Behind the Sun (Chicane album)

Behind the Sun (Chicane album)
Behind the Sun is the second studio album by British electronic music artist Chicane. It was released on 27 March 2000 through Xtravaganza Recordings. The album features collaborations with Tracy Ackerman, Máire Brennan, Justine Suissa, and Bryan Adams, including its singles "Saltwater", "Don't Give Up", "No Ordinary Morning" / "Halcyon", and "Autumn Tactics". Upon release, it charted at number 10 in the United Kingdom, 7 in New Zealand, 15 in Australia, and was certified gold in the UK. The album is described by Chicane in the liner notes as a reflection on "a year in the life of Chicane".
Background
On 24 May 1999, the album's lead single, "Saltwater", was released to commercial success. The song included a revision of the vocals from Clannad's "Theme from Harry's Game" provided by the original and featured singer, Máire Brennan. The single reached number six on the UK Singles Chart and number one on the UK Dance Singles Chart.
On 6 March 2000, the album's second single, "Don't Give Up", was released. It features Canadian singer Bryan Adams, and was a commercial success, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart, number three in the United States Dance Club Songs chart, and certifying silver and gold in the United Kingdom and Australia respectively. It remains Chicane's most commercially successful single to date. The album's other singles include "No Ordinary Morning" / "Halcyon" on 10 July 2000, with the A-side featuring Tracy Ackerman. The album's final single, "Autumn Tactics", was released on 16 October 2000 and features Justine Suissa.
Release
On 27 March 2000, the album was released through Xtravaganza Recordings in the United Kingdom. In the United States, it was distributed by C2 Records, as part of a then newly signed distribution deal between Xtravaganza and the now defunct imprint of Columbia Records. After its release, the album reached number 10 in the United Kingdom, 7 in New Zealand, 15 in Australia. The album also saw success throughout Continental Europe, charting in Germany, Finland, Belgium and the Netherlands. On 16 June 2000, the album was certified gold in the United Kingdom.
On 22 November 2013, a remastered deluxe edition of the album was released by Armada Music. Upon release, the album charted on the UK Dance Albums Chart, reaching number thirty three.
Critical reception
Upon release, Behind the Sun received mostly positive reviews from critics. William Ruhlmann from AllMusic gave the album a positive review rating it three stars out of five. He claimed that "[Chicane has] a strong pop sense to go with his taste for ambient and trance dance tracks", and praised how "he cleverly hooks up with some established names looking to extend their appeal into the dance field". An issue of Billboard described the album as "a sublime musical journey". Trance Critic gave the album a mixed to positive review, claiming that the album largely veers away from traditional trance music. They stated that "[the album] seems to act in opposition to every convention of trance music [...] yet, in bizarre and spectacular style, Chicane has reversed the trend by actually being considerably better on the downtempo works". However, they also wrote that "[the] album is far from perfect", but rated it four stars out of five.
Track listing
Charts
Certifications
References
2000 albums
Chicane (musician) albums