Express is the second studio album

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 English alternative rock

Alternative rock

Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...

 band Love and Rockets

Love and Rockets (band)

Love and Rockets were an English alternative rock band formed in 1985 by former Bauhaus members Daniel Ash , David J , and Kevin Haskins . Former Bauhaus vocalist Peter Murphy had embarked on a solo career after Bauhaus split in 1983...

, released in 1986 on Beggar's Banquet.

Background

The band continued in the same musical direction as their first album, Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven

Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven

Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven is the debut studio album by English alternative rock band Love and Rockets, released in 1985 on Beggar's Banquet.- Background :...

, with a strong psychedelic

Psychedelic music

Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...

 and glam rock

Glam rock

Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...

 sound. Although still retaining a bit of their gothic rock

Gothic rock

Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...

 sound, the band continued to distance themselves away from their previous work with Bauhaus

Bauhaus (band)

Bauhaus was an English rock band formed in Northampton in 1978. The group consisted of Peter Murphy , Daniel Ash , Kevin Haskins and David J . The band was originally Bauhaus 1919 before they dropped the numerical portion within a year of formation...

.

The album contains two versions of "All in My Mind", one of which is labeled as an acoustic version. Although both feature similar lyrics and chord structures, the songs are clearly distinct from each other.

Release history

In 2001, the album was remastered and expanded to include two single remixes and several contemporaneous B-sides, including a cover of Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...

's "Lucifer Sam". Two short experimental pieces that had been found on the studio tape masters labeled as "B Side #1" and "B Side #2" were also added. Note that "Ball of Confusion

Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)

"Ball of Confusion " is a 1970 hit single for The Temptations. It was released on the Gordy label, and produced by Norman Whitfield....

" was released before Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven, but since the USA mix could not be fit on the reissue of that album, it was appended to the Express reissue.

Track listing

Original LP release

1. "It Could Be Sunshine" – 5:00
2. "Kundalini Express" – 5:47
3. "All in My Mind" – 4:45
4. "Life in Laralay" – 3:35
5. "Yin and Yang (The Flowerpot Man)" – 5:56
6. "Love Me" – 3:54
7. "All in My Mind (acoustic)" – 5:08
8. "An American Dream" – 6:04

Original cassette release

1. "It Could Be Sunshine" – 5:00
2. "Kundalini Express" – 5:47
3. "All in My Mind" – 4:45
4. "Life in Laralay" – 3:35
5. "Yin and Yang (The Flowerpot Man)" – 5:56
6. "Love Me" – 3:54
7. "All in My Mind (acoustic)" – 5:08
8. "Holiday on the Moon" – 6:07
9. "An American Dream" – 6:04

The UK cassette release did not include "Holiday on the Moon".

US LP release (Bigtime Records)

1. "It Could Be Sunshine" – 5:00
2. "Kundalini Express" – 5:47
3. "All in My Mind" – 4:45
4. "Life in Laralay" – 3:35
5. "Ball Of Confusion" (USA Mix) - 6:16
6. "Yin and Yang (The Flowerpot Man)" – 5:56
7. "Love Me" – 3:54
8. "All in My Mind (acoustic)" – 5:08
9. "An American Dream" – 6:04

The original CD release also included "Angels and Devils", "Lucifer Sam" and "Holiday on the Moon".

2001 CD reissue

1. "It Could Be Sunshine" – 4:59
2. "Kundalini Express" – 5:52
3. "All in My Mind" – 4:43
4. "Life in Laralay" – 3:31
5. "Yin and Yang (The Flowerpot Man)" – 5:56
6. "Love Me" – 3:54
7. "All in My Mind (acoustic)" – 5:08
8. "An American Dream" – 6:09
9. "Angels and Devils" – 6:10
10. "Holiday on the Moon" – 6:07
11. "Lucifer Sam" – 3:21
12. "B Side #1" – 1:16
13. "B Side #2" – 1:31
14. "Yin and Yang (The Flowerpot Man) (Remix)" – 5:29
15. "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)
    Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)
    "Ball of Confusion " is a 1970 hit single for The Temptations. It was released on the Gordy label, and produced by Norman Whitfield....
    
     (USA Mix)" – 6:18

Reception

Allmusic gave the album four-and-a-half stars out of five, writing "Rich in sonic detail, the neo-psychedelic Express offers a listening experience like no other album -- guitars spiral to dizzying heights from beds of sound, arrangements swirl, songs change and mutate."

Personnel

• Daniel Ash
  Daniel Ash
  Daniel Gaston Ash is the guitarist for Bauhaus, Tones on Tail, Love and Rockets, and solo projects.-Life and work:After going to concerts in his teenage years, Ash made a decision to be on a stage in some way...
  
   – guitar, saxophone
  Saxophone
  The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
  
  , and vocals
• David J
  David J
  David John Haskins , better known as David J, is a British alternative rock musician. He was the bassist for the gothic rock band Bauhaus and Love and Rockets....
  
   – bass and vocals
• Kevin Haskins
  Kevin Haskins
  Kevin Haskins also known as Kevin Michael Dompe is a drummer best known from the British rock group Bauhaus. He was also a member of Tones on Tail and Love and Rockets...
  
   – drums and synthesizers