Walk Between Worlds

Walk Between Worlds heralded major lineup changes for Simple Minds. After a period of relative stability since the early 2000s, only vocalist Jim Kerr, guitarist Charlie Burchill and bassist Ged Grimes remained from the previous studio album, Big Music.

It was the first album since 2002's Cry without keyboardist Andy Gillespie, who left the band in early 2017. Longtime drummer Mel Gaynor performed on nine of the album's tracks, but left prior to the band's 2018 tour.

Longtime associate Gordon Goudie played acoustic guitar on four songs. Goudie also appeared on the following Simple Minds albums: 2001's Neon Lights, 2002's Cry, 2005's Black & White 050505, 2009's Graffiti Soul, 2016's Acoustic and 2017's Acoustic in Concert. Sarah Brown remains the primary backing vocalist of the band.

Percussionist Cherisse Osei played on three songs and is the official drummer for the 2018 tour. Catherine AD aka The Anchoress provided backing vocals on two songs and was playing keyboards on tour but abruptly left the band during the 2018 tour.

Also returning on the album was Peter-John Vettese, who played piano on two tracks and arranged string orchestra on one song. (Vettese also appeared on the album Real Life in 1991).

Walk Between Worlds was performed in its entirety in February 2018 during seven concerts throughout Europe.

The album artwork is by Brazilian visual artist Heitor Magno.{{cite web|url=https://www.simpleminds.com/2018/02/02/walk-between-worlds/ |title=Walk Between Worlds - 2018 |date=2 February 2018 |website=simpleminds.com}}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 70/100

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Jurek|first=Thom|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/walk-between-worlds-mw0003124355|title=Walk Between Worlds – Simple Minds|website=AllMusic|access-date=10 October 2018}}

| rev2 = Uncut

| rev2score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Thomson|first=Graeme|url=https://priptonaweird.co.uk/2018/01/18/walk-between-worlds-uncut-review/|title=Walk Between Worlds – Simple Minds|date=18 January 2018|magazine=Uncut|access-date=10 October 2018}}

}}

Walk Between Worlds received generally positive reviews from music critics. On the review aggregator website Metacritic, which assigns a "Metascore" based on the ratings and reviews of selected mainstream independent publications, the album has a weighted average score of 70 out of 100 based on 9 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/walk-between-worlds/simple-minds |title=Critic Reviews for Walk Between Worlds |website=Metacritic|access-date=17 June 2024}} Writing in Uncut, Graeme Thompson described it as, "an expansive, atmospheric reboot of the muscular melancholy of 1985's Once Upon a Time, and "as strangely compelling as anything they've done over the past 35 years."{{cite web |url=https://priptonaweird.co.uk/2018/01/18/walk-between-worlds-uncut-review/ |title=Walk Between Worlds – Uncut Review |date=18 January 2018 |author=Priptona |access-date=8 March 2023}}

Q magazine wrote "At times, it teeters between nostalgia and self-parody. .... But you can forgive the odd-slip-up, because the whole thing sounds so joyous."

On 28 January 2018, a few days before its release, Walk Between Worlds was awarded "Album of the Week" by The Times.{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/pop-rock-album-review-the-week-s-best-new-releases-simple-minds-walk-between-worlds-d007vvv9b?shareToken=622e3f5197ab452d652d7e2d18626b2e |title=On record: Pop, rock and jazz – The week's essential new releases – Album Of The Week: Simple Minds' Walk Between Worlds (BMG) (by Dan Cairns, Mark Edwards, Lisa Verrico and Clive Davis) |date= 28 January 2018 |website=The Times |access-date= 28 January 2018}}

All tracks written by Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill except where noted.

1. "Magic" – 4:35
2. "Summer" – 4:57 (Kerr, Burchill, Owen Parker)
3. "Utopia" – 4:15
4. "The Signal and the Noise" – 5:18
5. "In Dreams" – 4:16
6. "Barrowland Star" – 6:23
7. "Walk Between Worlds" – 5:13
8. "Sense of Discovery" – 6:27 (Kerr, Burchill, Parker)

9. "Silent Kiss" – 4:57
10. "Angel Underneath My Skin" – 3:43 (Mark Kerr / Erikah Karst)
11. "Dirty Old Town" (live) – 4:53 (Ewan McColl)

1. "Direction of the Heart" – 4:23 (B-side of the Magic 7" vinyl single){{Cite web|url=http://www.simpleminds.org/sm/discog/wbw/m1.htm|title = Dream giver redux | discography | singles | magic}}{{refn|group=nb|The "Taormina 2022" version of "Direction Of The Heart" is due to be released on 21 October 2022 as one of two bonus tracks of the forthcoming new studio album Direction of the Heart.{{cite web |url=https://www.simpleminds.com/2022/06/14/new-album-direction-of-the-heart/ |title=Direction of the Heart – the new album from Simple Minds |date= 14 June 2022 |website=simpleminds.com |accessdate= 14 July 2022}}}}

Durations:

• 50:02 with the first 2 (studio) bonus tracks
• 54:55 with the 3 bonus tracks

Simple Minds

• Jim Kerr – lead vocals
• Charlie Burchill – guitars, keyboards, programming, music composition
• Ged Grimes – bass guitar
• Mel Gaynor – drums, percussion (on "Walk Between Worlds")

with:

• Cherisse Osei – drums (on "Sense of Discovery"), percussion (on "Sense of Discovery" and "Dirty Old Town")
• Sarah Brown – additional lead vocals (on "In Dreams"), backing vocals (on "Magic", "The Signal and the Noise", "Barrowland Star", "Walk Between Worlds", "Sense of Discovery", "Angel Underneath My Skin" and "Dirty Old Town")
• Gordy Goudie – acoustic guitar (on "Summer", "Utopia", "Barrowland Star" and "Dirty Old Town")
• Catherine AD aka The Anchoress – backing vocals (on "Utopia" and "Angel Underneath My Skin")
• Peter-John Vettese – piano and string arrangements (on "Barrowland Star")
• Owen Parker – keyboards, programming, music composition (on "Summer" and "Sense Of Discovery")
• Andy Wright – backing vocals (on "Summer", "Sense Of Discovery" and "Angel Underneath My Skin"), production (on all songs)
• Hatty Parker and Emily Parker – additional backing vocals (on "Sense of Discovery")

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Category:2018 albums

Category:BMG Rights Management albums

Category:Simple Minds albums