Emotional Technology

Updated on Dec 23, 2023

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Released August 5, 2003 Release date 5 August 2003 Label NETTWERK		Artist BT Producer BT

Emotional Technology (2003) The Technology EP (2004) Genres Electronic dance music, Trance music, Electronica, Breakbeat, Dance music, Alternative rock Similar BT albums, Electronic dance music albums

Bt emotional technology front cover

Emotional Technology is the fourth studio album by electronica artist BT. Transitioning towards a poppier sound, the album features some of BT's well-known hits, including "Somnambulist", "The Force of Gravity" and "Superfabulous". "Somnambulist", also known as "Simply Being Loved", holds the Guinness World Record for most vocal edits in a single track, with 6,178 in the album version. The album features vocal performances by JC Chasez, Rose McGowan, and Transeau himself, among others.

Bt emotional technology platinum edition front cover

Style

The album's intro consists of a backwards sample of "Satellite", the closing track of Movement, followed by reversed samples of "Somnambulist" and "Dark Heart Dawning" from Emotional Technology. Shortly after "Somnambulist", the album moves from its pop-oriented sound into a more experimental direction, containing introspective lyrics and song structures and samples not normally found in trance music at the time (the extended breakdown section of "P A R I S" features a galloping horse and a choir, while "Communicate"'s chorus drops the beat entirely). Emotional Technology also found Transeau writing several epic rock songs in the vein of "Satellite". Several of these songs would later be replaced on the Special Collector's Edition release.

Reception

The album received mixed reactions from both fans and critics alike. People who liked the album praised BT for the highly personal and experimental nature of the album. Others disregarded it as "pop at its worst". They were also turned off by the less dance floor-friendly vibe of this album compared to his other releases.

Remix contest

Prior to the album's release, BT and BPM Magazine held a remix contest for the album. Inside an issue of BPM Magazine would be an EP containing the individual parts for "Somnambulist", "Communicate", "The Great Escape" and "Superfabulous", as well as a new, unreleased track titled "Kimosabe". The four winners were announced in early 2004 and they won signed copies of Emotional Technology among other prizes. Two notable winners were Toksin for his remix of "Communicate" and Burufunk for their remix of "The Great Escape". Burufunk had previously remixed "Somnambulist" for when the song was released as a single in May 2003. They later worked with BT on his remix of The Doors' classic, "Break on Through (To the Other Side)". Toksin has since released remixes of "Superfabulous" and "The Great Escape" on his website. He has also remixed "Shame" in his live shows.

Track listing

All songs were written by BT, unless noted.

Singles

The album had only one "official" single, which was "Somnambulist (Simply Being Loved)". However, the Technology EP serves as a non-formal single release for "Superfabulous", "The Force of Gravity" and "The Great Escape".

Personnel

Guru – raps on "Knowledge of Self"

DJ Swamp – "cuts and scratches" on "Knowledge of Self"

Rasco – raps on "Knowledge of Self", "Circles" and "The Revolution"

Rose McGowan – vocals on "Superfabulous"

Scott McCloud – vocals on "Superfabulous"

Brain – live drums on "Superfabulous", "Dark Heart Dawning", "Circles", "Animals", "The Only Constant Is Change" and "Kimosabe"

Tommy Stinson – bass on "Superfabulous", "Circles", "Animals", "The Only Constant Is Change" and "Kimosabe"

Richard Fortus – guitars on "Superfabulous", "Circles", "Animals", "The Only Constant Is Change" and "Kimosabe"; cello on "The Great Escape"

JC Chasez – background vocals on "Somnambulist"; vocals on "The Force of Gravity"

Doug Wimbus – pedal steel guitar on "Dark Heart Dawning"

Alan Vavarin – percussion on "Dark Heart Dawning"

Kurt Wortman – percussion on "Dark Heart Dawning"

Donna Taylor – background vocals on "Dark Heart Dawning"

Jackie Smiley – background vocals on "Dark Heart Dawning"

Valerie Pinkston – background vocals on "Dark Heart Dawning"

Caroline Lavelle – vocals and cello on "The Great Escape"

Hutchy – raps on "P A R I S"

Jody Wisternoff – additional production on "P A R I S"

Karina Ware – vocals on "The Last Moment of Clarity"

Jan Johnston – vocals on "Communicate"

Wildchild – vocals on "Kimosabe"

The Roots – performance on "Tao of the Machine"

Tamra Keenan – vocals on "Love in the Time of Thieves"

BT – all other vocals, instruments and programming

Songs

1Knowledge of SelfGuru8:12
2SuperfabulousRose McGowan - Scott McCloud5:23
3Simply Being Loved (Somnambulist)JC Chasez5:03

References

Emotional Technology Wikipedia

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