Take to the Skies
Encyclopedia
Take to the Skies is the debut studio album by Enter Shikari
. On March 25, 2007, it reached #4 in the Official UK Album Chart selling 28,000 copies in its first week. It has been released as a standard CD, a limited CD + DVD edition and a double LP version (2 x 180grm 12" vinyl
) with an embossed gate fold sleeve. The 12" vinyl edition is limited to 1000 copies and also contains the standard CD.
The Album reached worldwide sales of 250,000 copies and was certified Gold in the UK, after selling over 100,000 copies.
The album contains many songs that were featured on demos, singles and EPs released in the years prior to their debut. "Sorry You're Not A Winner" was first on the band's second EP Sorry You're Not A Winner EP
in 2003. It was later re-recorded in 2006 along with "OK, Time For Plan B" (which was a previously released demo in 2005) for the bands second single Sorry You're Not a Winner/OK Time for Plan B
. "Jonny Sniper" and "Anything Can Happen In The Next Half Hour..." were both on the band's third EP Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour (EP) in 2004; they were completely re-recorded for the album. A demo version of "Mothership" was previously released for the bands first single in 2006. Also "Enter Shikari", "Labyrinth", and "Return To Energiser" were released as demos from 2005-06.
The album produced two singles for "Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour" and "Jonny Sniper".
After the release of the album in Europe
, the band spent a long period of time finding a distributor, which they would need to release the album in North America
. Finally they signed to Tiny Evil Records
and the album was released on October 30.
, November 4, 2006.
Plus backstage footage and photo slide show
The entire Astoria gig was filmed and originally planned to be released in its entirety, however due to poor sound quality on many of the tracks, only three of the tracks made it to release.
Additional personnel
Production
Live At The Astoria DVD personnel
Enter Shikari
Enter Shikari are a British band, that combine post-hardcore with elements of various electronic genres, formed in 2003 in St Albans, Hertfordshire. The band is named after a boat belonging to Roughton "Rou" Reynolds' uncle, and a character in a play which he wrote before forming the band, both of...
. On March 25, 2007, it reached #4 in the Official UK Album Chart selling 28,000 copies in its first week. It has been released as a standard CD, a limited CD + DVD edition and a double LP version (2 x 180grm 12" vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
) with an embossed gate fold sleeve. The 12" vinyl edition is limited to 1000 copies and also contains the standard CD.
The Album reached worldwide sales of 250,000 copies and was certified Gold in the UK, after selling over 100,000 copies.
The album contains many songs that were featured on demos, singles and EPs released in the years prior to their debut. "Sorry You're Not A Winner" was first on the band's second EP Sorry You're Not A Winner EP
Sorry You're Not a Winner EP
Sorry You're Not a Winner is the second demo EP by Enter Shikari. It was released in 2003 and sold only at shows/via website. The songs "Sorry You're Not a Winner" and "Ok, Time For Plan B" were rerecorded and featured on the album "Take to the Skies"....
in 2003. It was later re-recorded in 2006 along with "OK, Time For Plan B" (which was a previously released demo in 2005) for the bands second single Sorry You're Not a Winner/OK Time for Plan B
Sorry You're Not a Winner/OK Time for Plan B
"Sorry You're Not a Winner" / "OK Time for Plan B" is the first single by Enter Shikari. It was released in 2006. It is available from their online store and from iTunes...
. "Jonny Sniper" and "Anything Can Happen In The Next Half Hour..." were both on the band's third EP Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour (EP) in 2004; they were completely re-recorded for the album. A demo version of "Mothership" was previously released for the bands first single in 2006. Also "Enter Shikari", "Labyrinth", and "Return To Energiser" were released as demos from 2005-06.
The album produced two singles for "Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour" and "Jonny Sniper".
After the release of the album in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, the band spent a long period of time finding a distributor, which they would need to release the album 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...
. Finally they signed to Tiny Evil Records
Tiny Evil Records
Tiny Evil Records is a record label imprint run by Interscope Records executive Luke Wood. Its acts include AFI, Jimmy Eat World, Brand New and Nine Black Alps, among others....
and the album was released on October 30.
Retail version
- Tracks 1, 5, 9, 11, 13 and 17 are untitled on the actual track listing. However, the untitled tracks have been given names on the digital versions and other retailer descriptions. Track 1 is universally titled "Stand Your Ground; This Is Ancient Land". In most cases tracks 5,9,11,13 and 17 are all titled "Interlude", sometimes being numbered. However, on the iTunes track listing 9 and 17 are both titled Reprise One and Two, respectively. Also, Track 17 is sometimes titled "Closing".
'Live At The Astoria' DVD
Filmed live at the London AstoriaLondon Astoria
The London Astoria was a music venue, located at 157 Charing Cross Road, in London, England. It had been leased and run by Festival Republic since 2000. It was closed on 15 January 2009 and has since been demolished...
, November 4, 2006.
- "Labyrinth"
- "The Feast"
- "Sorry You're Not a Winner"
Plus backstage footage and photo slide show
The entire Astoria gig was filmed and originally planned to be released in its entirety, however due to poor sound quality on many of the tracks, only three of the tracks made it to release.
'US iTunes Version'
Personnel
Band- Roughton "Rou" Reynolds - Lead vocals, additional guitars, lap steel guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, programming, samples, electronics, lyrics
- Chris Batten - Bass, vocals
- Liam "Rory" Clewlow - Lead guitar, rhythm guitar, vocals
- Rob Rolfe - Drums, percussion
Additional personnel
- Enter Shikari - Gang vocals
- Joel De'ath - Gang vocals
- Ben Shute - Gang vocals
- Ian Shortshaft - Gang vocals
- Arlen Keyte - Gang vocals
- Timbo Baggins - Gang vocals
- Mark Thomas - Gang vocals
- David Burgess - Gang vocals
- Connor Masarich - Gang vocals
Production
- Enter ShikariEnter ShikariEnter Shikari are a British band, that combine post-hardcore with elements of various electronic genres, formed in 2003 in St Albans, Hertfordshire. The band is named after a boat belonging to Roughton "Rou" Reynolds' uncle, and a character in a play which he wrote before forming the band, both of...
- Production - Gavin Paul Maxwell - Technician
- John Mitchell - Recording
- Ben Humphreys - Recording
- Martin Giles - Mastering
- Peter HillPeter Hill (photographer)Peter Hill is a photographer and journalist who lives in London, England. He is best known for his live photography of rock bands and his work on Rocklouder.co.uk.-Background:Hill was born in Shoreham-by-Sea...
- Photography - Keaton Henson - Illustration, design
Live At The Astoria DVD personnel
- Lawrence Hardy - Director, editor, camera operator
- Paul McLoone - Producer
- Manifesto Films - Producer
- Gavin Paul Maxwell - Technician
- Andrew Carey - Camera operator
- Hugo Levien - Camera operator
- Tatsu Ozaki - Camera operator
- Jerome McCann - Sound
- James Kemp - Sound mixing
- Jenifer Wright - Picture slideshow photography
- Stephen Condell - Picture slideshow photography
Reception
Singles
| Information |
|---|
| Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour... Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour "Anything Can Happen In The Next Half Hour..." is the second physical single, and third overall, by Enter Shikari and the first single to be released from their debut album Take to the Skies...
|
| Jonny Sniper Jonny Sniper "Jonny Sniper" was the third physical single, and fourth overall, by Enter Shikari and the second single to be released from their debut album Take to the Skies... UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... ) |
Chart performance
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Irish Albums Chart Irish Albums Chart The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on its behalf by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured electronically... |
26 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
4 |
Trivia
- "Kicking Back on the Surface of Your Cheek" is included on the Kerrang! Awards 2007 The Nominees CD, and the single of Anything Can Happen in the Next Half HourAnything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour"Anything Can Happen In The Next Half Hour..." is the second physical single, and third overall, by Enter Shikari and the first single to be released from their debut album Take to the Skies...
7" Single - "No Sssweat" is included on the Kerrang! The Best of 2007 CD