Earthworks (album)

Updated on Nov 29, 2024

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Released 1987 Artist Earthworks Label E.G. Records		Length 43:55 Release date 1987 Genre Jazz fusion

Producers Dave Stewart, Bill Bruford Similar The Sound of Surprise, All Heaven Broke Loose, Dig?, Stamping Ground, Random Acts of Happiness

Earthworks is the first album by Bill Bruford's Earthworks, a jazz band led by the drummer Bill Bruford and featuring Django Bates, Iain Ballamy and Mick Hutton. It was released in 1987 on EG Records.

Bill bruford 01 no truce with the furies

Reception

The Allmusic review by Chris Kelsey awarded the album with 3 stars and says, "The best thing about this band is its refreshing ingenuousness; they make intelligent, sophisticated instrumental pop music that doesn't pander in the least."

Track listing

"Thud" (Iain Ballamy) – 4:10
"Making A Song And Dance" (Ballamy, Bill Bruford) – 5:52
"Up North" (Ballamy, Django Bates, Bruford) – 5:19
"Pressure" (Bruford) – 4:57
"My Heart Declares A Holiday" (Ballamy, Bates, Bruford) – 4:35
"Emotional Shirt" (Bates) – 4:45
"It Needn't End In Tears" (Ballamy) – 5:14
"The Shepherd Is Eternal" (Bates, Bruford) – 1:50
"Bridge Of Inhibition" (Ballamy, Bates, Bruford) – 4:15

Recorded at Terminal 24 Studios, London, England, October 1986

Personnel

Bill Bruford – acoustic and electronic drums, percussion, whirled instruments

Django Bates – keyboards, tenor horn, trumpet

Iain Ballamy – soprano, alto and tenor saxophones

Mick Hutton – acoustic bass

Dave Stewart – co-producer (with Bruford), and credited with "samples, keyboard bass, very occasional additional keyboards".

Dave Stewart was the only musician with whom Bruford had recorded before, and his distinctive keyboard sound is most clearly audible on the tracks "Making a Song and Dance" and "Pressure".

Songs

1Thud4:14
2Making a Song and Dance5:56
3Up North5:26

References

Earthworks (album) Wikipedia

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