I Am Legion (album)

I Am Legion
Studio album by Noisia x Foreign Beggars
Released 2 September 2013 (2013-09-02)[1]
29 November 2013 (2013-11-29) (Instrumentals) [2]
Recorded 2008-13
Genre
Length 45:38
Label Division, OWSLA, Par Excellence
Producer Nik Roos, Martijn van Sonderen, Thijs de Vlieger
Noisia chronology
Split the Atom
(2010)Split the Atom2010
I Am Legion
(2013)
Outer Edges
(2016)Outer Edges2016
Foreign Beggars chronology
The Uprising
(2012) The Uprising2012
I Am Legion
(2013) I Am Legion2013

I Am Legion is the self-titled collaborative album by I Am Legion, the side project of Dutch record producers Noisia and British rappers Metropolis and Orifice Vulgatron of Foreign Beggars. The album was released on 2 September 2013 through Division, OWSLA and Par Excellence.[3] The album topped the Beatport releases chart within three days of release.[4] The instrumental version of the album, solely produced by Noisia, was released on 29 November 2013.[2] A ten-track remix album featuring Noisia (as Nightwatch), dBridge, Alix Perez and Phace among others was released on 17 June 2014.[5]

Musical concept and songs

The group had the following to say about the album's style and influence:

“We (Noisia & Foreign Beggars) come from two different places and there is a mutual curiosity and admiration that makes us want to make the coolest shit we can. The style and approach to this album has given the lyrics more breathing space and room for exploration, hence it resulting in something more of a rap album with an electronic edge, as opposed to ‘Dance Music’ with raps on it.”[6]

Speaking about the album's second single "Choosing For You", Metropolis told Rolling Stone “We kinda pieced together ideas from two beats Noisia had made to put this one together, I think it's the only track with a Noisia voice on it... The track is about letting the music possess you, as good music should when you hear it.”[7]

Marketing

Singles

  • "Make Those Move" is the album's lead single. It was released on 15 July 2013 through Division and OWSLA as well as for free download.[8][9] It also serves as the first release on Foreign Beggars' label Par Excellence. The free download also features the instrumental edit.
  • "Choosing For You" is the second single from the album. It was released on 19 August 2013.[10] It's the only track on the album to feature vocals from Noisia. The single also features the instrumental edit. An official music video, directed by Grammy nominee Tony Truand, was premiered by Rolling Stone on 16 August 2013.[7] It has currently received over two and a half million YouTube views.[11] On 20 November 2015, remixes of the song by Lliam Taylor and SpacePlant were released as a remix package.[12]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Dancing Astronaut(favourable)[6]
Clash7/10[13]

The album received mixed to positive reviews from critics. Clash said the following about the album:

Banking on the success of 2009’s enormous track ‘Contact’ and other atom splits means a protracted patent of rap and rucking risks running thin. The Beggars’ Orifice Vulgatron and Metropolis, MCs both, purge that possibility, staying as seven-figure showmen you hope never take responsibility, as ‘Foil’ appears dangerously close to doing. Meanwhile Noisia’s teeth-drilling TKOs, flubbery aftershocks and deathly whispers vaporising lugholes, only disappoint the Richter scale when not fully engaged or needlessly cutting short.

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Intro"1:46
2."Farrda"3:00
3."Make Those Move"3:17
4."Upper Ratio"0:47
5."Jelly Fish"3:20
6."Ice"2:40
7."Blue Shift"1:20
8."Loose on the Leaves"3:18
9."Choosing For You"4:08
10."Warp Speed Thuggin'"3:36
11."Stresses, Pt. 1"1:33
12."Stresses, Pt. 2"1:13
13."Sunken Submarine"1:56
14."Dust Descends" (featuring Strange U)4:41
15."Powerplay"3:40
16."Foil" (featuring D.Ablo)5:23
Total length:45:38

Personnel

I Am Legion
  • Nik Roos – producer, mixing
  • Martijn van Sonderen – producer, mixing
  • Thijs de Vlieger - producer, mixing
  • Orifice Vulgatron - vocals, writer
  • Metropolis - vocals, writer
Additional musicians
  • D.Ablo - vocals (16)
  • Strange U - vocals (14)

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
UK Indie Breakers (OCC)[15] 15
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[16] 31

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Worldwide 2 September 2013 Digital download, CD, vinyl Division / OWSLA / Par Excellence
Japan 4 September 2013

References

  1. "iTunes - Music - I Am Legion by I Am Legion". iTunes. 2013-09-02.
  2. 1 2 "Amazon.com: I Am Legion (Instrumentals): I Am Legion: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. 2013-11-29.
  3. "I Am Legion (OWSLA) :: Beatport". Beatport. 2013-09-02.
  4. "Noisia". Facebook. 2013-09-05.
  5. "I Am Legion Remixes by I Am Legion". iTunes Store. 2014-06-17.
  6. 1 2 Sundius, Michael (2013-09-05). "Noisia and Foreign Beggars form I Am Legion, release debut LP". Dancing Astronaut.
  7. 1 2 "I Am Legion Bounce to a Dark Beat in 'Choosing for You' - Premiere - Video". Rolling Stone. 2013-08-16.
  8. "iTunes - Music - Make Those Move - Single by I Am Legion". iTunes. 2013-07-15.
  9. "Make Those Move by I Am Legion on MP3 and WAV at Juno Download". Juno Download. 2013-09-05.
  10. "iTunes - Music - Choosing For You - Single by I Am Legion". iTunes. 2013-08-19.
  11. "I Am Legion (Noisia x Foreign Beggars) - Choosing For You (Official Video)". YouTube. 2013-08-19.
  12. https://par-excellence.bandcamp.com/album/i-am-legion-choosing-for-you-remixes
  13. "I Am Legion - I Am Legion - Reviews". Clash Magazine. 2013-09-30.
  14. "I Am Legion by I Am Legion". iTunes Japan. 2013-09-04.
  15. "2013 Top 40 Independent Albums Breakers Archive". Official Charts Company. 2013-09-14.
  16. "2013 Top 40 R&B Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. 14 September 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.