Thanks for the new Metamatic update Rob!

Looking forward to this CD!

AND! the EXCLUSIVE DOWNLOAD TRACK!!!

Great Idea!!


Andreas

A preview of "Estrellita" from Mirirball is now up in John's MySpace player.

Unsurprisingly it sounds like Cathedeal Oceans meets the Cocteau Twins...

thanks for the info Alex S.

Its not quite what I expected, kinda like a Euro ballad/pop stroll into a Cocteau landscape, but I have to say I do like it's continental summer's evening sound.

Nice. Sounds the most interesting to me out of all the new stuff that's being previewed lately..

That sums it up quite well actually!

I reckon this album will probably be the most diverse project of John's so far.

I think I'd expected this to be closer to Robin Guthrie's instrumental collaborations with Harold Budd. I'm not sure how well the parts fit together here, but that could just be down to hearing something a lot different from what I expected.

I still definitely want this album. Even if it does all end up sounding like a mashup between some Cathedral Oceans vocal tracks and some Robin Guthrie guitar lines, it could still work. I like the two elements well enough on their own. And John's singing is more direct and pop-song-like than the usual CO approach, despite the effects and what sounds like Latin lyrics. There's a real warmth to it.

As far as getting me excited about his forthcoming albums goes, John's three for three now. What's coming next, I wonder...

I like the sample from Mirrorball, am very excited about hearing the rest of the CD.

Estrellita is a gorgeous track. I’ll be honest – I wasn’t expecting vocals at all, I thought it would be instrumental material so that little surprise blew me away.

I’ve been looking forward to this release for a few years now (2005!), so happy to see it’s finally here.

So, 3 brand new albums by May – blimey…what’s he got planned for the rest of the year!?

Feet up, while the cash rolls in!

Estrellita is nothing like what I was expecting to hear. Definitly has a European summer feel. May is probably a good time to release this.

Thank you John and Steve for the preview.
Peter

Having heard Guthrie's "Lumiere" performance and got his last couple of albums - as well as being a fan of all things Cocteau - this is EXACTLY what I was expecting to hear, and I love it!

Guthrie's holding back perfectly, and John's vocal is, well, different!
Maybe Latin, maybe not-quite-words at all. Maybe some unwritten non-verbal language...

Hang on..?? seeks out Blue Bell Knoll :p

There's also news of this preview at thequietman:-

http://blog.thequietman.co.uk/category/releases/

accompanied by one of the original CO images, which - at least to me - has a very "under ice" feel about it...

A larger version of the same image (entitled "CATHEDRAL OCEANS") is one of five more pictures recently added to the gallery at

http://www.myspace.com/foxxmetamatic

Hi Martin,

I love every Cocteau Twins album and...
I loathe every Cocteau Twins album

They have to catch me at the right moment. Sometimes I'm 'Wow! What an amazing, emotional, burn burn burn of a catherine wheel music!'

And other days I'm 'Fer chrisakes woman! Would it kill you to write a bleedin' song!? It's Cleo Lane!'

All bets are off when Heaven or Las Vegas goes on though.



I need to catch up on my Guthrie - still not got round to getting Imperial yet - tsk tsk.

Gazza

Ha!Ha! Kind of always felt the same about the Cocteaus, Pearly Dewdrops Drop is fine now and then but after a bit it does tire one so.

Anyway I'm sure Guthrie is a very accomplished musician and I love what I've heard from the edit on myspace, my favourite in fact of the new stuff.

HERESY!

I thought HearSay had split up... :rolleyes:

I love that track!


At the first moment I felt it would fit in with In Mysterious Ways ...

WANT MORE!!!!

Estrellita, little star (in Spanish) is a lovely track. Reminds me at times of The Garden.

All his collaborations so far have that special quality. There's a track with Harold Budd on mySpace and I wonder if his previously unreleased material with Budd will see the light of day...wishing on an Estrellita!

Chris

It's "Adult" from Translucence that's been recently uploaded.

Interesting choice. There's some 'common ground' between this and A Secret Life...

I notice that the 'cover' image for Adult is not the Translucence cover, but a more recent 'quiet man' style piece...?

...and Cathedral Oceans. The track is up there amongst John's best. In addition to his electronics this kind of music is also his forte.

Thanks John!
Chris

Looks like the Estrellita track on http://www.myspace.com/foxxmetamatic now has some accompanying artwork... :p

Aye you're right. Oh look..it's in black & white...

Just preordered this after getting Robin's latest update for the Metamatic mailing list. How long before the next album?

'Luminous' is up on the myspace player. Don't know how long it's been there.

It was 3rd March I spotted it.

http://www.metamatic.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=11;t=000444

ah ok . .fair enough!

I notice that theres not been much comment on Luminous since Brian brought the newly posted sample to our attention.

Personally I'm a bit disappointed by it, sounding like a typical John C.O. vocal has just merely been laid on top of a standard Cocteau guitar wash. I dont sense any fusion going on, and the title is also a much overused adjective and not very inspiring...

I have to say I agree there. I was expecting for something a bit more innovative and experimental, given the artists involved. Instead it just sounds like a cross between CO and the general Cocteau sound - which is OK if you like them - which in my case I'm not overly fussed. I have a best-of CD, which I seldom play. I was hoping that John's contribution might at least be more lyrical.

On the other hand, we do have A Secret Life, which will, I guess, be a very experimental album, and I'm looking forward to that, although initially I was undecided by the samples online.

It's still hard to pass judgement without hearing the whole album though...

I'm a big Cocteau Twins fan (heck, I actually got to see them live once, while in Boston on a business trip), and I like Robin Guthrie's solo material as well, so I'm still feeling pretty positive about Mirrorball. It may not be quite what I expected, triangulating from Foxx/Budd on Translucence/Drift Music and Budd/Guthrie on Mysterious Skin, After the Night Falls, and Before the Day Breaks, if Estrellita is representative of the whole. But it's still something I have to hear.

That’s my thought also.
We’ve had lots of time to prepare for this collaborative release, and I might eventually warm to Luminous, and deep down a younger part of me is thinking Crikey! that’s John Foxx singing on a Cocteau track, but in reality I’m feeling that all that’s happened is that Liz has just been swapped over for John, certainly an amazing proposition if it had happened in the 80’s, (a bit like having your ‘dream band members’ fantasy come true )

Not wishing to cross-post but I too had wondered at the large volume of plays for ‘A Secret Life’, (though Furniture has probably guessed correct about this in his Secret Life thread), and either people love Estrellita, at 2,428 plays, or maybe they can’t get their heads around it? and keep having to re-listen, Luminous meanwhile has so far had 780.

From John's Myspace blog.

MY LIFE AS AN ECHO - FOXX/GUTHRIE
Rob Da Bank previewed the forthcoming John Foxx & Robin Guthrie album, Mirrorball (out on May 4) by playing some of the track My Life As An Echo on Radio 1 last weekend. You can listen to the song on http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/robdabank/
It fades in around 29 mins, 22 secs - as it's part of a mix you don't get the full track but a flavour . . . I think it's up there today (Sat) and (tomorrow).

Don't know if I caught the whole thing, but the bit I heard sounded more like I expected: piano presumably by John over Guthrie's guitars and a beat, no vocals.

This is excellent promotional stuff, and sets the track right up there in a 'happening now' context.

It follows Terry Lynn's 'Kingston Logic' wonderfully, believe it or not!!

Rob da Bank has been a champion of John's for a while now, and had an influential hand on the 'Bestival' appearance in 2007. He describes the track as 'shudderingly good' - which it certainly seems to be!
Mind you, he doesn't actually say who or what the track is...

In new music we trust

Thanks Brian

Yes pity he doesn't say who it is, but anyway it's mentioned in the programme's tracklisting for the day (Monday 9th March 2009 for the record)...

And a great flavour it is too, thanks for posting this Brian, and wow, I really like it, lush, and sweepingly romantic, and also a fantastic title
Getting just a tad excited about the album now!

THIS GOT ME THINKIN'...

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME A JOHN FOXX TRACK WAS PLAYED ON RADIO 1???

Young Savage was played on Mark & Lard's final afternoon show about 4 years ago but actual John Foxx,I dont know...

BTW Martin are you surfing on a mobile phone by any chance?

Yes, a beautiful track! Cannot wait until May.

But A Secret Life first...

Thanks Brian!!!

Obviously we are hearing the tracks out of context within the whole album, however IMHO doesn't 'Espadrills' (or whatever it's called), sound better being heard straight after ' Luminous'? They sort of flow into each other as 'Espa' is much lighter.
Haven't heard 'My Life as an Echo' as the link's now gone, anyone know where I can hear it? Apart from wait til Star Wars Day, of course,
Cheers

Hi Craig.
I have mailed you the track accross.

Peter

Mirrorball is also going to be made available on vinyl ...

Rob

That's great news!

From the tracklist and the general feel of the two tracks we've heard on myspace, I'm guessing Estrellita closes Side One and Luminous opens Side Two

A vinyl release of this is a really good idea.

Personally, I would have liked to see "Impossible" given the same treatment...

cheers Peter, got it. Very nice

The track-listing for the vinyl edition of Mirrorball is as follows...

Side One
A1. Mirrorball
A2. My Life As An Echo
A3. The Perfect Line
A4. Spectroscope
A5. Estrellita

Side Two
B1. Luminous
B2. Sunshower
B3. Ultramarine
B4. Empire Skyline

Rob

Will this be the first Foxx album on Vinyl since Crash and Burn?

Seems I guessed correctly. Proof that there is still some value in track-listings and the appropriate order of things

Did the track names come from "John Foxx Song Title Auto-Generator" software?
If so I think there may a fault - the obligatory track with "city" in the title is missing!

I keep playing the samples over and over, but I just can't get into this

I've decided to save Mirrorball for a rainy day. Providing more than 1000 copies have been made...

This is music for summer days, lazing in a park, nice bottle of wine and a book...probably best hold off until then!

I see the vinyl edition of Mirrorball now has slightly different artwork to the CD edition - can't find a better pic sadly

Luckily I can find one...



Rob

Cheers Rob!

That's much better than the CD release which has cut the top off the picture for the artist and title credits.

Look - no hands... :p

Just spotted this video on youtube:

John Foxx / Robin Guthrie - Estrellita - MirrorBall - VJ mix by KARBORN

..very nice too!

Well spotted D

First time the whole version has appeared anywhere.

I see the Angel is back

Thanks for posting.
loved hearing the song in it's entirety, great if it was released as a single...
Video seems to have scenes from Last Year In Marienbad included, fantastic with the music.

First time I've heard that song & it's really whetted my appetite for the album.

Yeah, there are a few scenes from Marienbad in there. Funny, I finally watched that movie not too long ago, partly because John talked about it on one of the interview CDs.

This is F*CKING AWESOME!!!

There, I feel better now.

Steve, no excuses. A single. NOW

Absolute categorical proof that you can't listen to this in bits and extracts and samples and stuff.

We wanted a single around the time of Crash and Burn.
Do it now. Go on.

I dare you not to... :p

Video also up on JohnFoxxMetamatic youtube channel now too, ie. posted as JohnfoxxMetamatic but it\'s the same.

(don't worry if you see it upside down ... youtube april fool's thing :rolleyes: )

I just ordered my copy of Mirrorball today from Townsend, and got a free MP3 download of Estrellita. I must confess after several plays i quite agree with Gary. Gorgeous track! I am really taken with it. I keep playing it over and over. I cant wait for the CD.

How delicious is this. Yes please can we have this a single.

I'm sure Brian has already posted this somewhere but my 'tuesdayaftertheholidayandmybrainwon'tstart' mind can't find it (Sorry Brian!). The first 100 copies of Mirrorball will be signed by Foxx;


John Foxx & Robin Guthrie : "Mirrorball" on vinyl...

The John Foxx & Robin Guthrie album "Mirrorball" will also be
released on vinyl on May 4. The album will contain a print of the front cover
artwork.

The first 100 copies of the vinyl edition of "Mirrorball" ordered
through Hydrogen Dukebox will be signed by John Foxx.
Anyone who's ALREADY pre-ordered a copy through Townsend Records will also receive a signed copy.
Pre-order your copy on www.hydrogendukebox.com

Label : Hydrogen Dukebox Records
Catalogue Number : DUKE150DJV
Release Date For Vinyl and CD: 4th of May, 2009

No worries Gary,

I posted over at EV before the forum took an Easter holiday.

Ordered a copy.

Just in from Townsend;

John Foxx and Robin Guthrie will be releasing a Heavyweight Vinyl LP edition of Mirrorball on May 4, the LP will be limited to only 1000 copies

I just got an email from Townsend saying that if I order from them I'll receive an exclusive nine minute, extended version of the track 'Luminous' as an audio download next Friday - May 1.

I thought that if you ordered from them all that you got was Estrellita?

Does anyone know the playing time of the Luminous track on the album?

Scott et al

The extended, download-only version of 'Luminous' is exclusive to Townsend Record online CD orders - it is not the same as the album version, and it is not (at least as far as I know) restricted to orders for the vinyl format

A guardedly positive three-star review of Mirrorball from David Buckley in the new Mojo:


'Two of pop's supreme 'sound engineers' record, with suitably outre results'

'After years of inactivity following his pioneering electronic solo albums, John Foxx now appears to have contracted the sort of musical dysentery release-mad Frank Zappa was prone to in the early 1980s. In fact, including collaborations, live work and compilations, Mirrorball, a joint effort with former Cocteau Twin Robin Guthrie, is Foxx's tenth album in four years. When is a lot of music too much music? Not yet, it would seem. Fusing the dreamy guitar pop of the Cocteaus with Foxx's choral washes, reminiscent of his Cathedral Oceans albums, Mirrorball, is a contemporary new-age album. Foxx's sonorous vocals (sung in an invented 'Italianese', an approach not dissimilar to that of Liz Fraser in the early Cocteaus) dominate the moodier passages, but it's the more conventional pop-orientated moments in Estrellita and the instrumental My Life As An Echo, that have the most musical personality.'

GREAT

Thanks for posting this

Well sounds interesting, looking forward to the release even more now!

I don't want to sound ungrateful but you'd think that Townsend would at least have the downloads at a decent bitrate?

Why what bit-rate do they offer them at then?

160kbps

Estrellita sure is catchy, since I first heard the sample all those weeks ago it continually pops up in my mind.
I notice on google there's a Slovenian film with the same title, and a Gareth Jones is credited as the script collaborator, nice co-incidence

And another 3 star review from Q:

Ultravox singer meets Cocteau Twin leader:

Recorded in 2007, John Foxx and Robin Guthrie's marriage of musical convenience encompasses the best of both their recent worlds: Foxx's epic, echoey, sepulchral grandstanding and Guthrie's intricate, filmic soundscaping. When Foxx dominates - on the booming title track, the medieval Luminous and the mighty Empire Skyline - he drags Guthrie into windblown open spaces. Yet when Guthrie's studious gentleness asserts itself on Estrellita and Spectroscope, Foxx too, finds himself capable of adapting. For all its myriad charms, it's too cerebral for mass consumption, but you suspect neither party is overly troubled.

DOWNLOAD: Mirrorball // Empire Skyline // Estrellita

roll on the 4th of May...

Samples of all the Mirrorball tracks now up at amazon.

This is going to be a highly spiritual, life-affirming, soundtrack to Spring.

thanks for posting the info
Just listened to the samples, have to agree, I'm really quite impressed with many of the track clips, I think this album could well be a stunner...

Nice clips - here's hoping that Townsend get it to us before the Bank Holiday!

It took me a few minutes to work out but if you click on the email link you got to download "Estrellita" you'll find the extended "Luminous" download there now too. And it's at 256k!

Listening to "Luminous (long version)" now. Very nice. Can't wait for the CD to get here. Well, I can -- if I couldn't, I'd've downloaded it from eMusic.com, where it just showed up today. But I want the physical artifact, and the ritual opening and first playing of the CD... and I don't need to pay for it twice.

Can someone tell me how to download those tracks please. I can't seem to find them.

If you've bought the CD from Townsend then you can get to them from my post above. Otherwise you can't I don't think.

Finally got it. Silly me. Downloading now.

Well mine arrived this morning. Will give it a listen later on.

Review online at Onda Rock:

http://www.ondarock.it/recensioni/2009_foxxguthrie.htm

Any translators out there - its Album of the Month

lets have Babelfish have a go at it, might be good for a laugh too

linkie

and for something more cut-up'ish

linkie 2

My copy arrived this morning. Now I'm back in from work I'll have a listen & comment later.

I'm surprised it was available this early.

I've just downloaded mine off Amazon tonight, looking forward to the listen.

Got mine early.

Its Fantastic.

Ordered both - CD and Vinyl. Hope they will arrive until latest on Wednesday...

Well spotted Bird! Without going into too much detail let's just say it's positive .. with an 8/10 mark at the end.

A great album. Probably just better than A secret Life. Standout tracks for me are My Life As An Echo & Estrellita (probably because I've been playing it to death beforehand).

I'm really late to the show - just ordered online - hoping for a speedy delivery!

I havent really had a chance to concentrate on the album but its not yet jumping out at me, unlike My Lost City. Also am rather disappointed with the booklet.

My Fave Tracks:

Ultramarine
The Perfect Line
Estrellita

I love this album overall.

A great companion to CT's Victorialand.

Another review of Mirrorball this time from The Scotsman;

Conceived when the pair met at a Harold Budd concert four years ago, this resonates as a Robin Guthrie record with Foxx a ghostly presence floating over his sonic textures.

'The Perfect Line' is effortlessly ethereal, 'Spectroscope' steps back to medieval times courtesy of a modern madrigal, while 'Ultramarine' is so laid back it's virtually horizontal. With spooky choral arrangements – especially the throaty 'Empire Skyline' – it is tempting to call this post-modernist gothic. Pretentious, but lovely.

Download this: The Perfect Line, Estrellita

http://news.scotsman.com/music/-Album-review-John-Foxx.5228373.jp

Received my vinyl copy today, its fantastic, different sleeve and the inner sleeves great oh and the signed print is pretty cool as well.

I'm enjoying this one. Victorialand meets Cath Oceans... sublime

I’ve still not received my CD or vinyl copy of this as yet – am I the only one having this problem?

Also, I note loveaction has received his vinyl edition, yet my Townsend order, placed quite a while back, says that it won’t be issued until the 11th May – next Monday.

What’s the delay? If there was only a 1000 pressed in the first place why do I have to wait until next week? Am I getting a quietly issued second pressing? I can’t see any reason for a delay until next week. As you can probably tell – I’m really p***ed off!

I've had mine since Saturday morning.I'd chase them Garry.

Hi Brian - CD or vinyl?

I suspect my CD has gone missing in the post. Ok, fair enough - this happens once or twice a year when you order stuff online.

Also, when I tried to trace my '...Machine' t-shirt earlier this year, Townsend were absolutely useless.

But the Status section for my vinyl order says 'active' - it's clearly not been sent out yet and states that this won't happen until the 11th May - which I just don't understand as other Forum members have already recieved theirs. Why a whole other week after the release date? Am I getting a re-press?

It's probably just me, but I'm getting increasingly tired of Townsend, but sadly it's sometimes the only route for the limited edition material.

Right - I've stopped feeling sorry for myself now, I'm off for a beer!

Just the CD Garry.

Brian

Got my copy of Mirrorball today but I didn't order it from Townsend.

Giving it's first play now. Although it doesn't jump out in front of me, as being an outstanding album, it is certainly very pleasant and pleasing to the ears.

Peter

I also decided not to pre-order my CD from Townsend, and now just been told from the store where I placed the order that theres a delay from the suppliers...

Pre-ordered from Townsend on both CD and Vinyl. CD arrived to me in NY on Monday, my purchase order stated the Vinyl was coming in another shipment. I have listened 3 times, and its really growing on me. My Lost City and this album go well together for a back to back listening experience. Keep em coming John!

So it arrives quicker in the US then it does in Holland...bummer
No sign of it here yet

I preordered the CD in March and I'm still waiting. Can Canada Post really be that much slower than the US Mail?

Steve, you got me thinking and i dont think its the post that is the issue. Perhaps its the way that Townsend is fulfilling their orders. It may alphabetical order, as opposed to date of order? Im sure its on its way to you. I have ordered many releases from them without incident.

Thanks guys for letting me know if you got it or not - thought I was going mad! Considering David's copy of the CD reached NY, I think mine's lost so will have to re-order that.

Townsend now state on their Foxx page that the release date for the vinyl is the 11th - so loveaction you got really, really lucky!

Perchased my CD copy of Mirrorball (among other things) from Amazon, got an email the next day saying that it had been dispatched.

Pre ordered both CD (Townsend) and Vinyl (Duke Box records).
Nothing arrived until today. VERY! disappointing 'cause they took some extra money for shipping overseas...
Slow Motion....

Will think twice next time of pre order.

And a 3 star review from MOJO also.

I ordered mine through the Hydrogen dukebox link.

Yahoo, mine has arrived! going to play it tonight in the dark with a nice drink

Got mine today. Now to listen to it...

I understand that some copies of the Mirrorball CD were sent out last Friday (the 1st of May). Unfortunately, this wasn't all of the orders, but nevertheless a substantial number of them. This meant that some people actually received the album on the Saturday ahead of the 'official' release date.

However, Monday (the 4th of May) was a Bank Holiday in the UK, and so no further CDs were sent out until the Tuesday.

As for the vinyl - the first 100 copies were due to include a print signed by John. Again, I understand that achieving this has caused a slight delay and not all of those had been sent out on the release date.

Rob

My copy of the VINYL edition arrived yesterday (Friday 8th May).

I didn't pre-order it, but went through the Townsend official site on May 1st in order to get the long version of Luminous.

Enclosed within the record sleeve were THREE art prints - TWO signed by JOHN FOXX
Prints 109/1000 and 110/1000 signed, and number 530 that is unsigned.
So maybe John signed a few more than the first 100 copies?
Guess I'm a lucky bunny too -certainly no complaints about the service from me

The disc itself was packed separately in the box, inside the inner sleeve which bears different artwork to the print and the cover. Which incidentally has no text on the front at all, and only a tracklist on the back. No artist or album names at all.
Very cool.

It is a thing of great beauty and a real treasure to have - a fine collector's piece.

[QUOTE] It is a thing of great beauty and a real treasure to have - a fine collector's piece.

I agree with you there Martin. I ordered my vinyl copy through Hydrogen Dukebox and it arrived on Tuesday. Only one signed print though! (Number 95/1000) I've now got to invest in a turntable.... :rolleyes:

I don't have one either.

But then I don't intend to actually PLAY it... :p

Outrageous maybe, given that this is high-end audiophile super quality, but I wanted it for the joy of having 'stuff'. the artwork was the attraction for me, and I am not disappointed!

I've just ordered a CD version for the purpose of listening to

i just had to grin when i saw this one by accident :p



All in all, I think it is a marvelous album.
Standing out tracks for me are

My Life As An Echo
Estrellita
Sunshower

It is even more laid-back as I expected (after hearing Estrellita).
I would even say I would buy the same cd sans vocals as well.

Great pic, fons. Good spot

Are you familiar with Guthrie's solo work?
Thoroughly recommended

Nice photo, fons!

I got my CD in the post on Thursday, May 7, but have been too busy to sit down and listen to it. I'm hoping to get the chance tomorrow, when it's supposed to be sunny but rather chilly, to relax at home with a nice pot of tea and some butter cookies and play the disc from beginning to end with no interruptions. I haven't been able to do that kind of thing in ages. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

This is exactly the same reason for me, Martin.
(Though I have a turntable!)
I only want the vinyl for my collection of John's vinyl stuff.

Got a letter from the postman on Saturday I can carry my Vinyl copy from the postoffice...
He was frightened it will be broken if he would bring it with his postbike.

No news about my CD order...

Well, I know the Cocteau Twins stuff.
But I never heard anything solo by Guthrie yet.
Going to give that a listen as well if it is similar to Mirrorball

Went to the postoffice today and carried my Vinyl copy home. WOW ! The cover is wonderful and the art print signed by John - GREAT! (no. 8/1000).

As I came home I found my CD copy in the letterbox. I have to admit the art work of the Vinyl is better than the CD, 'cause it is bigger - so it works better for my opinion. Same is for the art print which shows the CD image in Vinyl format. I played two times the CD and one time the Vinyl ( full John Foxx evening... ) and have to say it is a great album. Love it!
It was worth the wait!

Would love to see John and Robin performing this stuff live!

I'm glad I ordered the Vinyl too. Aaah- the good old days of vinyl...

This album is a must have!!

First post - just got a copy of the vinyl today.

I opened it and looked at the number on the print. At first I thought it was a mistake, but it looks like I got 1/1000. I'm a little stunned. I would expect that the first one would be in John or Robin or Robin Harris' hands. I shared the news with my wife who gave it a lackluster "good for you..." Sad thing is, now I'm afraid to play it!

Thank you for making a vinyl pressing!

I absolutely agree.
Here's what I write:-

Foxx triumphant

Throughout the dark months from February to May, we have born witness to a trilogy of album releases by John Foxx that must rate among the most enlightening and imaginative work of his career.
As a collaborator, Foxx has to be among the most essential of artists to work with. He has the subtlety and judgement to know precisely how much of himself to give, and the intelligence and respect to recognise the depth of his partners ideas and the extent to which they can take his own in new directions and down unforeseen pathways.

Foxx once said that he wished there were time and opportunity for the Cocteaus to have recorded at The Garden. Well, good things come to those who wait, for they shall have eternal life. Perhaps Mirrorball is those sessions at last.

Four years in the making, and his third release of 2009, Mirrorball has its roots back in the Twins 'Victorialand' heyday c1985, synchronising at the point where Foxx (V2) began to dissolve. Robin Guthrie's trademark reverb-soaked guitars create an expansive backdrop that is as beautiful as it is inventive. His phrasing and chord sequences defy logic, creating structures whose fragility is at the same time breath-taking, massive and fundamentally honest. Foxx wanders in and out of phase with this, slowly shifting his choral harmonics, Latinesque vocals and weaving an exquisite piano filigree. Neither artist has anything to prove, and the affinity is here and now - with no need to go anywhere else. It is ancient and modern, fact and myth - both one thing and another. The tracks radiate sympathetic warmth and mutual confidence, while at the same time preserving the unique qualities of each (immensely influential) composer.

For all its self-indulgent opulence, there is nothing grandiose about Mirrorball. It is natural and effortless, ethereal, exultant, tender, luxurious and decadent. Medieval in parts (The Perfect line, Spectroscope), Post-modern and neo-romantic in equal measure (Sunshower, Empire Skyline) - delicious beyond definition throughout (witness the stand out tracks Estrellita and My Life as An Echo). Above all, Mirrorball has shimmering presence.

For ten years now, Foxx (V4) has proved a masterful alchemist of minimalism, delicacy and evocation. He may be the quiet man, a ghost in the shadows, but when he steps out, he is Luminous... few can be described as quite so visionary.

If this is what the first gleaming of twilight sounds like, let us bathe in the sunset's blaze.

© birdsong, May 2009

Looks like the Mirrorball is making its way abroad as I got my CD yesterday too.

My initial thought on hearing Mirrorball was to be released on vinyl, was 'Yes! - some new JF vinyl to play for the first time in 'X' number of years'. But thinking about it now, I think I'll take the same path as Martin... I'll keep it just to look at!...And buy the CD to play. After all, it's cheaper than buying a new turntable.... :rolleyes:

Guthrie's solo stuff is all instrumental, but if you like the music on Mirrorball, you'll almost certainly like his solo albums. And, for that matter, his collaborations with Harold Budd. You don't really need to track down drifting a.f.u., his ambient/isolationist DJ mix CD, though.

I really like this album - I thought I was going to have to find the right moment to listen to it (I have a hectic lifestyle!), but it is very listenable anywhere.

I'm thinking of ways to "repurpose" some of the tracks for family videos!!!

My wife didn't switch it off either - I lent her my i-pod to let her hear the new material and she listened to 3 tracks straight through!! New record!

I confirm it's wife-friendly!

Blimey! The CD turned up today...the packaging looks like it's been around the houses a bit!

Looking forward to getting home and sticking it on!

At this rate, the vinyl might reach me by 2012

Good for you, but that must be a world first. Mrs Birdsong is about as anti "tuneless drivel" Foxx as one can be...

"It's just so, well - boring. How can you listen to such cr*p.." :rolleyes:

Still manages to be 'artist of the week' at Townsend though..

I am on my fourth listen now. My only criticism would be to say that I don't understand the choice of sleeve design (good as it is) - this seems to me very much a summer evening record, best heard on a train, preferably in Devon, even more preferably on the Tarka line between Exeter and Barnstaple. But it doesn't really matter, we can only ever make our own interpretation of what is presented to us, and we should feel privileged to have it to filter through our lives. Instead of darkness, I personally see sunlight bouncing off windscreens, windows and water. I also hear the bells near the end of Sunshower and see me hearing Just For A Moment for the first time twenty years ago and realising that this was going to be a key moment in my musical development. The piano that summer evening (at about 1 minute 10, at about 8pm) reminded me of earlier summer evenings, of distant lazy Sunday church bells playing strange beguiling tunes as I played in the garden. This record will join my Durutti Column records as being essential (you guessed it) summer evening material. It is wonderful to hear John singing over guitars once more, and when he breaks into English at the end of Estrellita it is some kind of epiphany. Finally, although I have no idea why Empire Skyline is called that (I don't hear it or see it), it is absolutely gorgeous. "Mirrorball" therefore joins "My Lost City" at the top of the heap for album of the year so far, in my (ever so slightly misted) eyes.

Personally I find this runs a close second behind A Secret Life at the moment, that being my current candidate for Album of the Year

This is only a guess, but John is very taken with New York City. New York is called the "Empire State". (Thus the famous Empire State Building) So my guess is john is paying homage to New York City in "Empire Skyline".

Another review of 'Mirrorball' on today's ITV Teletext, (Page 823, page 7/8) It's another good 'un!


John Foxx & Robin Guthrie/Mirrorball
Meeting at a Harold Budd gig in 2005, Foxx and Guthrie's love of experimental soundscapes made an album inevitable.

Foxx provides the improvised vocals, just the right side of the divide between enigmatic and pretentious, as Guthrie's playing remains as hypnotic and utterly foreign as it ever did.

Played in the wrong mood, it'll drift past. Concentrate hard enough, and you may not return to the real world. 7/10

Thanks for posting this. Excellent one for the archive that's too easy to miss

At the moment 'Spectroscope' is the standout track for me. I felt echoes of Enter The Angel II in the title track Mirrorball earlier today

I've been playing the CD incessantly for about a week now. I like Mirrorball, I really like Mirrorball - definitely a summer album, and as Church Puddle points out, would sit easily with something like LC by The Durutti Column…

...but I feel like I'm cheating on My Lost City

no, don't feel guilty rads .. MLC is much more Christmassy ...

I've listened to Mirrorball about 5 times so far and really like it. It is my favorite of the non-electro recordings (although I don't have all of them). It's also the only post-Golden Section recording where I don't feel the urge to skip tracks.

Sunshower is the highlight for me -- a mini-Italian opera. I wish it were longer.

The sound quality seems to better than the Foxx-Gordon releases. Wonder if it was recorded in Robin's studio. The liner notes don't shed any light on the situation.

Some of the initial recordings for this were made at Guthrie's studio in France - 'enough for an album' according to his blog.

Not sure how much work was done elsewhere.

You're right about the sleevenotes though.
Some details would have been welcome

My Vinyl finally arrived! Anyone else still waiting for theirs? Nice packaging, and Limited edition art sleeve! I forgot how much i miss the large artwork from a proper LP record sleeve....

What a marvellous paean to a sunny Sunday afternoon Mirrorball is!

Sitting over the park earlier it was like listening to a specially commissioned celebration of the sun-dappled foliage in all its splendid array and tones.

a round-up of Mirrorball reviews here

interesting... i got 2 prints, signed 106/1000 and unsigned 535/1000, this was ordered from townsend. great album!

Playing this one a lot. Estrellita is still my favourite track from the album and ranks as one of the best tracks he's written.

Chris

I agree with you Chris

Satday mornin, sun is shinin, playin 'Mirrorball' for the first time.
Drinkin my cup of tea.
Lookin back at my life as an echo ...

Heeft 'tie er zo lang over gedaan? of heb je zo lang gewacht met bestellen?

Ik wilde ze alle 3 tegelijk bestellen bij de plaatselijke recordstore (Bullit eindhoven) en moest nog ff wachten tot dat kon.
Afgelopen vrijdag ben ik 'Mirrorball' stom toevallig tegen gekomen bij Fame amsterdam (boxenkoopavond; tip als je met veel korting leuke dingen wil inslaan). En heb 'm meteen gekocht natuurlijk!

Mirrorball

Today I was reminded afresh all over again why John’s music was so important to me when I first discovered it.

I finally got to play Mirrorball for the first time since receiving the CD several weeks ago, this was the only opportunity I’ve had so far, a few weeks past I moved from living in the city, to living some distance outside in a village now. It’s a longer commute, but it’s a better situation, and I no longer have to put up with a whole host of problems that seemed to have been part and parcel of living in a flat in the town for so much of my life. So Mirrorball has arrived at a transitional time for me, still living out of boxes, and I’ve not played any music since the move as I wanted this new album to be the thing to hear and associate with being in a new place. As I gazed out at the garden (crikey, a garden!) with the sounds of Mirrorball playing out under the changeable skies, instantly I fell in love with the album.

Last week in my misery of waiting to hear the CD, I looked at some of the personal reviews posted on Amazon, most are very favourable, one or two dismissive, but I don’t care, should we care? nope! everything in this album works, yes I could say maybe its not what I’d imagine it would turn out to be, and yet, well it actually really is. John and Robin have made something wonderful, seemingly a long time coming, and maybe to them as skilled artists its all just in a days work, a beautiful child from a beautiful partnership. If this album had come out all those years ago back in the day, well, I’d have raved about it to all and sundry, as it is, my immediate thoughts were that it fulfilled the promise that In Mysterious Ways never quite did for me, for here is John clearly in love, in love with life, this album for me is ‘the’ true successor to The Garden.

As the music echoed around the house where I now live, I was glad I’d waited to christen the new place with the sounds of Mirrorball, one play through so far, but I’m captivated, well done John and Robin.

Enjoyed your comment a lot and agree with the most. For me Mirrorball is one of the best albums John ever made until today. Estrellita have the quality for a summer hit for my opinion. The whole album is an absolutely pleasure to listen to. John and Robin made a great job!

I can understand what you meaning with leaving the town. I did the same last year and I'm happy with it ( and can enjoy a garden too now ) Wish you much pleasure in your new home!

Andreas

Great comments on Mirrorball.

Interestingly for me though, as time goes by and I get more familiar with John's releases this year, Mirrorball is marginally the least appealing of the three at the moment

I'd say A Secret Life is my current favourite.

Honestly, I don't know whether to be or about what just happened. I was in the record store and could not believe my eyes when I saw a copy of Mirrorball. Picked it up and proceeded to the cashier when I noticed the price. It was $21.99 !!

Then something happened that hardly ever happens with me.............I put it back and left the store empty handed.

US$21.99? That's not bad. When Shifting City and Cathedral Oceans came out, I got a local record store to order them for me. They cost C$45 each. At that time, that was probably around US$30 to US$35.

Buy.com has it for US $15.88 including shipping:

http://www.buy.com/prod/mirrorball/q/loc/109/210866417.html

That is a more reasonable price. Sorry, but if I am spending all that money it should be for two cds not one.

I also thought that $21.99 (c£13.00) wasn't a bad price for a CD...?

The high-end price of a cd here in NY is $15.99. Average prices are $9.99 - $12.99.

John's cds are usually on the high end at $15.99. It is quite rare to see a single cd at $21.99 of any artist. In fact I could not even find another to compare it. At that price you would usually get 2cds or a cd/dvd box set.

The fact that you saw the disc in a store is remarkable in itself, you lucky New Yorker! Remember that "Mirrorball" is an import for us, though, and those tend to be marked up a couple of bucks by retailers when they think they can get away with doing so. In Chicago I have seen high-end classical and jazz recordings and the odd handful of non-mainstream pop/rock/indie/alternative single discs at that price, not all of which have been imports.
Or at least some liner notes or essays or a more extensive and elaborate booklet — something a little more special in the packaging.

My record store only recently started stocking Foxx music on a regular basis, for which I am quite thankful for.

Import or not, for whatever reason Mirrorball has the dubious honor of being one of the highest priced single cds in the entire store.

Prices sometimes tend to go up or down in each country, its a complete 'turnaround and reflective' of the market in many case's.

Went to my prefered CD shop and found two copies of Mirrorball in the John Foxx section for 17 Euros each, which is a normal price for a new CD in Germany, I think.
At least I'm glad they have some stuff of John there, which you cannot find everywhere in Hamburg's CD shops.

Came across this via twitter:

MP3 Discussion Group: ‘Mirrorball’ by John Foxx & Robin Guthrie

Now that's what I call discussion of an album.

Excellent find - thanks for pointing it out.

For my part, I still find myself uncomfortable, and on the 'disappointing' side of the fence as far as Mirrorball is concerned.
Although I think I understand why a bit more now...

Someone makes a reference to the title of the album itself, and I tend to agree with him. Why "Mirrorball"? For me, that too conjures up entirely the wrong image - almost any of the other track titles might have worked better...

Interesting thoughts too about where this album fits into which genre?

Prompted by this thread tho, I will be listening to the album later this afternoon.
I think I need to re-consider HOW to listen to it, and what my expectations are

There are some interesting points on there. I wonder how many of those guys are not Foxx fans, but followers of Robin. I think that album will have appealed to a much wider audience, because of the two artists involved.

Unfortunately, I still don't like the album at all. Does nothing for me.

Hear hear! It's my least favourite of all John Foxx albums including solo, band & collaborations.

I think some of it could have been really much more appealing, had it had actual lyrics, rather than vocalisation.

Several months after first hearing it, some days I think Mirrorball is a collection of utterly beautiful music, other times I think it's a weird idea that doesn't quite come together as it should. Right now, listening to "Estrellita," I'm leaning towards the former. It's not what I expected, because I figured a Foxx/Guthrie collaboration would be instrumental, like Foxx/Budd and Guthrie/Budd, but it's got more personality than some of the interchangeable albums Guthrie's done in the last few years (and I say that as a longtime Guthrie fan). And after the Louis Gordon collaborations, it's nice to hear John actually singing.