First Seed Ripening
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox album
| name = First Seed Ripening
| type = studio
| artist = Elixir featuring Katie Noonan
| cover = First Seed Ripening by Elixir.jpg
| alt =
| released = 8 August 2011
| recorded = ABC studios, Sydney
| venue =
| studio =
| genre =
| length =
| label = ABC Music
| producer = Katie Noonan
| chronology = Elixir
| prev_title = Elixir
| prev_year = 2003
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Katie Noonan
| type = studio
| prev_title = Emperor's Box
| prev_year = 2010
| title = First Seed Ripening
| year = 2011
| next_title = Songs from the British Isles
| next_year = 2011
}}
}}
First Seed Ripening is the second studio album by Australian jazz band Elixir. The album is credited as featuring Katie Noonan. The album was released in August 2011 and peaked at number 64 on the ARIA Charts and number 1 on the Jazz and Blues chart, where it remained for 9 weeks.
Katie says of the album, "Our aim was to make gentle, intimate music, and it was all about freedom and spontaneity."{{cite web|url=https://katienoonan.com/projects/elixir/|title=Katie Noonan project "Elixir"|publisher=katienoonan.com|accessdate=2 May 2016}}
The album is described as "improvised folk and jazz-inspired blend of music".{{cite web|url=https://www.jbhifi.com.au/music/browse/alternative/first-seed-ripening/280809/|title=First Seed Ripening |publisher=www.jbhifi.com.au|accessdate=2 May 2016}}
The album is inspired by the words of Australian poet Thomas Shapcott.{{cite web|url=http://auspop.blogspot.com/2011/06/katies-ripe-new-elixir.html|title=KATIE’S RIPE NEW ELIXIR|publisher=auspOp.com.au|date=7 June 2011|accessdate=2 May 2016}}
At the ARIA Music Awards of 2011 it won the ARIA Award for Best Jazz Album.{{cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/award/Best-Jazz-Album|title=ARIA Awards - Best Jazz album|publisher=www.ariaawards.com.au|accessdate=25 April 2016}}
Reviews
Border mail gave the album 3 1/2 out of 5 saying the album is "Intriguing".{{cite web|url=http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/60244/elixir-feat-katie-noonan-first-seed-ripening-universal/|title= Elixir feat Katie Noonan - First Seed Ripening (Universal)|date=26 April 2011|accessdate=2 May 2016}}
The Mercury; "like a samurai sword through silk….this enchanting, honest, intimate album can’t fail".{{cite web|url=https://katienoonan.com/projects/elixir/|title=Katie Noonan project "Elixir"|publisher=katienoonan.com|accessdate=2 May 2016}}
The Australian; "Serenely ethereal".{{cite web|url=https://katienoonan.com/projects/elixir/|title=Katie Noonan project "Elixir"|publisher=katienoonan.com|accessdate=2 May 2016}}
Rave Magazine; "The album’s 14 songs have a seductive pull, helped along by a Nick Drake-level tranquility and, naturally, our heroine’s effortless vocal style".{{cite web|url=https://katienoonan.com/projects/elixir/|title=Katie Noonan project "Elixir"|publisher=katienoonan.com|accessdate=2 May 2016}}
Sunday Herald Sun; "filled with enchantment…Noonan’s voice, bare and beautiful against husband Zac Hurren’s intimate soprano sax and Stephen Magnusson’s expert jazz guitar, shines like a midnight star".{{cite web|url=https://katienoonan.com/projects/elixir/|title=Katie Noonan project "Elixir"|publisher=katienoonan.com|accessdate=2 May 2016}}
Track listing
- "First Seed Ripening" - 5:44
- "My Skin is a Glove" - 5:56
- "Stuff of Myths" - 3:51
- "Pierrot" - 5:33
- "Traditional Song" - 6:23
- "Last Flowers to the Hospital" (C Greenwood, E O'Brien, J Greenwood, P Selway, Radiohead, T Yorke) - 5:29
- "Circle of Moonlight" - 4:14
- "My Old Man" (Joni Mitchell) - 3:22
- "Sleep Soundly, Peacefully" - 5:13
- "Hemispheres" - 6:21
- "Nocturne" - 6:17
- "Last Night's Comfort" - 3:44
- "Snapshot" - 5:13
- "I Hope I Never" (Tim Finn) - 7:54
- Written-By – I Hurren (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9 to 11, 13), K Noonan (tracks: 1 to 4, 5, 7, 9 to 13), N Stewart (tracks: 3), S Magnusson (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 13), T Shapcott (tracks: 1 to 4, 5, 7, 9 to 13)
Weekly charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2003)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/vvm2Bag |title=Katie Noonan ARIA chart history to June 2025 |publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date= 17 June 2025}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
| 64 |
| scope="row"| Australian Jazz and Blues Albums Chart
| 1 |
Credits
- Arranged By [Strings] – Stephen Newcomb
- Artwork, Design, Layout – Kidsincloaks.com
- Cello [The Elixir String Quartet] – Julian Thompson (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 10, 11, 13)
- Double Bass – Jonathan Zwartz (tracks: 1, 4, 7)
- Drums, Cymbal – Simon Barker (tracks: 1, 3, 7)
- Electric Guitar, Steel Guitar, Classical Guitar [Nylon String Guitar] – Stephen Magnusson
- Engineer, Mixed By – Lachlan Carrick
- Mastered By – Oscar Gaona
- Photography By – Will
- Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Zac Hurren
- Strings – The Elixir String Quartet (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 10, 11, 13)
- Viola [The Elixir String Quartet] – Stephen King (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 10, 11, 13)
- Violin [The Elixir String Quartet] – Aiko Goto (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 10, 11, 13), Helena Rathbone (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 10, 11, 13)
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Region
! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| Catalogue |
|---|
| Australia
| 8 August 2011 |{{flatlist|
}} |ABC 476 4544 |
External links
- [https://www.discogs.com/Elixir-20-Featuring-Katie-Noonan-First-Seed-Ripening/master/932167]
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Katie Noonan}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:ARIA Award–winning albums