The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg
{{Short description|2014 studio album by Beatenberg}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Use South African English|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox album
| name = The Hanging Gardens
of Beatenberg
| type = studio
| artist = Beatenberg
| cover = The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg art.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2014|8|15|df=yes}}
| recorded = June 2013 – March 2014
| venue =
| studio = Sunset Studios
| genre =
| length = {{Duration|h=1|m=5|s=00}}
| label = Universal Africa
| producer = Ross Dorkin
| prev_title = Farm Photos
| prev_year = 2009
| next_title = 12 Views of Beatenberg
| next_year = 2018
| misc = {{Singles
| name =
The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg
| type = studio
| single1 = Echoes
| single1date = April 2012 {{cite news|last1=Swank|first1=Allison|title=Audio: Beatenberg 'Echoes'|url=http://www.okayafrica.com/news/audio-beatenberg-echoes/|accessdate=17 March 2016|publisher=OkayAfrica|date=30 April 2012}}
| single2 = Chelsea Blakemore
| single2date = 19 August 2013 {{cite news|title=New Track. Beatenberg - 'Chelsea Blackmore'|url=http://we-are-awesome.com/new-track-beatenberg-chelsea-blakemore/|accessdate=17 March 2016|publisher=We Are Awesome|date=19 August 2013}}
| single3 = Pluto (Remember You)
| single3date = November 2013 {{cite news|last1=Klein|first1=Alyssa|title=DJ Clock x Beatenberg 'Pluto (Remember You)'|url=http://www.okayafrica.com/video/dj-clock-beatenberg-pluto-remember-you/|accessdate=17 March 2016|publisher=OkayAfrica|date=22 January 2014}}
| single4 = Rafael
| single4date = July 2014 {{cite news|last1=Klein|first1=Alyssa|title=Beatenberg's Tennis Anthem 'Rafael'|url=http://www.okayafrica.com/news/beatenberg-rafael/|accessdate=17 March 2016|publisher=OkayAfrica|date=31 July 2014}}
}}
}}
The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg is the second album by South African band Beatenberg. It was self-produced {{cite news|last1=Monaheng|first1=Tseliso|title=A Night with Beatenberg|url=http://www.mahala.co.za/music/music-for-lovers/|accessdate=17 March 2016|publisher=Mahala|date=29 August 2014}} and released on 15 August 2014 on Universal Music Africa.{{cite news|first=Graeme|last=Shackleford|title=Beatenberg look forward to album launch|url= http://fourwaysreview.co.za/179480/beatenberg-look-forward-to-album-launch/|accessdate=17 March 2016|publisher=Fourways Review|date=19 August 2014}} Thematically, the album captures thoughts of love and light-hearted subjects{{cite news|title=The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg|url=http://gq.co.za/2014/08/beatenberg-the-hanging-gardens-of-beathenberg/|accessdate=17 March 2016|publisher=GQ South Africa}} The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg was recorded from June 2013 till March 2014 at Sunset Studios in Stellenbosch and vocalist Matthew Field's home studio.{{cite news|title=Beatenberg have launched anticipated album "The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg|url=https://yfandu.wordpress.com/2014/08/16/beatenberg-have-launched-anticipated-album-the-hanging-gardens-of-beatenberg-beatenberg_band/|accessdate=17 March 2016|publisher=Waking Life Magazine|date=16 August 2014}}
The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg includes Beatenberg’s first hit single, “Chelsea Blakemore”, as well as follow-up singles "Pluto (Remember You)" and "Rafael". The album and singles generally received positive reviews from critics. It peaked at number 2 on the South African iTunes chart{{cite news|title=Beatenberg Band|url=http://www.sa-ema.com/index.php/news-board/beatenberg/|accessdate=17 March 2016|publisher=Entertainment Monitoring Africa}} and was awarded the South African Music Awards prestigious Album of the Year for 2015.{{cite news|last1=Mkhwanazi|first1=Katlego|title=Beatenberg steals the show at the Samas|url=http://mg.co.za/article/2015-04-20-winners-from-the-samas|accessdate=17 March 2016|publisher=Mail & Guardian|date=20 April 2015}} At the end of 2015 the album was certified gold by Recording Industry of South Africa, for selling more than 15,000 copies in South Africa.{{cite news|last1=Mdaka|first1=Rifumo|title=Beatenberg's Hanging Gardens goes gold|url=http://fdbq.co.za/2015/12/03/beatenbergs-hanging-gardens-goes-gold/|accessdate=17 March 2016|agency=FDBQ Music|date=3 December 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Mosupi|first1=Azizzar|title=Beatenberg strikes gold|url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2015/12/04/Beatenberg-strikes-gold|accessdate=17 March 2016|publisher=Times Live|date=4 December 2015}}
Reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = PLATFORM
}}
The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg peaked at number 2 on the South African iTunes Charts, following the success of their collaboration with DJ Clocks on his track "Pluto (Remember You)". The single became the longest running South African number-one single ever, with seventeen weeks on the local radio charts.{{cite news|title='Edujazz' to feature Beatenberg|url=http://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/edujazz-to-feature-beatenberg-1858485|accessdate=17 March 2016|publisher=Cape Times|date=14 May 2015}}
In South Africa, the reviews were favourable. Andy Petersen of PLATFORM said, "it is anthemic and riveting". The satirist Justin Nurse praised Beatenberg's second album, noting their influences and "familiarity that is so infectious".{{cite news|last1=Nurse|first1=Justin|title=The Prince of the Hanging Gardens|url=http://www.2oceansvibe.com/2014/09/09/justin-nurses-review-of-the-band-beatenberg-will-get-your-attention/|accessdate=17 March 2016|publisher=2OceansVibe|date=9 September 2014}} SA Music Scene’s Vicky Jankiewicz praised it as a distinctive pop album with an “African flavour [in] their rhythms and beats".{{cite news|last1=Jankiewicz|first1=Vicky|title=The Hanging Gardens Of Beatenberg – Review|url=http://samusicscene.co.za/wp/the-hanging-gardens-of-beatenberg-review/|accessdate=17 March 2016|publisher=SA Music Scene|date=24 October 2014}} HillyDilly critic Cole Ryan hailed it as “undoubtedly one of the best indie-pop [albums] presented [in 2014]"{{cite news|last1=Ryan|first1=Cole|title=The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg Review|url=http://www.hillydilly.com/2014/08/beatenberg-the-hanging-gardens-of-beatenberg/|accessdate=17 March 2016|publisher=HillyDilly|date=2014}} The We-Are-Awesome blog wrote that it was a "Paul Simon-esque ballads [with] references to suburban nostalgia and an unashamed pop sensibility".{{cite news|title=Interview with Beatenberg|url=http://we-are-awesome.com/interview-beatenberg/|accessdate=17 March 2016|publisher=We Are Awesome|date=20 October 2014}} The award-winning BEARD.fm blog said "you can’t help but feel happy and picture people in old 1950’s outfits in a shebeen".{{cite web|title=The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg [Review]|url=http://thebeard.fm/the-hanging-gardens-of-beatenberg-review/|website=The Beard.fm|date=6 January 2015 |accessdate=17 March 2016}}
Track listing
All songs written by Matthew Field except where noted.
{{track listing
| title1 = Rafael
| length1 = 4:10
| title2 = Beauty Like a Tightened Bow
| length2 = 3:26
| title3 = Chelsea Blakemore
| length3 = 3:37
| title4 = Pluto
| length4 = 5:52
| title5 = Southern Suburbs
| length5 = 3:57
| title6 = Scorpionfish
| length6 = 3:28
| title7 = Ithaca
| length7 = 4:49
| title8 = Cavendish Square
| length8 = 4:02
| title9 = Facebook Apologia
| length9 = 3:41
| title10 = Echoes
| length10 = 3:36
| title11 = All About Me
| length11 = 3:09
| title12 = Cape To Rio
| length12 = 4:17
| title13 = The Prince of the Hanging Gardens
| length13 = 4:44
| total_length = 55:18
}}
{{track listing
| headline = 'Deluxe edition' bonus tracks
| title14 = Achievement
| length14 = 3:25
| title15 = Thinking About You (cover; written by Frank Ocean)
| length15 = 4:33
| title16 = Bend the Rules
| length16 = 4:14
| total_length = 01:05:00
}}
Personnel
- Matthew Field - vocals, guitar, piano
- Ross Dorkin - bass guitar
- Robin Brink - drums
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg}}