Temperamental

Description

Released for the first time in 1999, Temperamental is the ninth studio album by Everything But The Girl – the best-selling British duo formed in 1982 by singer-songwriters Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt – and arrives in a new deluxe CD edition featuring 23 remastered tracks, including additional remixes and bonus tracks. Often regarded as a companion to its predecessor Walking Wounded, which sold a million copies, the album has sold over 500,000 copies worldwide, including the single Five Fathoms, which reached #1 on the Billboard Dance Chart, further solidifying the duo's reputation for skillfully merging the realms of modern electronic music and passionate pop songwriting. The album was recorded in North London at the duo's home studio in the summer of 1998, with two tracks ultimately becoming production collaborations: Blame, produced with drum 'n' bass DJ-producer Jamie Spratling (J Majik) in his Hertfordshire studio; and The Future of the Future, which originated as an instrumental from Washington DC deep house producers Deep Dish before Watt wrote a melody and lyrics for Thorn. However, it was not without complications. After the couple's twins were born in early 1998, Thorn chose to dedicate much of her time to family life. Watt produced much of the album's music, and the duo often could only meet at night when the house was quiet to work on vocals and arrangements. While the music draws inspiration from the club scene, the lyrics capture the tension and complexity of competing inner and outer worlds, lives lived both inside and outside. The album was praised in many circles. "Triumphant club pop after hours," said Spin in a full-page introductory review, giving it 9/10. "Wide-eyed and wonderful," commented Time Out. And in a retrospective report in 2019, The Quietus concluded: "Temperamental may be the most emotionally complex dance long-player of all time." Mastered at Abbey Road Studios by Miles Showell, the album features the original cover by Jane Fox in a new layout by John Gilsenan at IWant Design, complete with full lyrics, credits, and period photos.