Lookaftering
{{Short description|2005 studio album by Vashti Bunyan}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Lookaftering
| type = studio
| artist = Vashti Bunyan
| cover = lookafteringbunyan.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2005|10|17}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio = Sound Cafe, Nine Mile Burn; Cava, Glasgow; Eastcore Studios, London
| genre = Folk, psychedelic folk
| length = {{Duration|m=35|s=31}}
| label = FatCat
| producer = Max Richter
| prev_title = Just Another Diamond Day
| prev_year = 1970
| next_title = Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind – Singles and Demos 1964 to 1967
| next_year = 2007
}}
{{Album ratings
| MC = 85/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/lookaftering/vashti-bunyan|title=Lookaftering by Vashti Bunyan|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=November 1, 2017}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/lookaftering-mw0000347901|title=Lookaftering - Vashti Bunyan|work=AllMusic|first=Thom|last=Jurek|accessdate=November 1, 2017}}
| rev2 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev2score = C+{{cite web|url=http://ew.com/article/2005/10/28/ew-reviews-four-lost-psychedelic-folkies/|title=EW reviews four lost psychedelic folkies|work=Entertainment Weekly|first=David|last=Browne|date=October 28, 2005|accessdate=November 1, 2017}}
| rev3 = The Guardian
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/oct/14/popandrock.shopping8|title=Vashti Bunyan, Lookaftering|work=The Guardian|first=Dave|last=Simpson|date=October 13, 2005|accessdate=November 1, 2017}}
| rev4 = Mojo
| rev4score = {{rating|4|5}}An oddly seamless follow-up to its distant predecessor. [Nov 2005, p.110]
| rev5 = Pitchfork
| rev5score = 8.5/10{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/1136-lookaftering/|title=Vashti Bunyan: Lookaftering|work=Pitchfork|first=Matthew|last=Murphy|date=October 27, 2005|accessdate=November 1, 2017}}
| rev6 = PopMatters
| rev6score = 8/10{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/bunyanvashti-lookaftering/|title=Vashti Bunyan: Lookaftering|work=PopMatters|first=Zack|last=Adcock|date=November 1, 2005|accessdate=November 1, 2017}}
| rev7 = Q
| rev7score = {{rating|4|5}}There's still something truly magical in the wistful clarity of her voice. [Nov 2005, p.131]
| rev8 = Stylus
| rev8score = B+{{cite web|url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/vashti-bunyan/lookaftering.htm|title=Vashti Bunyan - Lookaftering|work=Stylus Magazine|first=Mike|last=Powell|date=November 4, 2005|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201015224/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/vashti-bunyan/lookaftering.htm|archivedate=February 1, 2010|accessdate=November 1, 2017}}
| rev9 = Tiny Mix Tapes
| rev9score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/vashti-bunyan-lookaftering|title=Vashti Bunyan - Lookaftering|work=Tiny Mix Tapes|author=Willcoma|accessdate=November 1, 2017}}
| rev10 = Uncut
| rev10score = 10/10Lookaftering is some kind of miracle. [Nov 2005, p.100]
}}
Lookaftering is the second studio album by Vashti Bunyan.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord/2009/11/24/archive-vashti-bunyan/|title=Archive: Vashti Bunyan|work=The Irish Times|first=Jim|last=Carroll|date=November 24, 2009|accessdate=November 1, 2017}} It was released via FatCat Records on October 17, 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.fat-cat.co.uk/release/lookaftering|title=Lookaftering|work=FatCat Records|accessdate=November 1, 2017}} It is the follow-up to 1970's Just Another Diamond Day.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/features/interview/6175-vashti-bunyan/|title=Vashti Bunyan|work=Pitchfork|first=Matthew|last=Murphy|date=October 23, 2005|accessdate=November 1, 2017}} Tentatively named Dead Pets, Bunyan changed the album's title to Lookaftering, a word used in her family meaning "to care for someone or something."{{cite book |last=Bunyan|first=Vashti|author-link= |date=2022|title=Wayward: Just Another Life to Live|url= |location= |publisher=White Rabbit|page=144|isbn=978 1 4746 2196 0}}
Reception
At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, Lookaftering received an average score of 85% based on 21 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".
Thom Jurek of AllMusic gave the album 4 stars out of 5, calling it "a gorgeously considered, stunningly and sensitively crafted album by an artist who is truly outside of all fashion, all time, and even space." He added, "Without the technological trappings, this album, timeless and spaceless as it is, could have been made 300 years ago, but that it was made in the 21st century blesses you even more."
Pitchfork placed it at number 44 on its list of the "Top 50 Albums of 2005".{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/6222-top-50-albums-of-2005/|title=Top 50 Albums of 2005 (1/5)|work=Pitchfork|date=December 31, 2005|accessdate=November 1, 2017}} PopMatters placed it at number 50 on its list of the "Best 50 Albums of 2005".{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/feature/best2005-cds1/|title=The Best 50 Albums of 2005 (1/5)|work=PopMatters|date=December 19, 2005|accessdate=November 1, 2017}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Vashti Bunyan
| total_length = 35:31
| title1 = Lately
| length1 = 2:21
| title2 = Here Before
| length2 = 2:05
| title3 = Wayward
| length3 = 3:06
| title4 = Hidden
| length4 = 3:20
| title5 = Against the Sky
| length5 = 3:10
| title6 = Turning Backs
| length6 = 4:28
| title7 = If I Were
| length7 = 2:15
| title8 = Same but Different
| length8 = 3:38
| title9 = Brother
| length9 = 2:10
| title10 = Feet of Clay
| length10 = 4:29
| title11 = Wayward Hum
| length11 = 4:26
}}
Personnel
- Vashti Bunyan – acoustic guitar, vocals
- Max Richter – piano, glockenspiel, Hammond organ, Mellotron, vibraphone, Fender Rhodes, wineglasses
- Kevin Barker – electric guitar
- Devendra Banhart – acoustic guitar
- Marcelo DeOliviera – acoustic guitar
- Rebecca Wood – oboe, cor anglais
- Robert Kirby – French horn, trumpet
- Joanna Newsom – harp
- Adam Pierce – dulcimer
- Adem – harmonium, autoharp
- Fiona Brice – strings
- Ian Burdge – strings
- Gillon Cameron – strings
- John Mercalfe – strings
- Frances Dewar – strings
References
{{Reflist}}