Almost Here is the debut studio album by English rock band Unbelievable Truth. Available on Virgin Records, catalogue number CDVX2849. Also available on MiniDisc MDV2849 / 7243 8 45155 8 4.

Background and recording

Vocalist and guitarist Andy Yorke and drummer Nigel Powell met while attending school, with the latter later meeting bassist Jason Moulster through mutual friends. Yorke had been studying Russian literature abroad in Russia; while there, he wrote several songs and subsequently asked Moulster to form a band on his behalf so they could work on the material when he returned. Unbelievable Truth subsequently formed in 1993, Yorke took several more trips to Russia over the next few years, offering himself as an interpreter. The band reformed in September 1996, and getting a publishing deal with Chrysalis Music. "Higher Than Reason" evoked the sound of Jeff Buckley and Nick Drake. "Higher Than Reason" was released as a single in the US on 2 February 1998. Almost Here was issued in the US on 20 October 1998. Between October and December 1998, the band supported Tori Amos on her cross-country tour of the US.

Reception

Erlewine said Yorke's lyricism can be viewed as "adolescent and the Unbelievable Truth's ambition often outweighs their accomplishments, but the promise they flaunt on their debut proves that they are almost there". Victoria Segal of NME went further by writing that it was "supernaturally dull, vaporised by its earnestness" and that it was "useful only as road music for somnambulists, 'Almost Here' will knock you out. Cold." CMJ New Music Monthly David Jarman wrote that the album "reveals a promising band that doesn't need to ride on anyone's coattails", though did admit that Yorke "shares some vocal tics with his brother – a lilting tenor, a fondness for quivering and hurt phrasing". Spin writer Tracey Pepper said Yorke "asserts his independence [from his brother Thom] with a more acoustic sound and lyrics far removed from android paranoia."

Track listing

All songs written by Jason Moulster, Nigel Powell and Andy Yorke. All lyrics by Yorke.

Unbelievable Truth

  • Andy Yorke – lead vocals, guitar
  • Nigel Powell – drums, keyboards, guitar, backing vocals
  • Jason Moulster – bass guitar, guitar, backing vocals

Additional musicians

  • Sharon Warnes – violin <small>(tracks 2, 4 and 8)</small>
  • Olivier Bonnici – violin <small>(tracks 2 and 8)</small>
  • Philip Heyman – viola <small>(tracks 2 and 8)</small>
  • William Bruce – cello <small>(tracks 1–3)</small>

Production and design

  • Nigel Powell – producer, additional engineering
  • Jeremy Wheatley – co-producer, mixing, engineer
  • Andy Lovegrove – engineer <small>(track 7)</small>
  • Andy Shillito – engineer <small>(track 10)</small>
  • Ady Winman – assistant engineer
  • Wayne Wilkins – assistant engineer
  • Struktur Design – sleeve
  • John Spinks – sleeve

References

Citations

Sources

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  • Almost Here at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)