-positioning herself in the prim Nordic-diva territory of Agnes Obel and Ane Brun."[19] Ludovic Hunter-Tilney of the Financial Times noticed that "she sings with more feeling than her electro-pop days but the album suffers from a plodding pace."[26]

Commercial performance

Wanderlust debuted on the UK Albums Chart at number four with 10,844 copies sold in its first week, becoming Ellis-Bextor's highest-charting solo album since 2001's Read My Lips, which peaked at number two.[27][28] The following week, it fell to number five with sales of 8,520 copies.[29] The album slipped to number nine in its third week, selling 7,231 copies.[30] The album now has the second-longest chart run of any Sophie Ellis-Bextor album (after Read My Lips), having spent fourteen consecutive weeks in the top 75 as of 27 April 2014.[31] It was awarded a Silver certification by the BPI after selling 60,000 copies in the UK.[32]

Wanderlust Tour

Ellis-Bextor supported the album's release with a sold-out and critically acclaimed show at the Bush Hall in London on 21 January 2014.[33][34][35][36][37] She later went to announce a full-UK tour.[38] Festival dates and a second leg of the tour around the UK were announced in late April.[39]

Sophie won the Best Live Act prize at the AIM Awards held on 2 September 2014 in London.[40]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Ed Harcourt. 

No. Title Length
1. "Birth of an Empire"   3:48
2. "Until the Stars Collide"   3:39
3. "Runaway Daydreamer"   4:00
4. "The Deer & the Wolf"   3:54
5. "Young Blood"   4:28
6. "-Interlude-"   2:23
7. "13 Little Dolls"   3:32
8. "Wrong Side of the Sun"   3:50
9. "Love Is a Camera"   4:13
10. "Cry to the Beat of the Band"   3:38
11. "When the Storm Has Blown Over"   3:31

Personnel

Credits for adapted from the liner notes of Wanderlust.[50]

  • Sophie Ellis-Bextor – vocals
  • Seton Daunt – guitar
  • Dirty Pretty Strings – strings (tracks 2, 5, 8)
  • Ed Harcourt – backing vocals, guitar, keyboards, piano, production, samples, synth (all tracks); arrangement, conducting (tracks 2, 5, 8)
  • Richard Jones – bass
  • Amy Langley – cello (tracks 1, 2, 5, 8)
  • Gita Langley – violin (tracks 1–3, 5, 8, 10)
  • Rosie Langley – violin (tracks 2, 5, 8)
  • Arnulf Lindner – double bass (tracks 5, 9)
  • London Bulgarian Choir – choir (track 10)
  • Michael Nash Associates – art direction
  • Sophie Muller – photography
  • Miles Showell – mastering
  • Wallace Productions – management
  • Phil Wilkinson – drums, percussion
  • Polly Wiltshire – viola (tracks 2, 5, 8)
  • Richard Woodcraft – engineering, mixing

Charts

Chart (2014) Peak
position
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[51] 132
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[52] 88
Russian Albums Chart[53] 2
Scottish Albums Chart[54] 9
UK Albums Chart[55] 4
UK Indie Albums Chart[56] 1

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United Kingdom (BPI)[57] Silver 60,000^[57]
Summaries

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Japan 20 January 2014 Digital download EBGB's
[58]
Mexico
[59]
Spain
[60]
United States
[61]
Netherlands
  • CD
  • digital download
[62][63]
Sweden
[64][65]
United Kingdom
[66][67]
Japan 22 January 2014 CD
  • EBGB's
  • Modulor Japan
[68]
Australia 24 January 2014 Digital download EBGB's
[69]
Germany
  • CD
  • LP
  • digital download
  • EBGB's
  • Alive
[70][71][72]
Italy Digital download EBGB's
[73]
France 27 January 2014
  • CD
  • digital download
[74][75]
United Kingdom LP
[76]
Australia 3 February 2014
[77]
Spain
  • CD
  • LP
[78][79]
Italy 17 February 2014 CD
[80]
Australia 21 February 2014
[81]
United Kingdom (reissue) 3 November 2014
  • 2×CD
  • Digital download
  • LP
[82]

References

  1. ↑ "BBC – Radio 2 – Playlist". BBC Radio 2. Archived from the original on 21 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  2. ↑ Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Wanderlust (2CD repackaged version)
  3. ↑ Ellis-Bextor, Sophie (26 March 2013). "Download Sophie's new song, Young Blood, for free!". sophieellisbextor.net. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Young Blood – Single by Sophie Ellis-Bextor". iTunes Store UK. Apple. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "2014 Top 40 Official Singles Chart UK Archive". Official Charts Company. 8 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  6. ↑ "2014 Top 40 Independent Singles Archive". Official Charts Company. 8 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  7. ↑ Cragg, Michael (25 November 2013). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Young Blood: New music". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  8. ↑ Copsey, Robert (22 January 2014). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor announces new single – listen". Digital Spy. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  9. ↑ "2014-04-19 Top 40 Independent Singles Archive | Official Charts". 19 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  10. ↑ French, Alice (29 April 2014). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor announces new single 'Love is a Camera' and Autumn tour dates". pressparty.com. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  11. ↑ "BBC Radio 2 A-List". BBC Radio. 28 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  12. ↑ YouTube (20 August 2014). "The Deer & The Wolf, the video". EBGBs. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Wanderlust – Sophie Ellis-Bextor". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 James, Gareth (16 January 2014). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Wanderlust". Clash. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Thrills, Adrian (16 January 2013). "Sophie's strictly a rock chic now: Ellis-Bextor's Wanderlust album review". Daily Mail. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 McCormick, Neil (16 January 2013). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Wanderlust, review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Copsey, Robert (15 January 2013). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Wanderlust review: 'A brave musical excursion'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Sullivan, Caroline (16 January 2013). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Wanderlust – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Gill, Andy (18 January 2013). "Album reviews: Mogwai, Warpaint, Damien Jurado, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Thee Silver Mount Zion, East India Youth". The Independent. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Bruton, Louise (17 January 2013). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Wanderlust". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Bennett, Kate (14 January 2013). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Wanderlust". musicOMH. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Hobby, Hermione (19 January 2013). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Wanderlust – review". The Observer. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Horton, Matthew (15 January 2013). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor Wanderlust". Virgin Media. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  24. ↑ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor Wanderlust". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  25. ↑ Lucas, John Paul (21 January 2013). "Album Review: Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Wanderlust". So So Gay. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  26. ↑ Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (17 January 2013). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Wanderlust". Financial Times. Pearson PLC. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  27. ↑ Jones, Alan (27 January 2014). "Official Charts Analysis: Goulding reclaims No.1 album spot with 21,000 sales". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 27 January 2014. (subscription required)
  28. ↑ Lane, Daniel (26 January 2014). "Ellie Goulding returns to top of the Official Albums Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  29. ↑ Jones, Alan (3 February 2014). "Official Charts Analysis: Clean Bandit single sells another 137k". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 20 February 2014. (subscription required)
  30. ↑ Jones, Alan (10 February 2014). "Official Charts Analysis: 19k sales enough for Bombay Bicycle Club to hit No.1". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 20 February 2014. (subscription required)
  31. ↑
  32. ↑ "Official twitter feed for BPI". British Phonographic Industry on Twitter. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  33. ↑ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor at Bush Hall, W12". The Times. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  34. ↑ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Bush Hall - music review: risk-taking and Strictly impressive". Evening Standard. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  35. ↑ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Bush Hall, London". The Digital Fix. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  36. ↑ "Sophie Ellis Bextor live @ Bush Hall, London - 21/01/2014". Gigwise. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  37. ↑ "Sophie Ellis Bextor, Bush Hall, review". The Telegraph. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  38. ↑ "Sophie Ellis Bextor Adds Second Glasgow Show To UK Tour". Stereoboard. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  39. ↑ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor". sophieellisbextor.net. 2014-04-29. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  40. ↑ "Sophie wins Best Live Act at AIM Awards". Twitter. Retrieved 2014-09-02.
  41. ↑ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor Tickets, Ticketmaster UK". Ticketmaster.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  42. ↑ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor". SEB. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  43. ↑ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor Tour, Russian dates added". SEB. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  44. ↑ "Shows". sophieellisbextor.net. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
  45. ↑ "Glastonbury Festival | The Official Glastonbury Festival Website". Glastonbury Festivals. Retrieved 2014-05-08.
  46. ↑ "Programme - Sophie Ellis-Bextor". Helsinki Festival. Retrieved 2014-05-09.
  47. ↑ "Bestival 2014 : Sophie Ellis-Bextor". Bestival. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
  48. ↑ "Java Soundsfair, 2014 lineup". Java Soundsfair / Java Festival Production. Retrieved 2014-10-01.
  49. ↑ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Wandermix (official store)". TMSTOR.
  50. ↑ Wanderlust (CD liner notes). Sophie Ellis-Bextor. EBGB's. 2014. EBGBCD002.
  51. ↑ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Wanderlust" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  52. ↑ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Wanderlust" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  53. ↑ "Номинанты "Грэмми" возглавили чарт iTunes" (in Russian). Lenta.ru. 28 January 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  54. ↑ "2014 Scottish Albums Chart". Official Charts Company. 1 February 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  55. ↑ "2014 Top 40 Official Albums Chart UK Archive". Official Charts Company. 1 February 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  56. ↑ "2014 Top 40 Independent Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. 1 February 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 "Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry Enter Wanderlust in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Click Go.
  58. ↑ "Wanderlust by Sophie Ellis-Bextor". iTunes Store Japan. Apple. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  59. ↑ "Wanderlust by Sophie Ellis-Bextor". iTunes Store Mexico. Apple. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  60. ↑ "Wanderlust de Sophie Ellis-Bextor" (in Spanish). 7digital Spain. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  61. ↑ "Wanderlust by Sophie Ellis-Bextor". iTunes Store US. Apple. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  62. ↑ "Wanderlust, Sophie Ellis Bextor" (in Dutch). bol.com. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  63. ↑ "Wanderlust by Sophie Ellis-Bextor". iTunes Store Netherlands. Apple. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  64. ↑ "Wanderlust – Album – Ellis-Bextor Sophie" (in Swedish). CDON.se. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  65. ↑ "Wanderlust by Sophie Ellis-Bextor". iTunes Store Sweden. Apple. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  66. ↑ "Wanderlust". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  67. ↑ "Wanderlust by Sophie Ellis-Bextor". iTunes Store UK. Apple. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  68. ↑ "WANDERLUST" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  69. ↑ "Wanderlust by Sophie Ellis-Bextor". zdigital Australia. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  70. ↑ "Wanderlust" (in German). AL!VE AG. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  71. ↑ "Wanderlust (Lp) [Vinyl LP]" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  72. ↑ "Wanderlust von Sophie Ellis-Bextor" (in German). 7digital Germany. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  73. ↑ "Wanderlust di Sophie Ellis-Bextor" (in Italian). 7digital Italy. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  74. ↑ "Wanderlust – Sophie Ellis Bextor" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  75. ↑ "Wanderlust par Sophie Ellis-Bextor" (in French). 7digital France. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  76. ↑ "Wanderlust [VINYL]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  77. ↑ "Wanderlust (Vinyl) – Ellis-Bextor, Sophie". JB Hi-Fi. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  78. ↑ "Bextor : Sophie Ellis" (in Spanish). Fnac.es. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  79. ↑ "Bextor (Edición vinilo) : Sophie Ellis" (in Spanish). Fnac.es. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  80. ↑ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Wanderlust" (in Italian). Internet Bookshop Italia. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  81. ↑ "Wanderlust – Ellis-Bextor, Sophie". JB Hi-Fi. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  82. ↑ "Wanderlust (Reissued edition)". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 3 October 2014.