The Self Help Group - Not Waving, But Drowning (2013)
The Self Help Group - Not Waving, But Drowning (2013)
EAC | Flac(Image) + Cue + Log & iPod M4A(Tracks) & MP3 CBR 320Kbps
Union Music Store, UMS004 | ~ 314 or 316 or 121 Mb | Scans Included
Folk / Bluegrass / Americana
EAC | Flac(Image) + Cue + Log & iPod M4A(Tracks) & MP3 CBR 320Kbps
Union Music Store, UMS004 | ~ 314 or 316 or 121 Mb | Scans Included
Folk / Bluegrass / Americana
If ever the term‘of an indeterminate genre’ was justified it is in the case of this beautiful debut album by the Brighton based Self Help Group. It includes some of the most gorgeous, wistful melodies you are ever likely to hear and harmonies that stand comparison with Fleetwood Mac and Crosby Stills and Nash, but only if those multi platinum bands were at their very best. I wouldn’t presume to compare the songwriting yet, as it is much too early in the bands career, but certainly there is nothing wrong lyrically and the music is just gorgeous. I was ill prepared for this album having just been listening to some hard driving punked up country music that echoes the hillbillies of old and then some, so the mellow beauty of these harmony drenched songs on this recording came as a shock! However, we had only gone a couple of songs into the album and I was hooked totally. The generically indeterminate tag is probably a little over the top, but having not experienced music of this nature very often it is difficult to affix a label. There are elements of country, with the use of banjo and steel guitar, but the overall musical structure is certainly not country music, perhaps a folksy rootsiness, or echoes of that laid back southern Californian sound of the 1970s? In fact on reflection there is quite a lot of the latter on this tremendous, melody driven album.
The actual sound is a huge tribute to producer Jamie Freeman, giving great depth and openness to the recording but never overdoing the instrumentation, imbuing the whole disc with a power and drive that really shouldn’t be possible when taking into account the mellowness of the music. Of course, he also had an excellent band to work with who fairly obviously started recording with a firm picture of where they wanted to go with the music. My guess is they are not the slightest bit disappointed with how it’s turned out! The band consists of Mark Bruce on vocals, guitars, banjo, charrango and keyboards, Clara Wood-Keeley and Sarah Natalie Wood, both on vocals and xylophone, Ian Bliszczak on bass and Paddy Keeley on banjo and guitar. They are supplemented by several other musicians, including producer Jamie Freeman on drums, percussion and guitar, with the other instruments being violin, cello, congas, piano and trumpet. Despite all of that instrumentation, most are used sparingly so that the general sound of the album is sparse and warm with the vocals, particularly the harmonies, dominating and plenty of wide open spaces, in many ways evoking a desert setting.
This album of twelve excellent songs kicks off with Needles,an ideal scene setter for what is to follow with its lovely smooth male and female three part harmonies on a song given a powerful helping of drama by the addition of violin. Throughout the album it is often the use of the violin and banjo that contributes to the tension, ensuring the beauty of the music is never allowed to descend into blandness, a trap that many have fallen into in the past and no doubt will in the future. The second song is Murmuration, with its introduction courtesy of a nice repetitive banjo sound which is enough to act as a counterpoint to the smoothness of the female harmonies, with the male serving more as a bass on a slow moody song interspersed with the violin and melodic guitar. The apture is a tremendous song that starts with acoustic guitar, joined by a trumpet on a song that has a really strong Calexico feel, thanks to the broad spacy sound that includes the now signature harmony vocals. Jerome & Irving is another song of outstanding beauty with a weeping steel guitar on a heartrendingly reflective tale that has the male vocal slightly in front of the female harmonies, again with the excellent bass allied to acoustic guitar. Final mention goes to the last song on the album Uniontown, a song of protest driven by the catchy repetitive banjo, with guitar and bass on a country song that contrasts the suffering of the inhabitants of a small Appalachian working community with the beauty of the music. An ideal conclusion to a gorgeous album!
It will be very interesting in the future to hear how they develop their sound but for the time being sit back and soak up the beauty of this recording that has a lovely mellow feel but also promisingly incorporates some drama and a little tension into the songs.~ americanrootsuk
The Self Help Group - Not Waving, But Drowning (2013):
The Self Help Group - Not Waving, But Drowning (2013)
Tracklist:
01. Needles 04:00
02. Murmuration 04:17
03. The Rapture 05:27
04. Prisoner 05:14
05. Kings 03:26
06. Jerome and Irving 03:10
07. Fifth Man On The Moon 03:26
08. Brother 03:35
09. Big Nose George 03:12
10. The Bus 02:35
11. Sand 05:32
12. Uniontown 03:08
Exact Audio Copy V1.0 beta 2 from 29. April 2011
EAC extraction logfile from 1. June 2013, 9:06
The Self Help Group / Not Waving But Drowning
Used drive : HL-DT-STDVD-RAM GH22LP20 Adapter: 0 ID: 0
Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No
Read offset correction : 102
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Installed external ASPI interface
Gap handling : Appended to previous track
Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 256 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files\Exact Audio Copy\FLAC\FLAC.EXE
Additional command line options : -8 -V -T "ARTIST=%artist%" -T "TITLE=%title%" -T "ALBUM=%albumtitle%" -T "DATE=%year%" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%tracknr%" -T "GENRE=%genre%" -T "COMMENT=%comment%" %hascover%–picture="%coverfile%"%hascover% %source% -o %dest%
TOC of the extracted CD
Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 4:00.26 | 0 | 18025
2 | 4:00.26 | 4:17.10 | 18026 | 37310
3 | 8:17.36 | 5:26.58 | 37311 | 61818
4 | 13:44.19 | 5:13.56 | 61819 | 85349
5 | 18:58.00 | 3:26.18 | 85350 | 100817
6 | 22:24.18 | 3:09.41 | 100818 | 115033
7 | 25:33.59 | 3:25.74 | 115034 | 130482
8 | 28:59.58 | 3:34.45 | 130483 | 146577
9 | 32:34.28 | 3:11.56 | 146578 | 160958
10 | 35:46.09 | 2:34.71 | 160959 | 172579
11 | 38:21.05 | 5:31.45 | 172580 | 197449
12 | 43:52.50 | 3:08.01 | 197450 | 211550
Track 1
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\01 - Needles.wav
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Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 1.4 X
Track quality 99.9 %
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Track 2
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\02 - Murmuration.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 1.8 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 3
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\03 - The Rapture.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.1 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 4
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\04 - Prisoner.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.1 X
Track quality 99.9 %
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Track 5
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\05 - Kings.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.3 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 6
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\06 - Jerome and Irving.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.0 X
Track quality 99.9 %
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Track 7
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\07 - Fifth Man On The Moon.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.5 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 8
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\08 - Brother.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.6 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 9
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\09 - Big Nose George.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
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Track 10
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\10 - The Bus.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.6 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 11
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\11 - Sand.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 3.0 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track 12
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\12 - Uniontown.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.9 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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None of the tracks are present in the AccurateRip database
No errors occurred
End of status report
EAC extraction logfile from 1. June 2013, 9:06
The Self Help Group / Not Waving But Drowning
Used drive : HL-DT-STDVD-RAM GH22LP20 Adapter: 0 ID: 0
Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No
Read offset correction : 102
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Installed external ASPI interface
Gap handling : Appended to previous track
Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 256 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files\Exact Audio Copy\FLAC\FLAC.EXE
Additional command line options : -8 -V -T "ARTIST=%artist%" -T "TITLE=%title%" -T "ALBUM=%albumtitle%" -T "DATE=%year%" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%tracknr%" -T "GENRE=%genre%" -T "COMMENT=%comment%" %hascover%–picture="%coverfile%"%hascover% %source% -o %dest%
TOC of the extracted CD
Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 4:00.26 | 0 | 18025
2 | 4:00.26 | 4:17.10 | 18026 | 37310
3 | 8:17.36 | 5:26.58 | 37311 | 61818
4 | 13:44.19 | 5:13.56 | 61819 | 85349
5 | 18:58.00 | 3:26.18 | 85350 | 100817
6 | 22:24.18 | 3:09.41 | 100818 | 115033
7 | 25:33.59 | 3:25.74 | 115034 | 130482
8 | 28:59.58 | 3:34.45 | 130483 | 146577
9 | 32:34.28 | 3:11.56 | 146578 | 160958
10 | 35:46.09 | 2:34.71 | 160959 | 172579
11 | 38:21.05 | 5:31.45 | 172580 | 197449
12 | 43:52.50 | 3:08.01 | 197450 | 211550
Track 1
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\01 - Needles.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.00
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 1.4 X
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 9E3158AE
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 2
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\02 - Murmuration.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 1.8 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC E9FB70F3
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 3
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\03 - The Rapture.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.1 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 5F6E5010
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
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Track 4
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\04 - Prisoner.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.1 X
Track quality 99.9 %
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
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Track 5
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\05 - Kings.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.3 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC BDA2DF36
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
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Track 6
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\06 - Jerome and Irving.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.0 X
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC A0F2176A
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
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Track 7
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\07 - Fifth Man On The Moon.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.5 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
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Track 8
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\08 - Brother.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.6 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
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Track 9
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\09 - Big Nose George.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.6 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 92A7432A
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Track 10
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\10 - The Bus.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.6 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC FE763725
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Track 11
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\11 - Sand.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 3.0 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
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Track 12
Filename I:\The Self Help Group - Not Waving But Drowning (2013) [FLAC]\12 - Uniontown.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.9 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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None of the tracks are present in the AccurateRip database
No errors occurred
End of status report
foobar2000 1.2.4 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2013-08-02 13:07:52
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: The Self Help Group / Not Waving But Drowning
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR5 0.00 dB -6.71 dB 4:00 01-Needles
DR6 0.00 dB -7.52 dB 4:17 02-Murmuration
DR7 0.00 dB -8.55 dB 5:27 03-The Rapture
DR7 0.00 dB -8.62 dB 5:14 04-Prisoner
DR5 0.00 dB -7.15 dB 3:26 05-Kings
DR7 0.00 dB -8.18 dB 3:10 06-Jerome and Irving
DR6 0.00 dB -7.28 dB 3:26 07-Fifth Man On The Moon
DR6 0.00 dB -8.12 dB 3:35 08-Brother
DR5 0.00 dB -5.97 dB 3:12 09-Big Nose George
DR7 0.00 dB -10.00 dB 2:35 10-The Bus
DR7 0.00 dB -9.50 dB 5:32 11-Sand
DR8 0.00 dB -9.80 dB 3:08 12-Uniontown
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Number of tracks: 12
Official DR value: DR6
Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 16
Bitrate: 877 kbps
Codec: FLAC
log date: 2013-08-02 13:07:52
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: The Self Help Group / Not Waving But Drowning
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR5 0.00 dB -6.71 dB 4:00 01-Needles
DR6 0.00 dB -7.52 dB 4:17 02-Murmuration
DR7 0.00 dB -8.55 dB 5:27 03-The Rapture
DR7 0.00 dB -8.62 dB 5:14 04-Prisoner
DR5 0.00 dB -7.15 dB 3:26 05-Kings
DR7 0.00 dB -8.18 dB 3:10 06-Jerome and Irving
DR6 0.00 dB -7.28 dB 3:26 07-Fifth Man On The Moon
DR6 0.00 dB -8.12 dB 3:35 08-Brother
DR5 0.00 dB -5.97 dB 3:12 09-Big Nose George
DR7 0.00 dB -10.00 dB 2:35 10-The Bus
DR7 0.00 dB -9.50 dB 5:32 11-Sand
DR8 0.00 dB -9.80 dB 3:08 12-Uniontown
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Number of tracks: 12
Official DR value: DR6
Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 16
Bitrate: 877 kbps
Codec: FLAC
Musicians:
Mark Bruce – vocals, banjo, charrango, keyboards
Clara Wood-Keeley – vocals, xylophone
Sarah Natalie Wood - vocals, xylophone
Ian Bliszczak - bass
Paddy Keeley - banjo, guitar
James Shenton - violin
Julie Adams - cello
Timothy Mercer - congas
Dominic Jeffery - piano
Nick Long - trumpet
Jamie Freeman – drums, percussion, guitar
The Self Help Group - Not Waving, But Drowning (2013)
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