The Fireman are back after a ten-year break and this time they have something to sing about. For the first time ever the The Fireman have found their voice, Electric Arguments is their first release to feature vocals. Electric Arguments is their third and brand new studio album and it's not the album people might expect from the mysterious duo...

"Ambient dreams in rainbow arches describe the circles of The Fireman", is how the duo described their music in a rare interview around the release of their last album 'Rushes' in 1998. Their first album 'Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest', released in 1993, was a solid ambient dance album heavy on electronics. Around this time the identity of The Fireman was unknown until the press exposed the duo as none other than Paul McCartney and Youth. The now defunct music bible Melody Maker heaped praise on the project, "Paul McCartney has discovered dance music - the results are staggeringly brilliant. They (The Fireman) take a melody and, with dexterous genre-hopping through ambient, trance and house, evolve a number of breathtaking variations."

Last year The Fireman returned to work again to start work on what would become Electric Arguments. The results this time are entirely different.

Earlier this year The Fireman donated a new track, Lifelong Passion, from Electric Arguments, to the charity Adopt-A-Minefield. This new track marked a directional change for The Fireman. Lifelong Passion showcased a new more traditional song based sound with vocals, going against the sound of the first two albums. And so the speculation began. A 'studio source' was quoted in The Times as describing their new sound 'like Arcade Fire meets Led Zeppelin'. So what had The Fireman been up to and what does the album sound like?
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The Fireman - Electric Arguments

* 1) Nothing Too Much Just Out Of Sight
* 2) Two Magpies
* 3) Sing The Changes
* 4) Travelling Light
* 5) Highway
* 6) Light From Your Lighthouse
* 7) Sun Is Shining
* 8) Dance 'Til We're High
* 9) Lifelong Passion
* 10) Is This Love?
* 11) Lovers In A Dream
* 12) Universal Here, Everlasting Now
* 13) Don't Stop Running

Produced By Paul McCartney & Youth
All tracks written by Paul McCartney

Electric Arguments is an eclectic and varied album consisting of thirteen tracks recorded in thirteen days over the period of nearly a year. Each track was written and recorded in the space of one day. The Fireman went into the studio with no plan or clear direction of how they wanted the album to sound. The project took a life of its own and the results will surprise anyone expecting to hear the previous sound of the band.

The album's opener Nothing Too Much Just Out Of Sight is classic rock and an instant attention grabber. A heavy guitar riff with loud drums and souring vocals, it's like nothing The Fireman have ever done before. The second track, the acoustic driven Two Magpies immediately takes you in a different direction, calming things right down. Then we reach the third song Sing The Changes, a euphoric upbeat song with an instantly memorable melody. Electric Arguments continues in this fashion, keeping the listener intrigued as to where The Fireman will take them next. Each album track has an entirely different personality, yet somehow this collection sits together perfectly. Other standout tracks include 'Light From Your Lighthouse', 'Sun Is Shining' and 'Dance 'Til We're High', all in keeping with the genre-hopping spirit of the first two The Fireman albums. Electric Arguments demonstrates that Paul McCartney is still interested in pure musical possibilities. This is an album set to both surprise and delight the listener. Made with no record company restraints or a set release date to work to, Electric Arguments was made with complete artistic and creative freedom.


Download a track free from the album here
http://nme.ipcdigital.co....&tb=1&pb=1


[Edited 10/15/08 23:11pm]

I would also recommend checking out his song on Nitin Sawhney - London Undersound.. his song is called My Soul. I think its the prettiest thing he's done in years

Really curious for this one.

it's known that he was working on an new Firemen album since January 2008 but I wouldn't have dreamt that it will feature new songs. The second two albums just had remixes...

Sdldawn said:

thank you. I forgot about that song. Early 2008 I frequented macca-central every day but I guess I have to go there more often. It's a nice song. Especially considering that most of the Memory Almost Full songs are from 2003 and My Soul and The Fireman album feature new songs.
It's cool he releases music as frequent as he does.

There's only one problem. Sometimes I think his voice sounds awful. Don't say he's old now. With 58 his voice sounded weak too but i,e, Stevie wONDER still sounds fresh. Paul was never vocally trained I guess.

graecophilos said:

I get what you saying.. yeah, he's gettin old. I kindof enjoy that rough voice on songs like Our Soul and Jenny Wren. I think he has to be careful with what he sings now..

My Soul - There is a something very bittersweet about that song.. tugs at me a bit

.
[Edited 10/16/08 8:44am]

Sdldawn said:

it's about Heather Mills.

McCartney Reignites 'Fireman' Project
by Andre Paine, London
September 30, 2008
Link


Sir Paul McCartney is returning to his Fireman alias after a decade away from the collaborative project with producer Youth.

McCartney releases "Electric Arguments" by the Fireman on Nov. 17 via MPL, an imprint of his own London-based publishing company.

The 13-track album will be manufactured and distributed by U.K. indie One Little Indian worldwide except the U.S., where ATO will issue it.

"Electric Arguments" is the third set from the Fireman, although it is the first to feature vocals and is described as "entirely different" from the dance and electronic music of previous releases.

McCartney and Martin "Youth" Glover, a former member of Killing Joke, released an ambient dance album, "Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest" (Parlophone), in 1993; McCartney's involvement was initially a secret but later leaked. They followed that with another electronica project, "Rushes" (Hydra/EMI) in 1998.

The new album features more traditional songwriting, including classic rock and acoustic tracks, "yet is in keeping with the genre-hopping spirit of the first two the Fireman albums," according to a statement.

One track, "Lifelong Passion," was donated to the charity Adopt-A-Minefield as download for those making donations.

"Electric Arguments" was recorded in just 13 days, although the sessions were spread out over nearly a year. Each track was written and recorded in one day and the duo also produced the album.

The statement adds that it was "made with no record company restraints or a set release date to work to" and "with complete artistic and creative freedom." The radio edit of "Nothing Too Much Just Out Of Sight" debuted in the U.K. on national top 40 station Radio 1 on Zane Lowe's show and it is the DJ's "Hottest Record in the World Right Now."

McCartney released his last solo album, "Memory Almost Full," via Hear Music in June 2007. It was his first release since leaving EMI.

graecophilos said:

wait, i think you mean "Nothing too much just out of sight"... right? That is the one thats reportedly about heather mills..

Cause My Soul doesn't seem like its about heather..but it just might.. hmm
[Edited 10/17/08 23:14pm]

for real, My Soul is a brilliant song.. I wish it was on this new album.... i think its better than anything off of Memory Almost Full

Sdldawn said:

I liked MAF better than Chaos. I know so many praise Chaos but I dislike a depressive Paul. I like depressive John but not Paul. I dislikes Nigels production and even the songs...
Memory was more superficial but I like it though. And yes, even My Ever Present Past I like...

graecophilos said:

I've always been a huge nigel fan, I even think nigel could have turned MAF into something of a masterpiece (For my taste anyway)

Sdldawn said:

Do you know where I can legally download "My Soul?" I searched everywhere and couldn't find it and I don't want to buy the entire album. Thanks.

emilio319 said:

Try Here:
http://www.7digital.com/a...ndersound/
[Edited 10/20/08 18:50pm]

http://www.youtube.com/wa...tajgk7kfVo

another new song Sing The Changes from Electric Arguments
[Edited 10/20/08 17:56pm]

This little article is about the song McCartney made for the London Undersound cd.. Song is "My Soul"

And Macca Gently Weeps


Musician Nitin Sawhney’s latest album London Undersound has a series of high-profile collaborations and Paul McCartney singing about his breakup with Heather Mills

When the tabloids blitzed London with the bitter split of the former Beatle, Paul McCartney, and his former wife Heather Mills, the musician Nitin Sawhney couldn’t help calling up Macca, his friend of 12 years, and ask if he wanted to write down his feelings in a song. That’s what The Beatles always did. The call eventually resulted in a maudlin, acoustic, love ballad called My soul and features in Sawhney’s latest album, London Undersound.

“Paul came down to my house for a couple of days and we started putting together the track which delves into the paparazzi infiltrating his life during the breakup. More than just about the split, it’s also about his soul being stolen,” says Sawhney, who also penned the lyrics of the song with McCartney. The alimony is not part of the song that goes, “I long to know all your secrets/ I want to walk through your fire/ Light up my eyes with your smile”, which is also believed to be McCartney’s dedication to Mills and has a tinge of Indian classical vocals in the background.

Sdldawn said:

Now this is very cool news!
I love experimental Mac!
Thanks for the heads up.
BTW, where does one find The second Fireman release Rushes In? Is it just a remix CD like the first?

Sdldawn said:

Thanks but it didn't work...you can only buy it if you are in the U.K. They have a separate site for the U.S. that doesn't include that album/song.

Bfunkthe1 said:

The 2nd fireman is not like the first one.. its a set of songs (avant garde style).. still keeping in tune with a chord or two, but it is fantastic music.. i was super impressed with paul after hearing this album.. the first fireman album really isn't an album to me.. just one song remixed over and over

i would try Amazon

did anyone realise that Macca nicked two Bob Marley song titles???

Thanks for clarification sdldawn.
I wasn't too impressed with the first release because it was just one long remix. I'll have to search out the second one. It's hard to find.
I'll definately pick up the newest one. I like what I've heard so far.

I have to say it: Macca is really cool these days. Chaos was really experimental for him, a whole new direction. After that he quickly came up with Memory Almost Full which contains songs that were recorded BEFORE Chaos. And now, only one year after the last one this comes out. Although it's officially no Macca record, I consider it as such because he wrote all the stuff...

I don't like the free song but wonder if and when it will leak?

Paul is very underrated for being experimental, he was just as experimental, if not more, than John was.

listening to it for the first time.. it skips through alot of genre's..


beautiful album

Bob Gannons Review

Hi gang,
After giving it a couple of listens, decided to post my thoughts on the upcoming Fireman album "Electric Arguments". First off, this is nothing like the first two Fireman projects "Strawberry Oceans Ships Forest" or "Rushes". Besides the fact that there are vocals on these tracks, the tracks also bounce around different music genres. Although I wouldn't describe anything on this album as a classic McCartney track (or anything that would reach the charts...on any chat that is), Id be remiss in saying that there wasn't anything interesting here. The casual McCartney fan may not be too appreciative of the album but I think this is more for the hardcore fan. I think that they will find the inner joy in this album as there are some fun tracks here.

The press page states that the album of thirteen tracks recorded in thirteen days over the period of nearly a year. Each track was written and recorded in the space of one day.

(01) Nothing too much just out of sight (4:56)--- well most of us have heard this track on the web as this was the second track leaked off the album. Heavy guitar riffs and rock sound over screaming Macca vocals. Also a booming bass guitar. I think this is a fun album starter giving the feel of a live jam session. It also declares right away that this album is not the ordinary Fireman fare.

(02) Two Magpies (2:14)---right off the bat, a drastic change in direction. An acoustic ditty that sounds very jazzy. A breezy vocal that I think most people will enjoy. Another track that bears no resemblance of the prior Fireman projects. This has a familiar Macca feel to it.

(03) Sing the changes (3:45)---this is the third track leaked off the album. The start kind of sounds the same as "Lifelong Passion" but it quickly shows how different it is. Faster paced and again much different than the track that precedes it. Bass and drums feature heavily in this track. Another mediocre track but certainly not bad by any means

(04) Traveling Light ( 5:07)---we slow down again to a song driven over a smooth groove with a flute sound driving the track. Macca's vocal is very understated giving it a kind of dreamy feel.

(05) Highway (4:1---once again we change the pace going back to a heavy guitar driven song. Another track that won't jump out and grab you but a fun listen

(06) Light from your lighthouse (2:33)---heavy vocal effect giving Macca's voice a very different feel. the chorus reminds me of "Midnight Special". You'll see what I mean. Kind of the same feels instrumentally as well, a fun country/blues sounding track. Very bouncy and fun

(07) Sun is Shining (5:13)---a light acoustic guitar with bird chirping starts the track off. Then a light electric guitar and bass into a light dance groove. Echo effect on vocals gives it an airy feel. One of the better tracks on the album

(08 Dance til we're high (3:39)---acoustic guitar over a heavy bass riff. Another vocal effect on Macca's voice. With some nice strings (probably synthesizer). I think this one is the best track. I real like this one.

(09) Lifelong Passion (4:50)---The adopt a minefield charity track. Pretty much everyone has heard this one. One of the better tracks on this album. Slow groove that sounds to me that it may be Indian influenced.Also a very light, breezy quality to it and a nice easy listen.

(10) Is this love? (5:53)---a light flute sound, very Celtic sounding. This is a track I could see used in a movie soundtrack as incidental music. Heavy echo effect on Macca's voice making it difficult to hear the lyrics

(11) Lovers in a dream (5:23)---Closer to a traditional Fireman track. Heavy electric sounds over a ambient dance groove. Vocals muffled and hidden in the track

(12) Universal here, everlasting now (5:07)---starts off with a piano and then some random noise effects (dogs barking, growling, birds chirping, alarm clock going off, person whispering) Very Electric sound, and then build in to a classic dance beat. More of the classic Fireman sound. Fades out with the single piano again

(13) Don't stop running (10:32)---starts off slow and dreamy with an Electric ambient sound. Sounds like it may be Celtic influenced. An airy vocal gives it a dreamlike effect and then transitions into a more classic sounding Fireman beat. Track fades out at (5:54) but either a continuation or bonus track begins at (7:57). Doesn't sound like the prior song. Without liner notes I couldn't say.

Well, that's it. The new Fireman album in a nutshell. Even with all of the changes, it is exactly like the press release said, it gels nicely and seems to fit together nicely. I don't want to get everyone excited and say this is the best Macca yet but I certainly will say that most of the people on this list will like it in my opinion.

Bob
[Edited 10/28/08 19:08pm]

Sdldawn said:

Is this out?
Hmmmm.
Do you like better than CACITB and MAF?