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A Valid Path
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| A Valid Path | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 24 August 2004 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | Artemis | |||
| Producer | Alan Parsons | |||
| Alan Parsons chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from A Valid Path | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| NOW Toronto | |
| Sea Of Tranquility | |
A Valid Path is the fourth solo album by English rock musician Alan Parsons. The record was released on 24 August 2004 via Artemis label.
Background
[edit]The gap between this and his previous album, The Time Machine, was the third greatest period between two consecutive albums, after the time between the split of The Alan Parsons Project and Parsons' first solo work (not counting Freudiana) and the time between this album and The Secret. In addition to contributors such as David Gilmour, another noteworthy musical credit on the album is Parsons' son Jeremy; his debut appearance on his father's albums.
A Valid Path was released on Audio CD and DualDisc, with the DualDisc containing the album recorded in 5.1 Surround in both DTS and Dolby Digital formats. Other features of the DualDisc include a track commentary by the artist and interviews with Alan Parsons and the main collaborators on the release including David Gilmour and the Crystal Method.
Track listing
[edit]- "Return to Tunguska" – (Alan Parsons, Simon Posford) instrumental, featuring Shpongle & David Gilmour – 8:48
- "More Lost Without You" – (Parsons, Olsson) lead vocal P.J. Olsson – 3:20
- "Mammagamma 04" – (Parsons, Eric Woolfson) instrumental; remix of "Mammagamma", featuring Jeremy Parsons – 5:06
- "We Play the Game" – (Parsons, Ken Jordan, Scott Kirkland) lead vocal Alan Parsons, featuring the Crystal Method – 5:33
- "Tijuaniac" – (Parsons, Mogt, Ruiz, Mendoza, Amezcua, Beas) instrumental featuring Nortec Collective – 5:21
- "L'Arc En Ciel" dedicated to Anson Grossfeld 1957–2004 – (Parsons, Wiles) instrumental featuring Überzone – 5:26
- "A Recurring Dream Within a Dream" a composite of "A Dream Within a Dream" and "The Raven" – (both compositions by Parsons, Woolfson) lead vocal Alan Parsons featuring Jeremy Parsons and narration by Orson Welles – 4:06
- "You Can Run" – (Parsons, Pack) lead vocal David Pack – 3:51
- "Chomolungma" – (Parsons, Parsons, Olsson) instrumental featuring Jeremy Parsons and P.J. Olsson with added concluding narration by John Cleese – 6:35
Personnel
[edit]- Alan Parsons – vocals, processed vocals, guitar, slide guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, vocoder
- Scott Kirkland – keyboards, programming
- Simon Posford – programming, sequencer
- Ken Jordan – programming, sequencer
- Jeremy Parsons – guitar, programming, sequencer
- David Pack – guitar, keyboards, vocals
- David Gilmour – lap steel guitar on "Return to Tunguska"
- Alastair Greene – guitar
- P. J. Olsson – vocals, programming
- Michele Adamson, Lisa Parsons – vocals
- John Cleese – narration on "Chomolungma"
- Orson Welles – narration on "A Recurring Dream Within a Dream"
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2004) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[4] | 72 |
| Italian Albums (FIMI)[5] | 62 |
References
[edit]- ^ Theakston, Rob. A Valid Path at AllMusic
- ^ "NOW: Alan Parsons, Nov 11 - 17, 2004". Archived from the original on 9 February 2005.
- ^ "Parsons, Alan: A Valid Path".
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Alan Parsons – A Valid Path" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Alan Parsons – A Valid Path". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
A Valid Path
View on GrokipediaBackground and development
Conception and inspiration
Following the dissolution of The Alan Parsons Project after the release of Gaudi in 1987, Alan Parsons transitioned to a solo career, releasing his debut solo album Try Anything Once in 1993. This marked the beginning of a series of individual efforts distinct from the collaborative concept-driven works of the Project, with A Valid Path serving as his fourth solo studio album, succeeding The Time Machine in 1999.[7][8] The five-year interval between The Time Machine and A Valid Path was Parsons' longest gap in his solo career, during which he focused on personal endeavors such as leading the tribute tour A Walk Down Abbey Road from 2001 onward, alongside a deliberate intent to integrate contemporary production techniques.[3][9] This hiatus allowed Parsons to explore digital tools and virtual instrumentation, reflecting a shift driven by his interest in evolving beyond traditional analog methods.[3] Parsons drew inspiration for A Valid Path from the electronic music landscape of the early 2000s, while preserving his progressive rock foundations.[10] Described as an experimental venture into electronica, the album featured collaborations with acts like The Crystal Method and Shpongle, blending polyrhythmic beats and synth-driven textures with Parsons' signature melodic structures.[11] This fusion aimed to revitalize his sound amid the rise of computer-based music production.[12] A notable familial dimension emerged with the debut collaboration of Parsons' son, Jeremy Parsons, who contributed programming on tracks such as "Mammagamma 04," "A Recurring Dream Within A Dream," and "Chomolungma."[13] From the project's inception, Parsons envisioned A Valid Path as a showcase for surround sound technology, with the entire album mixed in 5.1 format under his supervision to leverage immersive audio capabilities.[3] This emphasis on spatial audio aligned with his longstanding engineering expertise and the era's advancements in multichannel formats.[14]Pre-production
During pre-production for A Valid Path, Alan Parsons focused on assembling a diverse team of collaborators to infuse the album with contemporary electronic elements while drawing on his established network. High-profile guests were recruited, including Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, who contributed guitar to "Return to Tunguska." Other notable participants included electronic acts like The Crystal Method, Shpongle (Simon Posford), Uberzone, and The Nortec Collective, alongside vocalists P.J. Olsson and Parsons' son Jeremy Parsons, who added keyboards and programming to several songs. These partnerships were selected to bridge Parsons' progressive rock heritage with modern dance and electronica influences.[15][6][1] The songwriting process centered on Parsons collaborating with co-writers to develop material that incorporated electronic production techniques, such as programming, sampling, and polyrhythmic drum patterns. Tracks like "Return to Tunguska" (co-written with Simon Posford) and "More Lost Without You" (with P.J. Olsson and Jeremy Parsons) emerged from this approach, emphasizing layered synths and digital effects alongside Parsons' signature melodic structures. Initial demos and arrangement sketches were crafted for all nine tracks using hard disk recording systems, marking Parsons' first full embrace of computer-based workflows, reflected in evocative titles like "Tijuanaic" and "Chomolungma" (referring to Mount Everest).[16][17] Logistical planning involved selecting recording facilities in the United States for operational flexibility, including Tunnel Studios in Santa Barbara, California, and The Bomb Shelter in Glendale, California, to accommodate remote contributions from international collaborators via digital file transfers. A key challenge during this phase was balancing Parsons' classic sound—rooted in orchestral arrangements and rock instrumentation—with modern electronic influences, as the project aimed to appeal to younger audiences but risked alienating longtime fans accustomed to The Alan Parsons Project's style; Parsons later noted the difficulty in navigating this shift without compromising his production ethos.[6][10]Recording and production
Studio sessions
The recording sessions for A Valid Path took place primarily at Tunnel Studios in Santa Barbara, California, with additional work at The Bomb Shelter in Glendale, California.[12] These sessions, which marked Parsons' first extensive use of hard disk recording technology, spanned two years and were characterized by an iterative approach to layering instruments and sounds to blend electronic elements with rock influences.[16][18] The timeline began following a five-year hiatus since Parsons' previous album The Time Machine in 1999, with production extending into 2004 ahead of the August release.[18] Breaks were frequent due to scheduling conflicts with guest artists, allowing time for remote contributions and refinements to achieve a unified electronic-rock aesthetic.[18] Parsons emphasized meticulous backups to TASCAM DA-88 tapes during the layering process, reflecting his initial apprehension about digital reliability while building complex sonic textures.[16] Key events included David Gilmour's guitar contributions to the opening track "Return to Tunguska," where he added soaring solos over the electronic foundation laid by collaborators Shpongle; Parsons noted his excitement when Gilmour agreed to participate, highlighting the track's role in bridging prog-rock heritage with modern electronica.[1][19] Vocal sessions featured P.J. Olsson on lead and backing vocals across multiple tracks, including "Chomolungma," where he collaborated with Parsons' son Jeremy on arrangements.[1][20] A notable highlight was John Cleese's narration for "Chomolungma," providing a whimsical spoken-word element that enhanced the album's narrative depth.[18][1]Technical aspects
The production of A Valid Path emphasized high-fidelity recording techniques, culminating in 5.1 surround sound mixes available in both DTS and Dolby Digital formats on the album's 2006 DualDisc edition, alongside PCM stereo versions.[5] This approach allowed for an immersive listening experience, with spatial audio design enhancing the electronic and orchestral elements through careful placement of sounds across multiple channels.[16] Alan Parsons, serving as the primary engineer, drew on principles from his work on Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon, such as meticulous layering and dynamic range control, to adapt classic production values to contemporary digital workflows.[21] Recording integrated digital audio workstations, marking Parsons' first full use of hard disk systems without traditional tape machines for primary capture, while incorporating analog equipment for electronic components like synthesizers and loops.[16] Multi-tracking was employed extensively for orchestral parts to build depth, with sessions utilizing plug-ins alongside hardware such as the Studer D19 microphone preamp, Aphex processors, and a UTA UnFairchild 670M II compressor, before final mixing on a Rupert Neve Designs 5088 console.[16] Backups to TASCAM DA-88 digital tapes ensured reliability amid concerns over computer instability.[16] The DualDisc format presented production challenges, including ensuring compatibility for the hybrid CD/DVD structure and integrating bonus content like track-by-track commentaries by Parsons, video interviews with guests, and isolated instrumental tracks on the DVD side.[5] These features required additional mastering passes in tools like Steinberg WaveLab for surround optimization, reflecting Parsons' commitment to innovative audio delivery despite the format's technical hurdles, such as thickness-related playback issues in some devices.[16] Overall, the process highlighted a blend of digital efficiency and analog warmth, prioritizing sonic clarity in an electronica context.[22]Musical content
Overview and style
A Valid Path is classified as progressive electronic music incorporating elements of synth-pop, trance, downtempo, and pop rock.[1][23] This blend marks a significant evolution in Alan Parsons' solo output, emphasizing electronic textures and rhythms over the orchestral prog rock arrangements typical of his earlier collaborative work with The Alan Parsons Project.[24] The work shifts toward more intimate, electronic-driven compositions, diverging from the conceptual, multi-vocalist approach of prior projects to highlight Parsons' vision in a contemporary context.[25] Clocking in at 49:19 on the standard CD edition, the album features a structured flow across nine tracks that balances atmospheric builds with rhythmic propulsion.[6] A 5.1 surround sound mix extends the immersive experience on the DualDisc release.[25] Drawing on 2000s electronic trends like electronica and techno, Parsons integrates modern production techniques while preserving his signature meticulous audio engineering.[26][24]Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Return to Tunguska" | Alan Parsons, Simon Posford | 8:48 |
| 2 | "More Lost Without You" | Alan Parsons, P.J. Olsson | 3:20 |
| 3 | "Mammagamma 04" | Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson | 5:06 |
| 4 | "We Play the Game" | Alan Parsons, Ken Jordan, Scott Kirkland | 5:33 |
| 5 | "Tijuaniac" | Alan Parsons, Pedro Gabriel Beas, et al. | 5:22 |
| 6 | "L'Arc en Ciel" | Alan Parsons, Tim Wiles | 5:26 |
| 7 | "A Recurring Dream Within a Dream" | Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson | 4:07 |
| 8 | "You Can Run" | Alan Parsons, David Pack | 3:52 |
| 9 | "Chomolungma" | Alan Parsons, P.J. Olsson, Jeremy Parsons | 7:45 |
