| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
| Floodland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Album by The Sisters of Mercy | ||
| Released | November 13, 1987 | |
| Genre | Alternative | |
| Length | 49 min 16 sec | |
| Record label | Merciful Records / WEA | |
| Producers | Andrew Eldritch, Larry Alexander , Jim SteinmanJames Richard Steinman (born November 1, 1948 in New York) is a rock and musical composer. While he was a student at Amherst College in Massachusetts he wrote the book, music, lyrics and starred in a play named The Dream Engine ( 1969), about Revolution. | |
| Professional reviews | ||
| RollingStone review | 3/5 | link |
| Robert ChristgauRobert Christgau (sometimes abbreviated in print to Xgau , born April 18, 1942, is an American essayist, music journalist, and rock critic. His first reviews were published by Esquire magazine in 1967. He began writing music essays and review for The Vill | C+ | link |
| Allmusic.com | 4.5/5 | link |
| Alternative PressAlternative Press is a music magazine focusing on goth and punk music. In the words of the magazine: "Since its debut as a photocopied fanzine handed out at a punk show in 1985, A. has been the publication where the honest word, the correct word, the auth | #43 in 'Top 99 Of '85-'95', included in '10 Essential Goth Albums' | July 1995, p.87; November, 2001, p.104 |
| The Sisters of Mercy Chronology | ||
| First and Last and AlwaysFirst and Last and Always the debut album by UK band The Sisters of Mercy was released on March 11, 1985, on band's own label Merciful Release (under distribution contract with WEA). Described by songwriter and singer Andrew Eldritch as 'some decent songs ( 19851985 is a common year starting on Tuesday. Events January events January 1 Creation of the Internet's Domain Name System. January 17 British Telecom annouces they are going to abolish the famous red telephone boxes. January 23 A debate in the House of Lor) | Floodland ( 1987) | Vision ThingVision Thing the third and last album by UK band The Sisters of Mercy was released in 1990 ( 1990 in music), on band's own label Merciful Release (under distribution contract with EastWest). Designed by songwriter and singer Andrew Eldritch as an assault ( 1990Events January January 3 Former leader of Panama Manuel Noriega surrenders to American forces. January 7 The Leaning Tower of Pisa is closed to the public due to safety concerns. January 9 Lt Gen Bazilio Olara Okello The man who led the coup aginst Dr Apo) |
Floodland was the album released by The Sisters of Mercy in 1987, complete with heavy production, layers of synthesizer, choral singing, and the drum machine Doktor Avalanche.
Floodland sees The Sisters of Mercy becoming the artistic output of one man, lead singer and songwriter Andrew Eldritch, with his previous bandmates off in other bands such as The Mission and Ghost Dance . Andrew Eldritch claims that bassist Patricia Morrisson , the only other official member of The Sisters of Mercy at the time, did not perform on the album and was hired only for promotional purposes. She is not credited on the album's sleeve, and is present only in pictures.
On the songs "Dominion/Mother Russia" and "This Corrosion", producer Jim Steinman added his over-the-top production values. The driving dance-floor hit "Lucretia (My Reflection)" with its repeating bass-line has become a staple in some nightclubs.
The album does have some quiet moments, as well. "1959" consists of just piano and vocals, a quiet ballad to a fan named Isabelle who wrote Eldritch a fan mail. And "Driven Like The Snow" has an almost ambient quality at times.
While not quite a concept album, Floodland has many recurring themes. The most obvious being the flood itself, a post-apocalyptic reference to tidal floods after nuclear war.
It was described by Andrew Eldritch as 'a fine album',
The album arguably sent the Gothic genre spiraling away from the guitar-driven sound of the early and mid 1980s and inspired the next wave of goth bands such as London After Midnight and Switchblade Symphony.
The Sisters of Mercy did not follow the album with live performances.