23am is the second studio album by composer Robert Miles, released in late 1997 via Deconstruction and Arista labels.
| 23am | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | December 1, 1997 (EU) December 16, 1997 (US) | |||
| Recorded | Plus XXX Studios, Paris | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 60:56 | |||
| Label | Deconstruction Arista | |||
| Producer | Robert Miles | |||
| Robert Miles chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Music Week | [2] |
| Q | [3] |
Background and recording
editThe composition of 23am began from the Dreamland tour, during which Miles collected audio samples from virtually every city visited.[4] Aside from being based on his experiences of these travels (in the liner notes Miles emphasizes the influence seeing in person so many problems that society has brought onto itself had),[5] Miles has also said that the album reflects the human life cycle from birth to death.[6]
23am also contains four vocal songs, a ratio of vocals to instrumentals that is almost equal to that of Dreamland. They seem to have been less an afterthought for this album, though, and were written in Italian and then translated into English. Two tracks on the album, including its first single "Freedom", feature vocals by disco icon Kathy Sledge of the chart-topping group Sister Sledge.[7]
The structures and instrumental arrangements on 23am are more complex than those on the earlier Dreamland, involving real instruments such as the saxophone and trumpet as an addition to the synthesizers. The music is also much less beat-driven; the main sections of a number of the vocal-based songs are structured like pop songs, while the segueing interludes between songs are generally structureless, with no beats at all. Ultimately it can be said that 23am is more artistic and less dance-oriented than its predecessor, Dreamland. At the same time, however, 23am was less successful than Dreamland.
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Roberto Concina (Robert Miles), except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Introducing" | 3:25 | |
| 2. | "A New Flower" (vocals: Barbara Prunas; Robert Miles) | 5:58 | |
| 3. | "Everyday Life" (vocals: Nancy Danino) | Roberto Concina; Frank Musker | 10:29 |
| 4. | "Freedom" (vocals: Kathy Sledge) | Concina; Musker | 5:51 |
| 5. | "Textures" | 3:14 | |
| 6. | "Enjoy" (vocals: Kathy Sledge) | Concina; Musker | 5:55 |
| 7. | "Flying Away" | 4:59 | |
| 8. | "Heatwave" | 5:56 | |
| 9. | "Maresias" | 5:48 | |
| 10. | "Full Moon" (vocals: Nancy Danino) | Concina; Musker | 6:59 |
| 11. | "Leaving Behind..." | 2:21 |
Personnel
edit- Robert Miles – keyboards, programming, vocals, mixing, production
- Denys Lable – electric guitar
- Michel Gaucher – saxophone
- Eric Giausserand – trumpet
- Barbara Prunas, Kathy Sledge, Nancy Danino – vocals
- Katie Kissoon, Shirley Lewis, Emily Strode – backing vocals
- Robin Hancock, Jaybee Eglantine – engineering
References
edit- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Review:23 AM - Robert Miles". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
- ^ "Reviews: Albums" (PDF). Music Week. 15 November 1997. p. 10. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ Leonard, Michael. "Review:Robert Miles, 23am". Q (July 1999). EMAP Metro Ltd: 148.
- ^ Flick, Larry (20 December 1997). "Billboard Magazine: Miles Breaks New Ground With '23AM' Set On Arista". Billboard. 109(51). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 9, 108. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- ^ Miles, Robert (1997). In 23am [CD liner notes]. Deconstruction Ltd.
- ^ "Robert Miles - Biography". S:alt Records. 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-10-18. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
- ^ Flick, Larry (December 20, 1997). "Miles breaks new ground with '23AM' set on Arista". Billboard. 109 (51): 9–10.
External links
edit- 23am at MusicBrainz (list of releases)