Upstepping
| Upstepping | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 13 May 2016 | |||
| Length | 45:02 | |||
| Label | Prah | |||
| Producer | Oliver Coates | |||
| Oliver Coates chronology | ||||
| ||||
Upstepping is the second studio album by English cellist Oliver Coates. It was released on 13 May 2016 through Prah Recordings.
Background
Oliver Coates is an English cellist from London.[1] Upstepping is his second solo album, following Towards the Blessed Islands (2013).[1] In a 2016 interview, Stephen Bass, the founder of Prah Recordings, recalled, "I firmly believed that a lot of people whose music I respect from the dance world would really love Oliver's first album, so I wanted to do something that was going to catch the ears of those people."[2] Most sounds on Upstepping originate from the cello which he played and then processed digitally.[3] The album was released on 13 May 2016 through Prah Recordings.[4]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| Clash | 9/10[6] |
| Loud and Quiet | 9/10[7] |
| MusicOMH | [4] |
Gareth James of Clash described Upstepping as "a bizarre, ambitious and outrageously good record."[6] Tom Fenwick of Loud and Quiet commented that it "blends stark electronica and experimental classicism into a magnificent album, which sees Coates skirt the edge of perfection."[7] Bekki Bemrose of AllMusic wrote, "Unsurprisingly, it's a work that has seen him likened to the late Arthur Russell, and on the strength of this collection, it's a deserved comparison."[5] Ben Hogwood of MusicOMH stated, "Because of the ebb and flow, that movement between frenetic and calm, Upstepping makes a strong and lasting impact."[4]
Accolades
| Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loud and Quiet | The Loud and Quiet Top 40 Albums of 2016 | 7 |
|
| MusicOMH | musicOMH's Top 50 Albums of 2016 | 38 |
Track listing
All tracks are written by Oliver Coates.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Innocent Love" | 7:20 |
| 2. | "Timelapse (Walrus)" | 7:40 |
| 3. | "Bambi 2046" | 5:16 |
| 4. | "Perfect Love" | 6:53 |
| 5. | "Memorial to Hitchens" | 2:54 |
| 6. | "The Irish Book of Death & Flying Ships" | 2:56 |
| 7. | "Stash" | 8:18 |
| 8. | "Rise & Fall" | 3:42 |
| Total length: | 45:02 | |
Notes
- The vinyl edition does not include "Rise & Fall".[11]
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.[12]
- Oliver Coates – production
- Lawrence Lek – artwork
- Fraser Muggeridge – design
- Paul Rafferty – layout
References
- 1 2 Simpson, Paul. "Oliver Coates". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ↑ Battaglia, Andy (16 August 2016). "Label Profile: PRAH Recordings". Bandcamp Daily. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ↑ Walton, Sam (25 June 2016). "Oliver Coates: The cellist that became obsessed with the sound of early '90s pirate radio". Loud and Quiet. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 Hogwood, Ben (15 May 2016). "Oliver Coates – Upstepping". MusicOMH. Archived from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- 1 2 Bemrose, Bekki. "Oliver Coates: Upstepping". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- 1 2 James, Gareth (23 May 2016). "Oliver Coates - Upstepping". Clash. Archived from the original on 4 July 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- 1 2 Fenwick, Tom (19 May 2016). "Oliver Coates - Upstepping". Loud and Quiet. Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ↑ "The Loud And Quiet top 40 albums of 2016". Loud and Quiet. 9 December 2016. Archived from the original on 28 June 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ↑ "musicOMH's Top 50 Albums Of 2016". MusicOMH. 9 December 2016. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ↑ "Upstepping | Oliver Coates". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on 9 September 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ↑ "Oliver Coates - Upstepping". Boomkat. Archived from the original on 12 December 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ↑ Oliver Coates (2016). Upstepping (vinyl liner notes). Prah Recordings.
External links
- Upstepping at Discogs (list of releases)