Essence (A Guy Called Gerald album)

Essence is the fifth studio album by electronic producer A Guy Called Gerald, which was released on August 14, 2000 through Studio !K7. The album, which initially was intended to be released as Aquarius Rising, is noted for its usage of vocals, something rarely utilized in his previous recordings.[6] According to Gerald Simpson, the album is an attempt for him to focus on melody and songwriting compared to his previous album Black Secret Technology.[6][7]

Essence
Studio album by
A Guy Called Gerald
ReleasedAugust 14, 2000
Recorded1996–1999
GenreDrum and bass
Length53:15
LabelStudio !K7
ProducerGerald Simpson
A Guy Called Gerald chronology
Black Secret Technology
(1995)		 Essence
(2000)		 To All Things What They Need
(2004)
Singles from Essnece
  1. "Humanity"
    Released: July 10, 2000
  2. "Fever (or a Flame)"
    Released: October 30, 2000
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic76/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Pitchfork Media5.6/10[3]
Slant Magazine[4]
SPIN[5]

Background and production

Production for the album began in 1996, and was originally intended to be issued through Simpson's personal Juice Box Records imprint under the title Aquarius Rising.[8][9] In 1997, Simpson signed onto Island Records and the album was then planned to be issued through them, this however would change as the label's parent company, PolyGram Records, went through a change in Chairman and President, which caused artists such as Simpson to be dropped.[9]

Simpson has described the production for the album to be "therapeutic", as it helped him deal with his decision to leave behind Juice Box Records.[10] His leaving was caused by the lack of funds he would receive from the label, which caused him to be unable to fix damaged equipment.[10] This, along with the fact that he ran out of room for a suitable workplace in his apartment, caused him to leave his Manchester home.

By 1998, Simpson moved out to the United States of America,[11] where work recommenced on the album.[12] By this point, Simpson was signed onto Studio !K7, an independent label from Germany which also has an office in New York City, where Simpson was living at the time. During this later stage of production, the album's title would be changed to Essence as Simpson felt it better described how he felt of the tracks being "living entities" that possessed the illusion of obtaining the "essence of life"[10]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Gerald Simpson.

No.TitleLength
1."The Universe" (featuring Jennifer Neal)0:52
2."The First Breath"4:42
3."Humanity" (featuring Louise Rhodes)5:04
4."Multiples" (featuring Wendy Page)3:15
5."Fever (or a Flame)" (featuring Wendy Page)5:04
6."Could You Understand" (featuring David Simpson)3:27
7."Alien Report" (featuring Public Domain)0:20
8."Glow" (featuring Wendy Page)4:40
9."Beaches and Deserts" (featuring Wendy Page)4:04
10."Final Call"3:32
11."I Make It" (featuring David Simpson)4:22
12."Universal Spirit" (featuring Wendy Page)5:11
13."Hurry To Go Easy" (featuring Lady Kier)3:45
14."Scale Circle"0:45
15."Landed" (featuring Wendy Page)4:31

Personnel
  • Gerald Simpson – production, music, writing
  • Jennifer Neal – spoken word on "The Universe"
  • Louise Rhodes – vocals
  • Wendy Page – vocals
  • David Simpson – vocals
  • Lady Kier – vocals
  • Rainer Hosch – photography
  • Gary St. Clare – design
  • David Calderley – design
  • ZG Management – management

References
  1. "Reviews for Essence by A Guy Called Gerald". Metacritic. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  2. Potts, Diana. "A Guy Called Gerald - Essence". allmusic.com. Allmusic. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  3. Cooper, Paul (2000-08-25). "A Guy Called Gerald: Essence". pitchfork.com. Pitchfork. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  4. Cinquemani, Sal (2002-11-01). "A Guy Called Gerald - Essence". slantmagazine.com. Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  5. n/a (September 2000). SPIN. SPIN Magazine. p. 190. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  6. Bidaye, Prasad (2006-01-01). "A Guy Called Gerald Says Shut Up and Dance". exclaim.ca. Exclaim!. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  7. Moayeri, Lily (November 2000). Interview with A Guy Called Gerald. DJ Times. p. 16.
  8. Anthony, Matt (Winter 1996). "Aquarius Rising - A Guy Called Gerald". homepages.force9.net. Straight No Chaser. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
  9. n/a. "All Tomorrow's Partys A Guy Called Gerald Biography". atpfestival.com. All Tomorrow's Partys. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
  10. Campion, Chris (September 2000). "Soul Survivor". homepages.force9.net. URB. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  11. Day, Adrienne (September 2000). "Chakra Khan (Interview with Gerald Simpson)". homepages.force9.net. Revolution Magazine. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  12. n/a. "A Guy Called Gerald Interview". homepages.force9.net. DJ Magazine. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
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