Tracing Faces
| Tracing Faces | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 7 August 2020 | |||
| Recorded | 2019–2020 | |||
| Studio | The Music Farm (Byron Bay, NSW) | |||
| Genre | Psychedelia | |||
| Length | 32:08 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| Great Gable chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Tracing Faces | ||||
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Tracing Faces is the debut studio album by Australian indie rock band Great Gable, released on 7 August 2020 through ADA Worldwide and Warner Music Australia.
Background[edit]
The album follows on less than a year after the release of their EP Lazy Bones Tapes (2019).[1] In an interview with Triple J, lead vocalist Alex Whiteman elaborated on the decision to record an album as opposed to an EP:
"It took a little while to figure things out, which I think has been great for us. If we wrote the album or were getting hype any time sooner, it would've been too soon for us. We really needed to get around and gig, get better at writing songs. It's been really cool getting support behind us."[2]
Matt Corby contacted Alex Henriksson (the band's co-producer) after hearing demos for the album, which led to Corby producing the record.[2]
Recording and composition[edit]
Tracing Faces was co-produced by Australian musician Matt Corby and Alex Heriksson.[2] The album was written in a cabin in the Karri forests and a chestnut farm in southwest Australia,[3] and recorded at The Music Farm in Byron Bay, New South Wales.[4]
Of the recording process, bassist Chris Bye noted that "being engulfed in nature definitely influenced the overall vibe of what we came out with."[5] Drummer Callum Guy additionally stated: "It was sick working with Alex Henriksson and Matt Corby on the album, they are full legends. They helped us to write better tunes and really inspired us."[5]
Themes and influences[edit]
The album discusses themes of love, heartbreak and mental health.[5] "Blur" has been described as containing Krautrock and neo-psychedelia influences.[6]
Release[edit]
Tracing Faces was announced on 14 May 2020, alongside the premiere of second single "Blur" on Triple J's Good Nights with Bridget Hustwaite.[2]
Tracing Faces was released on 7 August 2020 through ADA Worldwide and Warner Music Australia, on CD,[7] LP,[8] digital download and streaming.[9]
Promotion[edit]
Singles[edit]
Tracing Faces was supported released by four singles: lead single "All My Friends", released on 21 February 2020,[10] "Blur", released on 15 May 2020,[2] "I Wonder", released on 26 June 2020,[11] and the title track, released alongside the album on 7 August 2020.[12]
Live performances[edit]
The band performed "Blur" live at Freo Social on 4 August 2020.[13] Additionally, a national tour was announced alongside the album's announcement (see below).[4]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Radio 13 |   [14] |
| Milky | [15] |
Writing for NME Australia, journalist Alex Gallagher stated Tracing Faces "offers a fuller, more coherent picture of the captivating, sun-drenched guitar-pop they captured early on, richly textural while undeniably hooky and upbeat." He also wrote: "There's an earnestness to what Great Gable do that makes them difficult not to find charming, with singer Alex Whiteman's from-the-hip reflections on love, loss and mental health feeling like an authentic snapshot of a period in the band's lives."[16]
David Boyle of Radio 13 praised the album as a "coming-of-age body of work" and stated [it] takes you on a journey that is magical and mystical with enough surprises even for the most seasoned traveller to enjoy."[14] He additionally compared it favourably to Arctic Monkeys and the Beatles.[14]
Milky described the album as "a continued exploration of the sound the band have been building upon" and "an incredible showcase of each members' musicianship and talent".[15] They additionally favourably compared the title track to 1960's psychedelic music.[15]
Commercial performance[edit]
Tracing Faces debuted and peaked at number 78 on the ARIA Albums Chart for the chart dated 17 August 2020,[17] before dropping out of the Top 100 the following week.[18]
Tracing Faces additionally debuted and peaked at number 16 on the ARIA Top 20 Australian Albums Chart,[19] and at number 4 on the ARIA Top 20 Vinyl Albums Chart.[20]
Track listing[edit]
All tracks are written by Alex Whiteman, Matt Preen, Chris Bye, Callum Guy, Matt Corby, and Alex Henriksson.[21]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tracing Faces" | 3:32 |
| 2. | "Blur" | 3:16 |
| 3. | "Deep End" | 3:34 |
| 4. | "I Wonder" | 3:07 |
| 5. | "No Other Way" | 3:32 |
| 6. | "Coasting" | 3:16 |
| 7. | "Don't You See" | 3:05 |
| 8. | "All My Fault" | 3:07 |
| 9. | "All My Friends" | 4:42 |
| 10. | "Outro" | 0:57 |
| Total length: | 32:08 | |
Personnel[edit]
Adapted from the album's liner notes.[22]
Musicians[edit]
Great Gable
- Alex Whiteman – vocals, writing (1–10)
- Matt Preen – guitar, writing (1–10)
- Chris Bye – bass guitar, writing (1–10)
- Callum Guy – drums, writing (1–10)
Other musicians
- Matt Corby – writing (1–10)
- Alex Henriksson – writing (1–10)
Technical[edit]
- Alex Henriksson – production (1–10), mixing (9)
- Matt Corby – production (1–10)
- Matthew Neighbour – mixing (1–10)
Tour[edit]
| Tour by Great Gable | |
| Location | Oceania |
|---|---|
| Associated album | Tracing Faces |
| Start date | TBC |
| End date | TBC |
| Legs | 1 (as of October 2020) |
| No. of shows | TBC |
Great Gable announced a tour of Australia and New Zealand in support of the album in May 2020, alongside the release of second single "Blur".[2] The tour was originally scheduled to begin in April 2020,[11] before being rescheduled to October and November 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[2] before being delayed indefinitely. The Australian leg of the tour will be performed in Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney Adelaide, and Hobart, alongside regional dates in Byron Bay, Wollongong, Torquay and Maroochydore (which were announced following the delay of the tour).[2] The New Zealand leg of the tour will be performed in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington.[23]
Perth producer Jamilla and Melbourne musician Velvet Bloom will feature as the support acts on the tour, with additional special guests yet to be announced.[4]
Charts[edit]
| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[17] | 78 |
References[edit]
- ^ "Great Gable announce debut album + release new single 'Blur'". Good Call Live. 16 May 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Newstead, Al (15 May 2020). "First Spin: Great Gable share 'Blur', from debut album co-produced by Matt Corby". Triple J. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ "Great Gable debut album 'Tracing Faces' out Friday 7 August". Around the Sound. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ a b c Martin, Josh (15 May 2020). "Great Gable announce debut album 'Tracing Faces' with new single". NME Australia. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ a b c "Great Gable announces debut album Tracing Faces available Friday 7 August + new single Blur out today". The BackBeat Podcast. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ Brewster, Will (16 May 2020). "Great Gable announce debut album Tracing Faces". Mixdown. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ "Tracing Faces | JB Hi-Fi". JB Hi-Fi. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ "Tracing Faces (Vinyl) | JB Hi-Fi". JB Hi-Fi. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ "Tracing Faces by Great Gable on Apple Music". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ Martin, Josh (21 February 2020). "Great Gable share 'All My Friends', their new single co-produced by Matt Corby". NME Australia. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ a b Gallagher, Alex (26 June 2020). "Great Gable share lush new single 'I Wonder'". NME Australia. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ Brereton, Greta (7 August 2020). "Great Gable drop debut LP 'Tracing Faces', share title track's video". NME Australia. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ Collins, Jayden (4 August 2020). "Premiere: Great Gable unveil live performance of 'Blur' ahead of debut album 'Tracing Faces'". Happy Mag. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ a b c Boyle, David (6 August 2020). "Album Review: Great Gable – Tracing Faces (ADA Worldwide)". Radio 13. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ a b c "Great Gable 'Tracing Faces' Review". Milky. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ Gallagher, Alex; James Young, David (3 August 2020). "What's new this month? Here are 10 Australian album picks for August 2020". NME Australia. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ a b "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 17 August 2020". No. 1589. Australian Recording Industry Association. 17 August 2020.
{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help) - ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 24 August 2020". No. 1590. Australian Recording Industry Association. 24 August 2020.
{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help) - ^ "ARIA Top 20 Australian Albums for week of 17 August 2020". Australian Recording Industry Association. 17 August 2020. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ "ARIA Top 20 Vinyl Albums for week of 17 August 2020". Australian Recording Industry Association. 17 August 2020. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ "'Tracing Faces' at APRA search engine". APRA AMCOS (Australasian Performing Right Association, Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society). Retrieved 28 September 2020. Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:'
- ^ Tracing Faces (booklet). Great Gable. ADA Worldwide / Warner Music Australia. 2020. 5054197080265.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Hicks, Jahmiele (25 June 2020). "Great Gable shares album track I Wonder + debut album Tracing Faces available Friday 7 August + touring Australia & New Zealand this October & November". The BackBeat Podcast. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
External links[edit]
| External audio | |
|---|---|
 Great Gable: How Matt Corby steered their debut LP, 2020 with Richard Kingsmill on Triple J, ABC |
- Collins, Simon (5 August 2020). "WA psych-rockers Great Gable in great company, working with Matt Corby on their new debut album Tracing Faces". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020.
