Wikipedia

Water Colours

This article is about the album. For the art of watercolours, see watercolor painting.

Water Colours is the debut studio album by the American electronica band, Swimming With Dolphins. It was released on May 13, 2011 on iTunes[1] and in physical CD format on May 17, 2011.[2] On May 25, 2011, the band released a trailer for the album's release on YouTube.[3]

Water Colours
Studio album by
Swimming With Dolphins
ReleasedMay 13, 2011
Genre
Length38:05
LabelTooth & Nail
Producer
Swimming With Dolphins chronology
Ambient Blue
(2008) 		Water Colours
(2011)
Singles from Water Colours
  1. "Sleep To Dream"
    Released: April 26, 2011

Background and release

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Swimming With Dolphins with Tooth & Nail Records in June 2010.[4] Recording for the album began in the summer of 2010 where it was produced by Aaron Sprinkle in Seattle.[5][6] The album finished production in Atlanta with help from producers Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount.[7][6] Sarah Beintker provided additional vocals on the songs "Holiday" and "Sleep To Dream". The album also featured the artists Sunsun and Mod Sun.[8]

The album was set to be released in March 2011 but was pushed two months back.[9] It was officially released on May 17, 2011.[10] "Sleep To Dream" was the first and only single off the album. It was made available on April 26, 2011, a few weeks in advance of the album's debut.[11] On August 5, 2011, Swimming With Dolphins uploaded the official music video for the song, via YouTube.[12] The video was shot along the Northern California Coast side.[13]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [8]
Alternative Press     [14]
Cross Rhythms          [15]
Jesus Freak Hideout     [10]
Louder Than Music     [16]
Melodic     [17]
New Release Tuesday     [18]
Review Rinse Repeat     [19]

The album received overall positive reviews from multiple professional music sites. Theo Bowyer of Cross Rhythms praised the single "Sleep To Dream" for its "hooky, synth riff" and compared it to Owl City. He also complimented the writing flexibility on the track "Diplomat" that showcases Tofte's mature lyrical approach.[15] William Ruhlmann of AllMusic called the album, "party music."[8] Scott Fryberger of Jesus Freak Hideout called "Holiday" the highlight of album, praising the track for its emotional and thoughtful lyrics. He also added, "The synthpop is fun and reminiscent of the 80s... The lyrics and vocals are pretty good, but mostly find themselves taking a back seat to the music." However, he was criticized the track "Diplomat" for its "unfortunate profane use of 'hell'."[10] A mixed review came from Kaj Roth of Melodic as he stated, "Tofte needs better songs because only a few lift up his debut album Water Colours." He was critical on the tracks such as "Happiness" and "Good Times" calling them "quite boring." However, he praised the tracks "Diplomat" and "Sleep to Dream".[17]

Accolades

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Year Publication Country List
2011 Cross Rhythms United Kingdom "The 20 Best Albums of 2011"[20]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Austin Tofte

No.TitleLength
1."Holiday"3:59
2."Easy"3:37
3."Sleep To Dream"3:28
4."Diplomat"3:28
5."Watercolours"3:15
6."Jacques Cousteau"3:37
7."I Was A Lover"3:34
8."Captured"4:27
9."Happiness" (featuring Sunsun)4:47
10."Good Times" (featuring Mod Sun)3:53
Total length:38:05

Personnel

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Credits for Water Colours adapted from AllMusic.[21]

Swimming With Dolphins
Additional musicians and production
  • Sarah Beintker - additional vocals on track 1 & 3
  • Sunsun - additional vocals on track 9
  • Mod Sun (Derek Smith, formerly of Four Letter Lie) - additional vocals on track 10
  • Bobby Parker - horn instruments on track 8
  • Brandon Ebel - executive producer
  • Aaron Sprinkle - producer on track 1, 3, 7 & 8
  • Zack Odom - co-producer on track 2, 4, 5, 6, 9 & 10
  • Kenneth Mount - co-producer on track 2, 4, 5, 6, 9 & 10
  • Troy Glessner - mastering
  • Micah Dean Johnson - A&R production
  • Will Stevenson - management
  • Andrew Smith - photography

Charts

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Chart performance for Water Colours
Chart (2011) Peak
position
US Top Christian Albums (Billboard)[22] 40
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[23] 31

Music videos

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Lyric videos

Notes

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  • "Sleep To Dream" was added as a track to two of Tooth & Nail's 2011 compilation releases: Tooth & Nail Records Summer Sampler 2011[24] and A Very Tooth & Nail Christmas Sampler.[25]
  • The song "Jacques Cousteau" is based on the oceanographer of the same name. According to Tofte, the band's name was inspired by the 1980s documentaries that Cousteau filmed and starred in.[26]

References

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  1. ^ "Water Colours on iTunes". iTunes. January 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  2. ^ "Water Colours on Amazon.com". Amazon. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  3. ^ "Swimming With Dolphins Water Colours Album Trailer". YouTube. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  4. ^ Doug Van Pelt (June 23, 2010). "T&N signs Swimming With Dolphins". HM. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  5. ^ "Tooth & Nail sign electronica pop band Swimming With Dolphins". Cross Rhythms. June 29, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Swimming with Dolphins". louderthanthemusic.com. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  7. ^ "Electronica's Swimming With Dolphins releases debut album". Cross Rhythms. April 24, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c William Ruhlmann. "Water Colours Review by William Ruhlmann". AllMusic. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  9. ^ "Swimming with Dolphins Set to Release Water Colors". louderthanthemusic.com. May 13, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  10. ^ a b c Scott Fryberger (May 14, 2011). "Water Colours review on Jesusfreakhideout.com". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  11. ^ "Tooth & Nail announces Swimming With Dolphins' "Sleep To Dream" single". Tooth & Nail Records. Archived from the original on May 4, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  12. ^ "'Sleep To Dream' Official Music Video". YouTube. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  13. ^ Johan Wippsson (August 9, 2011). "Swimming With Dolphins Premiere "Sleep To Dream Video" Today". Melodic. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  14. ^ Phil Freeman. "Water Colours - Swimming With Dolphins Review". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Theo Bowyer (October 30, 2011). "Swimming With Dolphins - Water Colours". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  16. ^ Rich Smith. "Swimming With Dolphins - Water Colours". louderthanthemusic.com. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Kaj Roth (November 15, 2011). "Swimming With Dolphins - Water Colours Review". Melodic. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  18. ^ "Newreleasetuesday.com overview and review". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  19. ^ Neepam Shah (May 16, 2011). "Swimming With Dolphins - Water Colours". Review Rinse Repeat. Archived from the original on May 18, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  20. ^ "The 20 Best Albums Of 2011". Cross Rhythms. December 16, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  21. ^ "Water Colours - Swimming With Dolphins Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  22. ^ "Top Christian Albums: Week of June 4, 2011". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  23. ^ "Swimming With Dolphins Chart History – Top Heakseekers Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 1, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  24. ^ "Tooth & Nail Records Summer Sampler 2011 overview". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  25. ^ "A Very Tooth & Nail Christmas Sampler overview". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  26. ^ "An Evening with Austin Tofte - Swimming With Dolphins interview". Tumblr. Archived from the original on May 20, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
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