Bloodless Coup
Encyclopedia
Bloodless Coup is the fifth studio album
by Irish
band Bell X1. It was released on 1 April 2011 in Ireland, Germany
, Belgium
and the Netherlands
, on 4 April in the United Kingdom
, and on 5 April in North America
.
The album reached number 3 of the Top Irish 100 Albums
in its debut week.
Prior to the release of the album Bell X1 performed tracks from Bloodless Coup on a short acoustic European tour. This tour included live dates in autumn/winter 2010 in Ireland, France
, UK, Netherlands and Germany. In September 2010, the band revealed details about their fifth studio album. On 11 September the band offered fans their first listen to a new track called "Velcro" which was recorded at Oxegen Festival in Ireland. The band followed this with further live dates in North America and Europe. On 6 January 2011, Bell X1 revealed the artwork for the album. On 18 January the band revealed another track from the album called "Hey Anna Lena", followed by a video on 26 January of the band recording this song. The track-listing for the album was revealed on their website on 3 February 2011.
on 17 February 2011. It was released through iTunes
on 1 March 2011. A physical release of "Velcro" was released in Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands on 4 March with a North American release on 15 March. The promo video was released on 15 March.
in Cork City. The official 2011 tour kicks off on 6 April 2011 in Dublin. The tour will see the band perform throughout the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, Canada
and the United States
. The first leg of the tour will finish in Galway
, Ireland on 16 July 2011.
described the album as "rejuvenated" and Gold Plectrum describing the album as "...a real return to form from Bell X1 and leaves us with future hope of similar releases". RTÉ
gave the album 3/5 and claimed that the album "could be their strongest bet yet".
Andrew Leahey writing for Allmusic gave the album three stars, noting the band's shift towards electronica in a similar fashion to fellow Irish act U2
with Pop, adding that Bell X1 "sidestep" the problems they encountered, "using synthesizers and drum machines to enhance, not dominate, the songs", while noting a decline in quality in the lyricism of Noonan.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Irish
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
band Bell X1. It was released on 1 April 2011 in Ireland, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, on 4 April in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and on 5 April in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
The album reached number 3 of the Top Irish 100 Albums
Irish Recorded Music Association
Irish Recorded Music Association is the Irish record industry association. IRMA is a non-profit association set up to manage and control the music industry in the Republic of Ireland.-Goals and activities:...
in its debut week.
Production
The album was produced by Rob Kirwan and recorded in Westmeath, Ireland and while touring Europe and North America.Prior to the release of the album Bell X1 performed tracks from Bloodless Coup on a short acoustic European tour. This tour included live dates in autumn/winter 2010 in Ireland, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, UK, Netherlands and Germany. In September 2010, the band revealed details about their fifth studio album. On 11 September the band offered fans their first listen to a new track called "Velcro" which was recorded at Oxegen Festival in Ireland. The band followed this with further live dates in North America and Europe. On 6 January 2011, Bell X1 revealed the artwork for the album. On 18 January the band revealed another track from the album called "Hey Anna Lena", followed by a video on 26 January of the band recording this song. The track-listing for the album was revealed on their website on 3 February 2011.
Singles
The first single from the album, "Velcro", received its first radio airplay on Today FMToday FM
Radio Ireland Ltd, trading as 100-102 Today FM is an Irish commercial FM radio station which is available nationally. The station, which commenced broadcasting on Saint Patrick's Day in 1997, can be received nationally and carries a mix of music and talk...
on 17 February 2011. It was released through iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
on 1 March 2011. A physical release of "Velcro" was released in Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands on 4 March with a North American release on 15 March. The promo video was released on 15 March.
Promo
- Promotion for the album began early in summer 2010 with live performances at festivals such as Oxegen and a number of tour dates in Europe and North America. The band performed an acoustic set for Today FM in November 2010 providing fans with some new material.
- U.S. National Public Radio recorded a special broadcast of the band performing at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin on 3 April 2011, flying 85 Americans over for what was described by Hot Press as "unprecedented" and "an international first". The album's lead single "Velcro" was playlisted by at least 15 different American radio stations, as well as others in Europe such as Kink FMKink FMKink FM described itself as the only commercial radio station in the Netherlands dedicated entirely to alternative music.In 1992 Dutch radio station RTL Radio started broadcasting. After this station failed to be a success, its format and name was first changed to RTL Rockradio, then to Happy RTL...
, Motor FM and Radio Eins. - The album was streamed one week prior to its release on the official Bell X1 website, MyspaceMyspaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page and SoundCloudSoundCloudSoundCloud is an online audio distribution platform which allows collaboration, promotion and distribution of audio recordings.-History:SoundCloud was originally started in Stockholm, Sweden, but was established in Berlin, Germany in August, 2007 by sound designer Alex Ljung and artist Eric Wahlforss...
.
Tour 2011
Following touring in 2010, Bell X1 followed this with an announcement that they would headline at Live at The MarqueeLive at The Marquee
Live at the Marquee is a live album by the band King Crimson, released through the King Crimson Collectors' Club in October 1998.*Tracks 1-8 believed to be recorded at the Marquee Club, London, UK, July 6, 1969...
in Cork City. The official 2011 tour kicks off on 6 April 2011 in Dublin. The tour will see the band perform throughout the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The first leg of the tour will finish in Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
, Ireland on 16 July 2011.
Critical reception
The album has received favourable reviews in their native Ireland. StateState (magazine)
State.ie is an Irish website and formerly a monthly music magazine, which launched in March 2008 and folded in January 2009 having published a total of nine issues...
described the album as "rejuvenated" and Gold Plectrum describing the album as "...a real return to form from Bell X1 and leaves us with future hope of similar releases". RTÉ
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
gave the album 3/5 and claimed that the album "could be their strongest bet yet".
Andrew Leahey writing for Allmusic gave the album three stars, noting the band's shift towards electronica in a similar fashion to fellow Irish act U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
with Pop, adding that Bell X1 "sidestep" the problems they encountered, "using synthesizers and drum machines to enhance, not dominate, the songs", while noting a decline in quality in the lyricism of Noonan.