Adem Takes - New Album out May 12th

Added on 05/03/08

Hello one and all.
Long time no see, haven't you grown, I like your new hair, are you still with so-and so? So, what've you been up to?
Me, I've been doing all sorts of things really, mostly to do with music. Mostly to do with Takes.
Takes is the name of my new record, my third solo album and I'm very excited indeed to be able to tell you all that it's coming out on May 12th. It's a covers album of music that I loved from 1991 to 2001; full listings below. It was recorded at The Pool and The Exchange Live Room Studios. The first time that I've taken my music out of the werehome (house by day, studio by night...). It all sounds brilliant.
It was really difficult to choose tracks, and I’m sure we’ll chat about what I nearly put on, what I should have put on and why.

Adem Takes

01 Bedside Table - Bedhead - 7” single 1992 (+the end of the day (beheaded1996))

02 Oh My Lover - PJ Harvey - Dry 1992

03 Slide - Lisa Germano - Slide 1998

04 Loro - Pinback - Pinback 1998

05 Hotellounge - dEUS - Worst Case Scenario 1994

06 To Cure A Weakling Child + Boy/Girl Song - Aphex Twin - Richard D James 1996

07 Tears Are In Your Eyes - Yo La Tengo - And Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out 2000

08 Starla - Smashing Pumpkins - I am one 7” b-side 1992. (+Window Paine from Gish 1991)

09 Gamera - Tortoise - Gamera 12” 1995

10 Unravel - Björk - Homogenic 1997

11 Invisible Man - The Breeders - Last Splash 1993

12 Laser Beam - Low - Things We Lost In The Fire 2001

Let me know what you think of the selection. I’m going to be here a lot more now. Check back for more information and thoughts.

Speak soon,

Adem.

Comments (34)

  • 1. Erwin

  • Left 09/03/08 at 00:11
  • This is so exciting.. I heard the Invisible Man cover on the Domino compilation and thought it was brilliant - can't wait to hear the rest! I was really quite young in the decade most of these tunes hail from, so I only know the PJ Harvey and Bjork one, but I'm excited nonetheless. Will artwork again be done by Lynn Hatzius?

  • 2. Lisa Knapp

  • Left 09/03/08 at 02:44
  • Hey Adem, what a great endeavour. A few songs I know but many I'm looking forward to finding out. I love 'unravel' by Bjork, some v. special moments here. Hope you're well,
    Best to you
    Lisa :)

  • 3. John Burrows

  • Left 10/03/08 at 13:29
  • Hey,

    The selection sounds really excellent with some surprises. Fantastic to see Lisa Germano being included and I am will be very interested to hear your version of Gamera. I'm glad to see we share the same tastes.

    jb

  • 4. Adem

  • Left 11/03/08 at 17:25
  • Hey there. Some answers:
    The artwork will be by Jason Evans and Matt Cooper this time. Jason Evans has beem responsible for most of the Fridge and Fourtet artworks and Matt has helped on every Adem release.
    Gamera is a solo acoustic guitar version of the Tortoise track. This and 'Why we fight' are my favourites of theirs, I think.
    Very excited to introduce a selectionof my favourite artists to people who might enjoy them.

  • 5. Neil G

  • Left 12/03/08 at 00:50
  • Looks like a top notch selection.
    Really interested to hear the dEUS track, I finally got round to buying another copy of Worst Case Scenario after my 1st one got nicked years ago, so they've been back on my stereo of late.
    Lisa Germano's another interesting choice, and I'm sure the Mrs. will be interested in the Pumpkins cover.
    Really looking forward to this...

  • 6. Erwin

  • Left 12/03/08 at 01:47
  • Thanks Adem. I love Jasons work; can't wait to see it!

  • 7. Brennan

  • Left 12/03/08 at 06:47
  • Hello, Adem. Nice lineup! I'm especially happy to see that you will be taking on "Laser Beam" by Low. It's such an incredible song. I can't wait to hear the new album. Thanks!

  • 8. Dan Rush

  • Left 12/03/08 at 14:38
  • Hi Adem,

    Can we expect a tour with the new release?
    Will the singles b sides be covers also?
    Looking forward to seeing you again, Glee club in Brum would be nice again, or somewhere near stoke!

    Thanks and cant wait,

    Dan

  • 9. Adem

  • Left 13/03/08 at 08:46
  • Not sure about b-sides. I think they will be covers, but maybe not from the same era. I'm going to post the live dates soon. They are few, but worth travelling for - I'll explain soon!

  • 10. James

  • Left 17/03/08 at 00:24
  • Wow, I love the idea - your era is my era. Sounds like your taste is my taste too. I can just imagine what you'd do with "Unravel" - but then again, I can just imagine you surprising me by doing something totally different with it!

    I saw you a couple of years ago supporting Emiliana Torrini, and playing with her too - what a stunning voice she has, and what a fantastic woman. Have you ever worked with her again? I thought that was a great collaboration.

  • 11. Karl

  • Left 18/03/08 at 09:24
  • Hi Adem, interesting choices, looking forward to hearing how youve made them your own, particularly Unravel. I would like to echo Dan's comments about a gig near Stoke (or even Wolverhampton), having seen you also play with Emiliana Torrini and I was wondering who would you love to work with, and would you ever cover a Nick Drake song, if so which one. From your track listing our tastes may be similar, have you hear Cloud Cult? (recommend Chemicals Collide, Transistor Radio), Clem Snide or Hope Sandoval.
    Cant wait for the album and the tour.

  • 12. Sam

  • Left 18/03/08 at 19:52
  • Hi Adem,
    I'm thrilled to hear that you're putting out a new album. I saw you last winter at Carnegie Hall and it was one of the most incredible shows I have ever been lucky enough to see. As I recall you performed 'Pillow' with Vashti Bunyan which was truly magical. Anyway, I know you noted above that your tour dates would be few, but is there any chance you'll be getting to the US anytime soon?

    Thanks, Sam

  • 13. ian v

  • Left 22/03/08 at 23:02
  • adem - this looks amazing! can't wait. much love

  • 14. Eric

  • Left 23/03/08 at 15:03
  • Adem, stoked you put in that Pinback song, as its one of my favorites. Also, no Beach Boys? That's a shame!

  • 15. GregB.

  • Left 26/03/08 at 15:39
  • Looks like a great selction.

    Any chance of a version of God Only Knows that I saw you play in New York?

  • 16. GREG S

  • Left 01/04/08 at 03:00
  • I am very interested to hear the Aphex Twin cover, Richard D. James is definitely my favourite Aphex album. Is your cover mainly instrumental or do you include the strange childrens vocals?

  • 17. Phil P

  • Left 02/04/08 at 21:46
  • Wow, a new dEUS album and then an Adem-ified dEUS cover...!
    I'm really looking forward to this! Great tracklisting.
    How about a version of The Auteurs' 'How Could I Be Wrong' for a b-side?!

  • 18. Adem

  • Left 04/04/08 at 17:24
  • JAMES - I've not worked with Emiliana since, although we keep in touch. who knoewws what the future may bring?
    ERIC, GREGB - I recorded a version of God Only Knows before I fixed the date from 1991 to 2001; it exists, but I'm not sure how it may see the light of day - I'll let y'all know.
    GREG- I use the music from one and the (children) singing from the other - I've layered my voice up lots on this.

  • 19. ADEM

  • Left 04/04/08 at 17:26
  • I'm very interested in all of your suggestions for covers. Hold fire for a moment, but keep ideas - it's linking in with something I've been thinking about for a little while...

  • 20. Jonathan

  • Left 04/04/08 at 19:33
  • Hey Adem,

    Looking forward to the album. You came and played These Are Your Friends with my then Year 2 class some years back at Grinling Gibbons Primary in Deptford. Still listen back to my minidisc recording of it from time to tim. Should be coming down to the Union Chapel show.

    Not heard most of the tracks before so your versions will certainly be fresh for me!

  • 21. marc

  • Left 05/04/08 at 11:43
  • ha! i was at art school with jason. haven't seen him since apart from bumping into him once in soho in what must have been the early 90's. i was a shitkicker and he had a commission from levis. glad to see he's moved up in the world. i know i'm not supposed to have heard the record. but i have. and it's lovely. it just accompanied my toast. will you be bringing the big band to green man?

  • 22. Rod Thomas

  • Left 08/04/08 at 13:35
  • When you played Unravel at Homefires it was amazing. If that's a benchmark for the album it'll be GREAT.

  • 23. Erwin

  • Left 13/04/08 at 22:11
  • I've heard the album too and I have to say, it's better than I hoped it would be. So, so good - haven't been listening to anything else since I found it. Can't wait for it to be released and to see what it looks like as well, and hopefully catch some of this material live at some point. Such a shame I can't visit any of the shows you announced. Either way, congratulations on a brilliant album - I must say everytime one of my favourite artists releases a new album, I'm a bit nervous, as I love their other work so much that there's a fair chance that the new album will be a bit dissappointing. This new album didn't disappoint me at all though. In fact, far from it. Thanks so much.

  • 24. Erwin

  • Left 13/04/08 at 22:21
  • Oh, as for cover suggestions; I just imagined you doing any song from Joanna Newsom's Ys, and I must say that it sounds terrific in my head. As would a Bat For Lashes cover, and do I recall you saying you did These Boots Are Made For Walking when you were 13?
    Oh, and I really hope the God Only Knows recording sees the light at some point :)

  • 25. christopher

  • Left 14/04/08 at 19:44
  • Whoa! Can't wait...

  • 26. Jeremy C. Garland

  • Left 14/04/08 at 22:28
  • Oddly enough, Invisible Man, Unravel, and Oh My Lover are all on my regular shuffle playlists. I could hear the Bjork influence on you very clearly. I like it.

    Cover Suggestions:
    I Still Love You by Terence Trent D'arby
    Brilliant Mistake by Elvis Costello
    Sowing the Seeds of Love by Tears for Fears
    This is to Mother You by Sinead O'Connor
    Please by U2

    I'm still finding new things to love about your last release. Thanks.

    Love,
    Jeremy

  • 27. Stephen Thompson

  • Left 15/04/08 at 18:20
  • Wow. Just: Wow. I am dying to hear this -- your tastes and mine are staggeringly similar. "Laser Beam," "Tears Are In Your Eyes," and "Hotellounge" are among my very favorite songs -- guess we're both mopes, huh?

    Is this going to come out through Domino in the U.S., or will we have to shell out a barrel of Euros to order the import? Either way, I can't wait! Keep up the wonderful work.

  • 28. Katherine Bocaz

  • Left 20/04/08 at 04:11
  • Hi Adem! I appreciate very much your interest to be in touch with us, and ask our oppinion about your work. I think your music is very creative and sensitive, I mean, very nice. I'm sure this selection of music will sound wonderfull on your hands.
    Katty from Chile, Southamerica

  • 29. Julia N

  • Left 03/05/08 at 19:10
  • Genius! Can't wait! Saw the dEUS cover video, sounded amazing!

    Will you be coming back to the States at some point??

  • 30. Paddy

  • Left 07/05/08 at 17:00
  • Gamera! Excellent. I always loved David Pajo's little acoustic intro to it and thought that even that little bit could be fleshed out to a full song. Cant wait to hear what direction you took it in...

  • 31. Leah

  • Left 08/05/08 at 23:22
  • Can't wait to hear the Pinback and Bjork covers!!!

  • 32. ADEM

  • Left 11/05/08 at 23:55
  • Hello all.
    Americans - I'm releasing Takes on June 3rd. Both the cd and the gorgeous double (heavy) vinyl will be available at domestic prices. I'm playing a special one-off show at Union Hall in Brooklyn on June 10th.

  • 33. Wesman

  • Left 19/05/08 at 12:16
  • One of the best selection of covers I've ever seen. You had me at Oh My Lover, but then following up with a cover of my all time favourite pumpkins track just sealed the deal. . . . . you rocked it even without the (impossible to do acousticly) overblown pompous solo (that never fails to get me air-guitaring :D) and the Low cover has just started playing now, probably my all time favourite band! Good call :D

  • 34. James

  • Left 19/05/08 at 17:53
  • What a lovely reading of Hotellounge, a song I rode like a wave through my adolescence.

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