This Is What We Do
{{Short description|2022 studio album by Leftfield}}
{{for|the NCIS: Los Angeles episode|NCIS: Los Angeles (season 9)}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox album
| name = This Is What We Do
| type = studio
| artist = Leftfield
| cover = Leftfield - This Is What We Do.png
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2022|12|02|df=y}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 56.06
| label = Virgin
| producer = * Adam Wren
- Neil Barnes
| prev_title = Alternative Light Source
| prev_year = 2015
| next_title = This Is What We Do. Version Excursion
| next_year = 2023
| misc = {{Singles
| name = This Is What We Do
| type = studio
| single1 = Pulse
| single2 = Accumulator
| single2date = 21 September 2022
| single3 = Full Way Round
| single3date = 18 October 2022
| single4 = Rapture 16
| single4date = 26 May 2023
}}
}}
{{Music ratings
|MC=77/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/this-is-what-we-do/leftfield|title=Metacritic Review|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=1 April 2023|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404044424/https://www.metacritic.com/music/this-is-what-we-do/leftfield|url-status=live}}
| rev1 = The Arts Desk
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-leftfield-what-we-do|title=Album: Leftfield - This Is What We Do|website=The Arts Desk|first=Phil|last=Smith|date=30 November 2022|access-date=18 February 2024}}
| rev2 = Evening Standard
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/leftfield-this-is-what-we-do-album-review-kinetic-vibrancy-sounds-thrilling-b1043887.html|title=Leftfield - This is What We Do review: kinetic vibrancy that sounds thrilling|website=Evening Standard|first=David|last=Smyth|date=1 December 2022|access-date=18 February 2024}}
| rev3 = The Irish Times
| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/review/2022/12/16/leftfield-this-is-what-we-do-a-terrific-late-career-landmark/|title=Leftfield: This Is What We Do – A terrific late career landmark|website=The Irish Times|first=Eamon|last=Sweeney|date=16 December 2022|access-date=18 February 2024}}
| rev4 = musicOMH
| rev4score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/leftfield-this-is-what-we-do|title=MusicOMH Review|publisher=MusicOMH|last=Devlin|first=Ben|date=2 December 2022|access-date=3 April 2023|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404045926/https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/leftfield-this-is-what-we-do|url-status=live}}
| rev5 = The Observer
| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/nov/27/leftfield-this-is-what-we-do-review-mighty-all-embracing-workouts-pulse-accumulator|title=Leftfield: This is What We Do review - mighty, all-embracing workouts and more|work=The Observer|last=Empire|first=Kitty|authorlink=Kitty Empire|date=27 November 2022|access-date=3 April 2023|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404044424/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/nov/27/leftfield-this-is-what-we-do-review-mighty-all-embracing-workouts-pulse-accumulator|url-status=live}}
| rev6 = Mojo
| rev6Score = {{Rating|4|5}}Barnes's first outing in seven years offers a timely blast of healing positivity, all but impossible to resist. [Jan 2023, p.84]
| rev7 = The Telegraph
| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/best-albums-week-olly-murs-white-lung-leftfield-soweto-kinch/|title=The Daily Telegraph Review|work=The Telegraph|last=Hewett|first=Ivan|date=2 December 2022|access-date=3 April 2023|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404044424/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/best-albums-week-olly-murs-white-lung-leftfield-soweto-kinch/|url-status=live}}
| rev8 = Uncut
| rev8Score = 7/10A fourth album that feels fervently human for all the machine-tooled precision it otherwise demonstrates. [Jan 2023, p.21]
}}
This Is What We Do is the fourth studio album by English electronic group Leftfield. It was released on 2 December 2022 by Virgin Records.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/leftfield-announce-first-album-in-seven-years-share-new-single-pulse-3278312|title=Leftfield announce first album in seven years, share new single "Pulse"|website=NME|last=Neale|first=Matthew|date=27 July 2022|access-date=1 April 2023|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404051104/https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/leftfield-announce-first-album-in-seven-years-share-new-single-pulse-3278312|url-status=live}} It is the band's first album in seven years, following the 2015 album Alternative Light Source.{{cite web|url=https://djmag.com/news/leftfield-announce-new-album-what-we-do-share-single-listen|title=Leftfield announce new album, 'This Is What We Do', share single|work=DJ Mag|last=Fielding|first=Amy|date=27 July 2022|access-date=1 April 2023|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404044424/https://djmag.com/news/leftfield-announce-new-album-what-we-do-share-single-listen|url-status=live}} The album features appearances by Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten and poet Lemn Sissay.{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/leftfield-announce-new-album-this-is-what-we-do/|title=Leftfield Announce New Album 'This Is What We Do'|work=Clash|last=Murray|first=Robin|date=27 July 2022|access-date=1 April 2023|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404051439/https://www.clashmusic.com/news/leftfield-announce-new-album-this-is-what-we-do/|url-status=live}}
Background
The album was written during Neil Barnes' recovery from cancer.{{cite web|url=https://ra.co/news/77609|title=New album|publisher=Resident Advisor|last=Shopmaker|first=Zoe|date=28 July 2022|access-date=3 April 2023|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404044424/https://ra.co/news/77609|url-status=live}} On 27 July 2022, Leftfield announced the release of their first album in seven years, along with the first single "Pulse". The second single "Accumulator" was released on 21 September 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/leftfields-accumulator-is-an-electronic-head-ripper/|title=Leftfield's 'Accumulator' Is An Electronic Head-Ripper|work=Clash|last=Murray|first=Robin|date=21 September 2022|access-date=3 April 2023|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404045926/https://www.clashmusic.com/news/leftfields-accumulator-is-an-electronic-head-ripper/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/leftfield-announce-intimate-uk-tour-dates-share-new-track-accumulator-3314563|title=Leftfield announce intimate UK tour dates, share new track 'Accumulator'|website=NME|last=Neale|first=Matthew|date=21 September 2022|access-date=3 April 2023|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404051102/https://www.nme.com/news/music/leftfield-announce-intimate-uk-tour-dates-share-new-track-accumulator-3314563|url-status=live}}
Cover art
The album's cover art was photographed by American photographer Steve McCurry, and was "chosen to reflect the warmth and positivity of this musically eclectic and upbeat record as well as to celebrate the connections that we make with other throughout our lives."{{cite web|url=https://louderthanwar.com/leftfield-announce-new-album-this-is-what-we-do/|title=Leftfield Announce New Album|work=Louder Than War|date=28 July 2022|access-date=3 April 2023|archive-date=29 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729154324/https://louderthanwar.com/leftfield-announce-new-album-this-is-what-we-do/|url-status=live}}
Critical reception
This Is What We Do was met with "generally favorable" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 77, based on 6 reviews.
The album reached number 7 in Scotland, and number 18 in the UK.
Track listing
{{Track listing
|headline =This Is What We Do track listing
|title1=This Is What We Do
|writer1={{hlist|Neil Barnes|Adam Wren}}
|length1=4:51
|title2=Full Way Round
|writer2={{hlist|Barnes|Wren}}
|note2=featuring Grian Chatten
|length2=5:39
|title3=Making a Difference
|writer3={{hlist|Barnes|Wren}}
|note3=featuring Lemn Sissay
|length3=5:46
|title4=City of Synths
|writer4={{hlist|Barnes|Wren}}
|length4=4:57
|title5=Pulse
|writer5={{hlist|Barnes|Wren}}
|length5=5:58
|title6=Machines Like Me
|writer6={{hlist|Barnes|Wren}}
|length6=4:35
|title7=Rapture 16
|writer7={{hlist|Barnes|Wren}}
|note7=featuring Earl Sixteen
|length7=4:11
|title8=Heart and Soul
|writer8={{hlist|Barnes|Wren}}
|length8=5:39
|title9=Accumulator
|writer9={{hlist|Barnes|Wren}}
|length9=6:18
|title10=Come On
|writer10={{hlist|Barnes|Wren}}
|length10=2:55
|title11=Power of Listening
|writer11={{hlist|Barnes|Wren}}
|length11=5:20
| total_length = 56:06
}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Chart performance for This Is What We Do ! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|124|date=20221215|rowheader=true|access-date=1 April 2023}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|7|date=20221215|rowheader=true|access-date=1 April 2023|refname=Scotland}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|18|date=20221215|rowheader=true|access-date=1 April 2023|refname=UK}} |
| {{album chart|UKDance|1|date=20221215|rowheader=true|access-date=1 April 2023}} |
{{Infobox album
| name = This Is What We Do. Version Excursion
| type = remix
| artist = Leftfield
| released = {{Start date|2023|04|22|df=y}}
| genre = Electronica, dub music
| length = {{Duration|m=48|s=42}}
| label = Virgin Music
| prev_title = This Is What We Do
| prev_year = 2022
| year = 2023
}}
Remix version
In February 2023, Leftfield announced an album of dub remixes of the tracks from This Is What We Do entitled This Is What We Do. Version Excursion.{{Cite web |last=Millar |first=Mark |date=2023-02-17 |title=LEFTFIELD Announce Exclusive Record Store Day 'VERSION EXCURSION' Dub Remix Of Latest Album {{!}} XS Noize {{!}} Latest Music News |url=https://www.xsnoize.com/leftfield-announce-exclusive-record-store-day-version-excursion-dub-remix-of-latest-album/ |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=www.xsnoize.com |language=en-GB |archive-date=3 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703124934/https://www.xsnoize.com/leftfield-announce-exclusive-record-store-day-version-excursion-dub-remix-of-latest-album/ |url-status=live }} The album was released on pink vinyl only in conjunction with Record Store Day on 22 April 2023.{{Cite web |title=Version Excursion |url=https://recordstoreday.co.uk/rsd-list/leftfield/ |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=Record Store Day |language=en |archive-date=26 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726095424/https://recordstoreday.co.uk/rsd-list/leftfield/ |url-status=live }} It was later released digitally on 9 June 2023.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = This Is What We Do. Version Excursion track listing
| title1 = We Do Dub
| length1 = 4:23
| title2 = Criss Cross Cabbie
| length2 = 4:25
| title3 = Citing and Fighting
| length3 = 4:11
| title4 = Synthetix
| length4 = 4:28
| title5 = Pulsating Dub
| length5 = 4:49
| title6 = Machines Like Dub
| length6 = 3:56
| title7 = Enraptured
| note7 = featuring Earl Sixteen
| length7 = 4:26
| title8 = Accumulator Dub
| length8 = 5:12
| title9 = Body + Soul
| note9 = Acid Flange Mix
| length9 = 4:21
| title10 = Coming On
| length10 = 3:35
| title11 = P.O.L Dub
| length11 = 5:02
}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|2890702|type=album}}
- {{MusicBrainz release group|mbid=a11eabff-dcb9-4b04-868b-46c3c95bc4a2|name=This Is What We Do}}
{{Leftfield}}
{{Authority control}}