Lupercalia (album)
Encyclopedia
Lupercalia is the fifth studio album
by English-Irish singer-songwriter Patrick Wolf
, released on 20 June 2011 by Hideout, a subsidiary of Mercury Records
.
On 4 November 2010, Wolf announced that the first single from the album was to be 'Time of My Life' and the song was posted on YouTube. The second single, entitled "The City", was released 14 March 2011.
On 23 December 2010, Wolf announced via Twitter that, while he had considered multiple album titles, such as 'The Native' and 'Tahina Spectabilis' with fan support he decided on Lupercalia
, reflecting the "festival of love" theme of the album.
On 9 February 2011, Wolf posted to his Twitter page that he "[held] the finished album in [his] hands" confirming the album had been completed that day after many previous updates regarding recording and mixing.
Speaking to Digital Spy
in March 2011, of the album Wolf says:
On why the album is entitled Lupercalia, Wolf says,
A 7-track bonus disc titled ‘Lemuralia
’ was released alongside the album online, containing album tracks in demo stages - it acts as an EP companion to Lupercalia.
" was released on the Bandstocks website, and later featured on Wolf's MySpace
page, entitled "Battle Megamix". The megamix featured two songs not found on The Bachelor (Time of My Life and Together), which now appear on the new album.
The official tracklisting was confirmed on 21 February 2011.
, Glastonbury
Balado
(T in the Park
) and Reading and Leeds
in the UK.
Wolf announced via Twitter on 27 July 2011 that the main support act for the UK and Ireland leg of the tour would be English singer-songwriter CocknBullKid
.
where he recorded the new material. On 19 February 2009, Wolf announced that Battle had been split into two releases, The Bachelor
and The Conqueror (although the latter album title has subsequently been changed to Lupercalia).
The Bachelor was released on 1 June 2009 and the new album will see release in 2011. Speaking of the decision to split the release into two albums rather than the double album, Wolf expressed the desire "not to overload people with too much". He has since suggested that while The Bachelor was practically finished, he felt that there were still "a couple of songs or stories to be written for the second part".
Speaking to Spinner in February 2009, Wolf explains that while "The Bachelor has themes of loneliness, hedonism, depression and melancholy...[The Conqueror] is all my depression being suddenly lifted by true love."
It was originally planned that Wolf would work in collaboration with Bandstocks again to fund the new album, as was done with The Bachelor. However, due to Wolf being signed to Mercury Records, this is no longer the case.
In an interview with Gay&Night magazine from The Netherlands in July 2009, it was revealed that Tilda Swinton
will be appearing in some tracks on the new album, as was the case on The Bachelor.
In an interview with The Times on 12 August 2009, Patrick confirmed that Groove Armada
were collaborating with him on tracks for the album. Suggesting that the album would draw influences from Motown and disco, he described it as “not cheese, it’s happy, pornographic music. You can be quite experimental but produce anthems that people want to get married to, you know, have that first dance at a wedding thing. Music for your first kiss.”
In late August 2010, on his Twitter page, Patrick revealed that both the album's name and concept had changed.
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-Irish singer-songwriter Patrick Wolf
Patrick Wolf
Patrick Wolf is an English-Irish singer-songwriter from South London. Patrick utilises a wide variety of instruments in his music, most commonly the ukulele, piano and viola...
, released on 20 June 2011 by Hideout, a subsidiary of Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
.
Album information
Formerly The Conqueror – originally the second part of a double album entitled Battle – the album's title and concept was changed by Wolf in August 2010.On 4 November 2010, Wolf announced that the first single from the album was to be 'Time of My Life' and the song was posted on YouTube. The second single, entitled "The City", was released 14 March 2011.
On 23 December 2010, Wolf announced via Twitter that, while he had considered multiple album titles, such as 'The Native' and 'Tahina Spectabilis' with fan support he decided on Lupercalia
Lupercalia
Lupercalia was a very ancient, possibly pre-Roman pastoral festival, observed on February 13 through 15 to avert evil spirits and purify the city, releasing health and fertility...
, reflecting the "festival of love" theme of the album.
On 9 February 2011, Wolf posted to his Twitter page that he "[held] the finished album in [his] hands" confirming the album had been completed that day after many previous updates regarding recording and mixing.
Speaking to Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
in March 2011, of the album Wolf says:
"There are about four sad, melancholy moments on the album, but in general it's jubilant and about falling deeply in love. It's a really romantic record and it's extremely honest. Every song is a true story and not disguised with the folklore and fairytale that I've been known for in the past."
On why the album is entitled Lupercalia, Wolf says,
"Songs about love are obviously the most common theme in pop music, but I wanted to approach it in a way that hadn't been done before. The title refers to the Lupercalia festival, which is the ancient fertility and love festival that happens around Valentine's Day. I strive to be original – it's one of my biggest ambitions. There can be nothing worse sometimes than a soppy love record – imagine if I'd called it To Love: Patrick Wolf!"
A 7-track bonus disc titled ‘Lemuralia
Lemuralia EP
Lemuralia is a 7-track bonus disc released by English-Irish singer-songwriter Patrick Wolf, which accompanied the release of his fifth studio album, Lupercalia...
’ was released alongside the album online, containing album tracks in demo stages - it acts as an EP companion to Lupercalia.
Singles
- 6 December 2010: "Time of My Life" (pre-album promotional single)
- 14 March 2011: "The City"
- 23 May 2011: "House"
- 16 September 2011: "Time of My Life"
- 2011: "Together"
Track listing
A preview of "The BachelorThe Bachelor (album)
The Bachelor is the fourth studio album by English-Irish singer-songwriter Patrick Wolf. The organ parts were recorded using the organ at St. George's church in Brede, East Sussex. The album charted at #49 on the UK album charts...
" was released on the Bandstocks website, and later featured on Wolf's MySpace
MySpace
Myspace 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, entitled "Battle Megamix". The megamix featured two songs not found on The Bachelor (Time of My Life and Together), which now appear on the new album.
The official tracklisting was confirmed on 21 February 2011.
Pre-release tour
In the lead up to the album's release, Wolf toured Russia, Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, Turkey and Sweden. The tour will culminate at festivals in the Isle of WightIsle of Wight Festival
The Isle of Wight Festival is a music festival which takes place every year on the Isle of Wight in England. It was originally held from 1968 to 1970. These original events were promoted and organised by the Foulk brothers under the banner of their company Fiery Creations Limited...
, Glastonbury
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
Balado
Balado
Balado is a park and former airfield within the Perth and Kinross council area of Scotland. It is now the venue of the annual T in the Park music festival.Poultry sheds of Balado Poultry Farm now occupy the old concrete runways of the airfield...
(T in the Park
T in the Park
T in the Park is a major British music festival that has been held annually since 1994. It is named after its main sponsor, the brewing company Tennents. It was originally held at Strathclyde Park, Lanarkshire but since 1997 has been held at a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire...
) and Reading and Leeds
Reading and Leeds Festivals
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm...
in the UK.
Lupercalia Tour
Between October and December 2011, Wolf will play a promotional tour, the Lupercalia Tour. The tour will start on October 22 in Scotland and will visit England, Ireland, France, Turkey, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic and RussiaWolf announced via Twitter on 27 July 2011 that the main support act for the UK and Ireland leg of the tour would be English singer-songwriter CocknBullKid
CocknBullKid
Anita Blay better known by her professional name CocknBullKid, is an English singer-songwriter. Her first releases were released under the name thecocknbullkid.-Career:...
.
The Conqueror era
The fifth album was originally part of a double album entitled Battle, named for the Sussex townBattle, East Sussex
Battle is a small town and civil parish in the local government district of Rother in East Sussex, England. It lies south southeast of London, east of Brighton and east of the county town of Lewes...
where he recorded the new material. On 19 February 2009, Wolf announced that Battle had been split into two releases, The Bachelor
The Bachelor (album)
The Bachelor is the fourth studio album by English-Irish singer-songwriter Patrick Wolf. The organ parts were recorded using the organ at St. George's church in Brede, East Sussex. The album charted at #49 on the UK album charts...
and The Conqueror (although the latter album title has subsequently been changed to Lupercalia).
The Bachelor was released on 1 June 2009 and the new album will see release in 2011. Speaking of the decision to split the release into two albums rather than the double album, Wolf expressed the desire "not to overload people with too much". He has since suggested that while The Bachelor was practically finished, he felt that there were still "a couple of songs or stories to be written for the second part".
Speaking to Spinner in February 2009, Wolf explains that while "The Bachelor has themes of loneliness, hedonism, depression and melancholy...[The Conqueror] is all my depression being suddenly lifted by true love."
It was originally planned that Wolf would work in collaboration with Bandstocks again to fund the new album, as was done with The Bachelor. However, due to Wolf being signed to Mercury Records, this is no longer the case.
In an interview with Gay&Night magazine from The Netherlands in July 2009, it was revealed that Tilda Swinton
Tilda Swinton
Katherine Mathilda "Tilda" Swinton is a British actress known for both arthouse and mainstream films. She has appeared in a number of films including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Burn After Reading, The Beach, We Need to Talk About Kevin and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her...
will be appearing in some tracks on the new album, as was the case on The Bachelor.
In an interview with The Times on 12 August 2009, Patrick confirmed that Groove Armada
Groove Armada
Groove Armada is an English electronic music duo from London, England comprising Andy Cato and Tom Findlay. They are perhaps best known for their singles "I See You Baby" and "Superstylin'"...
were collaborating with him on tracks for the album. Suggesting that the album would draw influences from Motown and disco, he described it as “not cheese, it’s happy, pornographic music. You can be quite experimental but produce anthems that people want to get married to, you know, have that first dance at a wedding thing. Music for your first kiss.”
In late August 2010, on his Twitter page, Patrick revealed that both the album's name and concept had changed.
Certifications, peaks and sales
| Country/Region | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austria | 47 |
| United Kingdom | 37 |